Date: 28 February 2019. Dating for Boaters - Part 2.

© janice142
 

This is Part 2 of a requested series. A sailor asked how to find a cruising partner. I can totally understand the desire to share this  experience with others. Here is my advice to that gent:

I am very fortunate in that I can share my journey with others. I totally appreciate the readers and am humbled that so many would chose to spend time with me. Thank you!
 

In that regard, my website allows me to interact with online friends. You met one such couple in the Imaginary Friends IRL (in real life) article. Larry and Eva have a place south of here with their boat docked right out back. Life does not get much better, especially when readying a vessel for a long trip.

Larry and Eva aboard Bucky have a beautiful boat, the desire, and a plan. Soon they will be *doing the Loop.

*doing the Loop: The circumnavigation of Eastern North America by water is known as The Great Loop. The trip varies from 5,000 miles to 7,500 miles depending on the options used. Many boaters join the America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association aka AGLCA [http://greatloop.org]
 

Soloists such as myself often start out on this journey quite content with our status. After all, we have worked hard to succeed and now have the boat of our dreams. Of course there is work to do to. There always is.
 

Being at anchor diminishes the possibility of potential visitors a lot!
 

Number One: The likelihood of finding a partner while anchored off that enchanting small town is poor. You are a pain in the transom to visit so casual trips cannot be easily managed. Dinghy rides to a boat? No. Not at first for most ladies.

To put myself at physical risk by being on a stranger's
boat at anchor and alone is not going to happen.

I don't believe guys think about personal safety as much as women. Men are physically stronger. Thus gals tend to be more cautious in situations that are secluded.

The Florida Keys are gorgeous. Shallow areas or sandy bottoms ↑ are white/light colored. Folks there tend to
enjoy boating activities. It is a part of the culture. To locals your life choice is likely to be considered normal.
 

Most of us have seen the scary movies that depict seemingly wonderful guys who turn into murderous crazies. Wasn't there one called Dead Calm many years ago? I'm sure there are others however I don't watch things like that.

But I digress...

Most of the time when I visit another boater I come via either Algae or Seaweed. I provide my own transportation. That is because I can then leave at will without bothering or relying on someone else.
 

In new or uncomfortable situations feeling safe is a priority.
Being able to leave immediately offers me a sense of well-being.

One of the advantages of having a smaller boat is that she's portable. I can go places far easier than if Seaweed were a 40'er. It is a simple matter to raise the anchor and come by for a visit. Having a reliable engine has made a world of difference. I am truly blessed.

You can ameliorate that concern (going out to a boat at anchor) by bringing your vessel to a dock.

I bring Seaweed into the dock at the local McDonald's. Nearby the American Legion has live music regularly.
 

Number Two: Bars are out, unless you are looking for an individual who drinks too much. Women and men of substance do not spend extended time in bars.

Celebrating on occasion at a pub is a
different kettle of fish. That is entirely fine.

Be aware that alcoholism is an issue when folks get or feel isolated. Don't let that happen to you!
 

You may have noticed a prejudice against excessive booze from me. That is because over time I have seen all too many cruisers who fall into the bottle when things don't go according to plan. I worry about those single folks with no one to "pull them back from the edge" when times are difficult. Couples don't seem quite so vulnerable.
 

One night several of us went to a pub to celebrate a
birthday that happened to coincide with St. Paddy's Day.

Houseboat Bob ↑ joined us in celebrating St. Patrick's Day a few years back. This was a
combination birthday / St. Paddy's Day shindig involving corned beef and cabbage too.
 

Number Three: If you want a woman, go where the women are. It really is that simple.
 

What do women like? Any number of things. I like reading. Before Kindle, I spent a lot of time in libraries. Now Amazon and Gutenberg are my suppliers. That said, libraries are more than just repositories of knowledge.

Kelly helped me set up the Verizon tablet with OverDrive. I love that tablet!!!

Now I can borrow eBooks without leaving my boat, for free! Having a tablet is Tremendously wonderful.
I am so happy for the Verizon tablet I enjoy. It is an amazing device. The world of Sci-fi is a reality now.
 

The local library here in Madeira Beach (Gulf Beaches branch) offers a writers group meeting each Monday morning at ten. I might stick around after the meeting and socialize if I wished. There are other groups who meet at the library.
 

Visit the library system where you live. See what they
 have to offer. You might be pleasantly surprised. I was!
 

When I was in Carrabelle the LIBRARY ↓ was a favorite of mine. I spent many hours there.

 

Here in St. Petersburg we are blessed with Haslam's Book Store. It is truly the best book store I have ever been in.

The Book Store - Haslam's in St. Pete vignette tells you about that fine establishment.
I had the most fun in that store. As a plus, it is near enough to the waterfront to be an easy Uber away.

Finding an interest you can share with another person is the start of a friendship. Any relationship that thrives seems to revolve around mutual curiosity. People who can enjoy time together and apart seem to be happiest. That's why having the right boat (or two boats!) is important for success in this life.
 

Well, I've run on at the fingertips again. More in this series will be upcoming very shortly.
 

Thank you for reading. I appreciate that.
 

Are there service organizations (Elks, Moose, American Legion) you joined?
And, are you a member of a Yacht Club or Coast Guard Auxiliary, Power Squadron?
 

COMMENTS:
 

© 2019

Categories: Boat Talk, Boats, Characters, Locations, Relationships,

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