We left Newburyport last Saturday afternoon, regretfully missing our yacht club ‘s party and annual fireworks gathering. But the summer is waning, and downeast Maine has been calling. We arrived at Tenant’s Harbor after a pleasant overnighter, just short of where technically downeast Maine is designated. But it’s close enough for a “base camp”, where we feel again at ease, far away from the tumultuous Merrimack River. But one aspect we’ll soon miss, are the good friends we know are back there, and the place we still call home.

Maine is a beautiful place that I paradoxically want to hoard to myself and share with everyone I meet.

John Hodgeman

Friendship is a pretty village perched above a working lobster harbor.

Walter Cronkite

So it thrills us that friends are coming to visit later today, to spend a few precious days aboard and to walk about, among a few of the more remote and relatively unscathed islands of Maine.

I’m excited for our guests. And for Kelly and myself. It’s about sharing a passion and joyful experience with those we care most about. Kelly and I are so fortunate to live aboard, to explore and to travel to our favorite places, and keep to a very open itinerary. Why do I desire to share this experience? Like Jahova’s witnesses, I’m often preaching this wondrous experience that anyone can have – you just need to want it more than other stuff that you allow to clutter your life.

For friends coming aboard, to take and have the opportunity to experience what we love so much. We know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but being immersed into another beautiful experience on our earth is something anyone should have an opportunity to take.

As we live a life of ease (a life of ease)
Every one of us (every one of us)
Has all we need (has all we need)
Sky of blue (sky of blue)
And sea of green (sea of green)
In our yellow (in our yellow)
Submarine (submarine, aha)

The Beatles, Yellow Submarine

Our offer to experience life aboard is not given to just anyone. Only people who can truly appreciate it need apply. Appreciation is easily demonstrated by a positive attitude toward life, and it’s obvious to others by behavior. There’s no written test – it’s just obvious. Be a positive person, attempt resilience to life’s hardships, focus on the good and be constructive. It’s really not too difficult. We all have excuses, constraints and obstructions, so please spare us. Sure, I’m happy to listen to your problems, if that really helps you. But does it?

Let’s give you solace. Welcome aboard!

I’ve used this quote before, but it’s one of my favorites, and always worth repeating …

The premise is simple – what matters is time, it is the currency of our life, and how spend it defines our life.

John Kretchmer