Some dream of boats ~ I have nightmares!When it comes to holidays, there are lots of options. Some good. Some not so great.
I could discuss the car trips with kids. That's a good one for chuckles. Or the flights to Europe (three days to recover when you get there, and three days when you get back). Or looking for a hotel on a (surprise!) holiday weekend, in the dark, in the rain. But since this is a blog about Savary Island and cottages, I'll give my views on boats vs. cottages.
Havingwasted spent many of my summer teen years on my parents' rather small Chris-Craft, the most important thing I learned about 'pleasure' boats is, avoid them! Here are a few facts:
First, there is nothing cheap about a boat. Just visit any marine shop, and check the price on that anchor junior dropped unattached over the side. Ouch.
Second, there is something boaters get called six-footitis. Every year or two, an uncontrollable urge overtakes them to get a boat just six feet longer. They think that will solve everything. It never does.
And third, the two happiest days of a boaters boating life are the day they get their boat, and the day they sell it. Period.
I could share endless unhappy experiences I had on my parents' boat. Like the time we almost collided (and I mean inches, not feet) with a HUGE tug in the middle of the night, in a storm, as we struggled to find a secure harbor. Or the time I ran into a little stick, and almost sank the thing. Or all the times the engines failed, and I got to squat on the swim plank and power the pig along with the tiny trolling engine, the sun cooking my head while my legs froze in the ocean waves. Oh, I have no shortage of misery to share from those boating days!
Surely there must have been happy times? Yes: When we were tightly tied to a dock and I could jump off onto land. I got to see many beautiful Gulf Islands, and as long as I was on land exploring those, I was at peace. My dream those days was if only my parents had bought a cottage instead of the %@#%%! boat.
And back then, they could have picked up a nice waterfront cottage for a nickle and a dime. Can you imagine what that would have done for their retirement portfolio? The boat was a one way vacuum for large amounts of cash. A cottage.... well, no point in crying over what might have been. The good thing is, they eventually wised-up and sold the boat. And yes, I do believe it was the happiest day of their boating life. I know it was mine.
From a kid's perspective, I always think it almost borders on abuse to keep them penned up on a boat for endless hours and days. I mean, even a large boat isn't very big. On the other hand, a cottage can be small (that's called cozy), but with the whole outdoors right there who cares? Go biking, go hiking, go for a swim at the beach, go find a peaceful spot and read. Now that's a sweet holiday.
I could discuss the car trips with kids. That's a good one for chuckles. Or the flights to Europe (three days to recover when you get there, and three days when you get back). Or looking for a hotel on a (surprise!) holiday weekend, in the dark, in the rain. But since this is a blog about Savary Island and cottages, I'll give my views on boats vs. cottages.
Having
First, there is nothing cheap about a boat. Just visit any marine shop, and check the price on that anchor junior dropped unattached over the side. Ouch.
Second, there is something boaters get called six-footitis. Every year or two, an uncontrollable urge overtakes them to get a boat just six feet longer. They think that will solve everything. It never does.
And third, the two happiest days of a boaters boating life are the day they get their boat, and the day they sell it. Period.
I could share endless unhappy experiences I had on my parents' boat. Like the time we almost collided (and I mean inches, not feet) with a HUGE tug in the middle of the night, in a storm, as we struggled to find a secure harbor. Or the time I ran into a little stick, and almost sank the thing. Or all the times the engines failed, and I got to squat on the swim plank and power the pig along with the tiny trolling engine, the sun cooking my head while my legs froze in the ocean waves. Oh, I have no shortage of misery to share from those boating days!
Surely there must have been happy times? Yes: When we were tightly tied to a dock and I could jump off onto land. I got to see many beautiful Gulf Islands, and as long as I was on land exploring those, I was at peace. My dream those days was if only my parents had bought a cottage instead of the %@#%%! boat.
And back then, they could have picked up a nice waterfront cottage for a nickle and a dime. Can you imagine what that would have done for their retirement portfolio? The boat was a one way vacuum for large amounts of cash. A cottage.... well, no point in crying over what might have been. The good thing is, they eventually wised-up and sold the boat. And yes, I do believe it was the happiest day of their boating life. I know it was mine.
From a kid's perspective, I always think it almost borders on abuse to keep them penned up on a boat for endless hours and days. I mean, even a large boat isn't very big. On the other hand, a cottage can be small (that's called cozy), but with the whole outdoors right there who cares? Go biking, go hiking, go for a swim at the beach, go find a peaceful spot and read. Now that's a sweet holiday.
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