Forever Blue

[arwen_lune]

I really really *really* want to go sailing again. And I know part of that is because sailing stands for a way to escape pressure of uni, family, friends and life in general.. but part of it is because somehow the feeling of a ship out at sea nestled itself in my heart and I miss it, the way the world rocks under your feet and you can look out so far and do thrilling things like climbing all the way to the royal... and the way the sea rocked me to sleep... I miss standing watch at 4 AM (really!) when the world is so quiet and the plankton glows in green lines and the moonlight outlines the sails... I miss sitting out on the bowsprit, seeing the whole ship move up and down before you... I miss standing lookout, when every dot on the horizon becomes interesting and you still have time to look for dolphins... I miss baffling the cook with my request for some plain bread, not toast, for breakfast... Finding my shoes back on the other side of the cabin because of the heel.. I miss raiding the pantry fridge for 2 AM watch... I miss silly jokes during the daily cleaning spree and plotting practical jokes across the top bunks in the cabins... Mexican Waves across the yards... hauling on ropes while shouting variations that scan with 2,6, HEAVE, sitting in the stairs from the open bridge watching the deck officer plot our course... trying to walk in a straight line when everything moves...learning what a 'sea measure' of tea is...finding that even with 65 people on a 60-metre ship it's possible to be alone if you want to... I miss the magic of moving away from the quayside and discovering just how different a ship is with water on all sides.

I guess it didn't so much grow on me as it attacked me and captured me completely. So much that weather is not a condition, nor temperature, nor possibility of seasickness... with the result that I am currently really hoping I'll be able to go on a 12-day voyage from Porthsmouth to Lisbon, in the beginning of December.

Okay, so maybe a _little_ crazy.