Close to nature and at her whim
For most of us growing up caused a trauma. Either we were born during wars, dictatorships or military rule, in an oppressive society, with a despotic father, a cruel mother, in an intolerant religious family or in an institution. We were abandoned, abused, bullied or …
Cosmetic surgery is women’s modern day corset. At the time when women weren’t allowed to vote, had no civil rights and their husbands made all decisions for them, women wore corsets. As if to make them constantly feel that they lived in shackles, they felt …
In the current heated immigration debate we forget about the European history of constant migration. Migration was fostered by wars or famine, same as today, and rarely by cultural motives. It is not easy to leave one’s home behind, travel with a couple of suitcases …
It is not easy to care about others when all you’re doing is fight for your own survival. This is how capitalism can make people heartless and even stupid. I am still shaken up after a discussion I had today with a local urban camper. …
The hardest thing to do is letting others be, to be themselves or versions thereof. We are all trying. Trying for something. To live as we best can, we give our best at any given moment. For others, especially family and friends, this is sometimes …
My dad was born on the Baltic Sea in the Prussian town of Elbing, the Polish Elbląg, and grew up in the nearby port town of Königsberg, now Kaliningrad in Russia. His father was a sailor and captain from whom my father learned to love …
Easier said than done, letting go describes the concept of acceptance and even forgiveness. After one lets go, one is set free. With all the freedom that sailing brings, we still bring with us ourselves and all our baggage everywhere we go. So true for me. …
After the deaths of my father and my dog Samba, my mother had a minor stroke. All this within two years. My father had Parkinson’s the last 15 years of his life, Samba was on meds for seizures and my mother takes all kinds of …
Most of you wonder probably how does one live on a small sailboat with a partner. And then to go cruising and to be together all day, every day. Especially on passages and at anchor the boat is all you have. You can retreat to …
I am not good at saying goodbye. I like staying. I like people. I like hanging out. So why do I choose a lifestyle where I have to say goodbye all the time? Sailors say ‘See you on the Seas’ and indeed that is supposed …
I asked Radu the night before last, if he was ready to go again. The next leg was our third 30 hour passage and the seas were big the last times making our sails exhausting. Yes, he said, he was alright and I was too, …
