I've got my anchor firmly down in paradise.
While living overseas for the past twenty-eight years, I've had an excellent opportunity to see how people live their dreams in different cultures around the world. I've lived in and visited many countries in which people survive on a few hundred dollars a year. They have simple lifestyles, eat ordinary food, and they are content.
While I was cruising around the world on Exit Only, I discovered that it really doesn't take very much for a human being to survive and be happy. The cost of living isn't that high in 95 percent of the places I visited.
When I returned to the USA, I discovered that the cost of living high is astronomical.
I am now in a country where people watch widescreen high definition televisions that cost $4,000. They drive cars that cost $40,000 dollars, and they live in houses that often cost $400,000 dollars and up. Something happened during those twenty-eight years while I was gone.
If I had to use one phrase to describe what has happened, I would say it this way. Things have gone over the top.
Houses are over the top. Hotels are over the top. Reality TV is over the top. Quiz shows with million dollar prizes are over the top. Everything has gone over the top, and it's not working that well for most people.
There's a type of malaise running rampant in our country. Things are out of control and people know it.
I've been thinking a great deal about whether I want to get involved in this over the top way of life. The truth is, I don't want to, but the reality is, it's extremely difficult to escape from its clutches.
I've had to come to a new and uneasy agreement with life. For the next couple of years, I'm going to be sailing to windward in the over the top storm that is lashing our shores. This storm is an irritating distraction that I must endure, but that's OK. I've been there and done that in the past, and I can do it again.
I'm not too worried about my present situation, because I know that in couple of years, I'm going to be some place other than here. I've got Bora Bora on my mind. My anchor is firmly down in Paradise, and it won't be long before the next adventure begins.
Thank God for dreams. No matter where I am, I can still put my anchor down in Paradise and continue working on my dreams.
Awesome music video that captures the essence of what it's like to sail offshore in a catamaran around the world when conditions are less than perfect. David Abbott from Too Many Drummers sings the vocals, and he also edited the footage from our Red Sea adventures. This is the theme song from the Red Sea Chronicles.
Sailing up the Red Sea is not for the faint of heart. From the Bab al Mandeb to the Suez Canal, adventures and adversity are in abundance. If you take things too seriously, you just might get the Red Sea Blues.
If you like drum beats, and you like adventure, then have a listen to the Red Sea Chronicles Trailer.
Flying fish assault Exit Only in the middle of the night as we sail through the Arabian Gulf from the Maldives to Oman. And so begins our Red Sea adventures.
Sailing through Pirate Alley between Yemen and Somalia involves calculated risk. It may not be Russian Roulette, but it is a bit of a worry. Follow Team Maxing Out as they navigate through Pirate Alley.
Stopping in Yemen was just what the doctor ordered. We refueled, repaired our alternator, and we made friends with our gracious Yemeni hosts. We also went to Baskins Robbins as a reward for surviving Pirate Alley.
After you survive Pirate Alley, you must sail through the Gate of Sorrows (Bab Al Mandab) at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The Gate of Sorrows lived up to its name with fifty knots of wind and a sandstorm that pummeled Exit Only for two days. Life is good.
Although I like the feel of a paper book in my hand, I love trees even more. When people purchase an eBook, they actually save trees and save money as well. Ebooks are less expensive and have no negative impact on the environment. All of Dr. Dave's books are available at Save A Tree Bookstore. Visit the bookstore today and start putting good things into your mind. It's easy to fill your mind with positive things using eBooks. No matter where you are or what you are doing, you can pull out your smart phone or tablet and start reading. You can even use electronic highlighters and make annotations in your eBooks just like paper books.
