Picture with compliments from
the German sailboat that we blasted
by, between Syros and Kithnos. (sorry, we win in the long term!!)
It's September the 9th, Sunday evening, around 7 O'clock. I am on my
own on the boat and I feel this urge to tell the world (in a wider
context) something, so here we go.
I have turned 46 two weeks ago. But, for the last two months I have
been behaving (and experiencing life) like a 19-year old guy here in
Mykonos
(after all, it is THE place to do that again) and I leave it up to all
your imaginations to fill in the details. And guess what......... I
feel good, I have met some incredible people, done amazing things, had
outrageous experiences and good times and was able to share it with
friends (new and old). How good life is gonna be when I turn 50 or
60??????
My slogan for the last ten years
has been: "There is
always more". More trouble, more fun, more experiences, more knowledge,
more things to share, etc. But, I really wonder whether I am at the
top, as
things can NOT get any better. As I am typing these words, I have
double thoughts. On one hand this implicates that my life is over and
done with, I am at the top after all. On the other hand it would
implicate that I have not lived to the fullest till NOW and that there
is more where this came from. Both are not positive thoughts, so away
with them. Back to reality and the reason for writing this.
I came to Mykonos some 2 months ago and first arrived
in Kos middle of July, beginning of the high season here in Greece. I
spend some three nights walking and observing (of which I do a lot) in
Kos town, where there is a "Barstreet". A famous area for the young to
hang out, to have loud music, get drunk and be happy. I still remember
sitting there at 4 in the morning texting a friend: "If this is our
future generation, there is not much hope!" Over the last 1,5 month I
have sailed in and out of Mykonos (the origin of Sodom and Gomorra??)
with clients and friends and I stayed some time alone. And THE thing I
have learned
is that life is GREAT, BETTER and BEST.
I have had better food, better conversations, met more interesting
people, made new friends (and some enemies, ie more port police
trouble) and enjoyed life to the maximum of its limits and beyond. So,
to come to the point, yes, in the last two months I have done some more
great sailing (thanks to the Meltemi, see above picture taken with 27
knots of wind), seen more beautiful sunsets, full moons and bright
stars, dolphins etc. But above all, it was the PEOPLE that I met that
made it all worthwhile and made me realize how beautiful and special it
can be.
PEOPLE, that is what makes life interesting.
The one and only piece of
jewelry I wear is a mixture of a male and female symbol around my neck.
It was a gift of my very dear friend Jan, after he came to Mykonos for
a weeks sailing (of which we did none, thanks to the meltemi). This was
thirteen years ago. For me, it represents the fact that it is people
who make life and experiences interesting,
who can make a difference in the world, who determine politics, who
cause wars, who make love, who pollute this world, who cause global
warming, who finance another civil rebellion in some country far
away...... And on the other hand, it is people that make that sunset
diner special and memorable.
It is other people that make me realize that Sylphe is a beautiful
boat, it is other people that make me realize that todays sailing is
unique. For I would start taking it all for granted. But I am not such
a
big snob. I realize how fortunate I am. It is the fact that I am
willing
to share and show them my life, that makes me complete.
If it was not for the other people (whether they are on my boat or that
I meet them elsewhere), my life would not feel as complete and happy as
it does
now. Meeting Annie's father and see him enjoy being on the boat
surrounded by his family with grandchildren was a joy. Meeting new
friends like Ann is like a miracle happening. She has been living here
on Mykonos for the past 22 years, is Dutch from origin and a wonderful
person. She invited me several times for dinner in her beautiful house
with a perfect sunset view over the Aegean Sea.
Spontaneous encounters that lead
to more things and meeting more people. Ann introduced me to Iris, who
lives partly in Mykonos and partly in Argentina, to breed Polo horses.
She moved there three years ago, all on her own and settled in, leaving
family and grandchildren behind in Switzerland, but pursuing her own
dream and goals. That takes guts and willpower. And through Iris, I
meet Bob, who is one of those unique Americans with a wider view of the
world. One of those Americans that realize that the world is being
polarized by politicians, media and the Jews. It makes very interesting
talk over a cocktail, sitting again in one of those beautiful houses of
theirs, watching the sun go down. Feeling happy, enjoying life and the
possibilities it gives.
And it gives me hope.....that there are more people like them and me.
Who realize that the majority of the world's population is stuck in
their system and simply does not make any choices. They just go with
the the flow, but the flow is being determined by people with
money/power and dangerous agendas. The media (here I go again) is not
objective anymore. Both in the western world (ie Christian) AND the
Arab world a specific, negative picture of the other side is being
portrayed. Not objective, but serving their own purposes. I simply can
not grasp the concept that the Palestinians still don't have their own
state, although in the same UN resolution, in which the State of Israel
was recognized and established, the Palestinian state was also secured.
30 years later Israel is well settled and controlling things. I would
get rather upset about that as well, if I were a Palestinian.
Don't get me wrong, terrorists attacks are not my method and I condemn
them. But Colin Powell telling the Security Council complete and utter
lies about Irak and Saddam Hussein, is just as much a terrorist. And
they get away with it. Was there any sanction, was their any one that
stood up and said: Hey, you lied......... Nope.
If I had an independent newspaper or television station I would rampage
on about this, to make sure that we all would know, and that they would
think three times before they would try it again. Now no sanctions, no
more talk about this and we simply continue as if it never happened.
They got away with it and will probably do it again, if it serves their
agenda. We just follow the leaders and do no longer stand up for our
own rights and opinions.
Except for a number of people I newly met this summer, here on Mykonos.
John, Andy, Kathrin, Ann, Iris, Bob, Christos and more made me realize
that there is hope, that there still is a number of people out there
that think for them selves. Let the group get bigger. Let the
revolution get momentum. It's time...........
Kenan, my dutch friend, came out for a week of sailing as well. He took
5 of his best friends along, to celebrate the fact that they all turned
40 this year. All six of them have kids and girlfriends. All six of
them are not married. All six of them have nice jobs, nice houses and a
settled, happy life. And still Sylphe, Greece and me were able to show
them a different life and life style. Throughout the week the mobile
phones were slowly switched off (or fell in the water!), the office was
no longer thought of and the computers stayed in their bags. Sailing,
swimming, utter relaxation, eating on the beach, good conversation with
friends and the realization that we have to grasp this very moment just
makes it magical.
Rick, Arno, Rogier, Kenan, Albert and Michael (from left to right)
enjoying some of the nightlife, resulting in your skipper being in the
following state of mind and physics after a week.
