Hello All
This may be long winded and for that I apologize. My wife and I have been doggedly pursuing our dreams of living on a
boat, while working as geologists/oceanographers. Six years of financial hardship have finally gotten us our degrees in geology. YAY!
However, as often is the case while pursuing your dreams you drift aimlessly, unsure of you next step and then the storm hits. We graduated and received offers from some prestigious schools to study for our masters but
money was tight and we could not obtain
work in our area. After six months of searching for jobs and being unsuccessful, we called on the
family for help.
Help came quickly and readily from my wife's mother. "Come to
Florida, Ponte Vedra is beautiful! There is lots of work!" . We gave notice to our part time menial jobs, packed up, spent the last of our
money and moved the
family to
Florida. Perfect timing, the waters were rough, tensions were high, and little did I know but mutiny was on the horizon.
We got to Florida and immediately began to settle in. I started to look for
work, and told my wife to relax a bit as we were finally in a safe harbor. I made corrections to my resume', began networking and suggested to Robin (my wife) that she begin
sailing lessons. Three days later, after some minor progress had been made, we were hit by a
rogue wave on the starboard and our ship was capsized.
The
water was so calm I did not see it coming. My wife and I had taken my son to the pool in which he and I were wrestling and she was catching some sun. She left and went back to the house to make dinner,
phone calls, I honestly do not recollect. A bit later we followed to get a drink and my son's swimming goggles. Looking back I can see that she was a bit farther away than necessary and often distracted, but we were in a safe harbor, the skies looked good, I didn't even think to look out at the harbor.
We got home, opened the door and that's when I first had the sensation that something wasn't right. I can't put my finger on what it was. Just a subtle change in the wax and wane of the
wind and
water. With the suddenness of a cat who just spotted prey or a bird who just realized it may become prey, all my senses snapped to attention and my eyes landed on my wife.
"What are you doing?!" I Asked. "Nothing" She replied. But in her eyes I saw there was darkness, red skies and night had fallen. "No. Seriously, what are you doing?" I demanded. She sighed her eyes grew cold and I felt a cold
wind in the back of my neck. "I was talking to Beth, and I was telling her I don't love you any more , and have decided to leave you.she said.
The
boat rocked as the port side
deck suddenly dropped, I reached out for something to grab on to, a line, a cleat, anything but my hand found nothing. I heard a sudden ring and I tried to look back and saw to the aft A bell buoy plunge as the water fled out to sea. "Is there some one else?" I asked. "Does it matter?" she said. I fell forward and I knew . I rolled over and there she was as unforgiving and unrepentant as the ocean. She crashed in to my ship . We rolled in slow motion, I was drenched in tears and begged Poseidon for forgiveness , mercy. There was none I remember the sound as the tiny ship cracked in two and the way I felt as the cold water ripped at my soul.
That was five days ago , I am in
distress and adrift. My wife and
children are
lost at sea and I am starving alone and drowning.
Sorry I got carried away with my story....
I am looking to continue following my dreams , and would like to learn how to sail. I am also in an untenable position and need to escape. I am 39 a quick learner and would be willing to give you my hands. I live in Ponte Vedra Beach , Fl. and if anyone needs a
deck hand , is willing to teach and understands that I know nothing about seamanship , Let me know my e-mail is Jonathan Dot Simpson AT
Maine Dot EDU
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