Can non-drinkers be cruisers?

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by zeehag

we gotta treasure our glory days before they become gory days... oh the fun we used to have when we were young and foolish..and braver with each slug o hooch....hahahahahahaha
now we age faster than our boat repairs are effected. we get to have different kindsa fun these days...

Yup.. but Zimmers do have a steadying effect.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Hoosiersailor

I was just getting caught up on this thread when I read this. It is most certainly true but the same thing can be said for us drinkers! Haven't found many towns or ports or really anywhere that doesn't have a warm and welcoming bar! And I don't even have to wait till Sunday for service.

It works both ways, most beer tents at local festivals are run by one of the local churches.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

It works both ways, most beer tents at local festivals are run by one of the local churches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HazQlWgdzg

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by BandB

Wifey B: My boat, I'll impose what I want. Also, I'll choose not to be around others who are drunk. Personal choice. Drink all you want, just don't impose it on me and don't invade my space while doing so.

P. S. I see you operating a boat drunk, I will notify law enforcement.

I don't think anyone was suggesting you "should" allow alcohol on your own boat if you prefer not to, that would be whacko.

[iyamwhatiyam]

There are certain parts of this vast world of ours where having such items to bargain with can get you out of a jam with the locals. Just a story I heard...

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by iyamwhatiyam

There are certain parts of this vast world of ours where having such items to bargain with can get you out of a jam with the locals. Just a story I heard...

Much more likely to get you into a jam than out of one.

Jim

[SV Bacchus]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Two for the price of one here..
But don't worry.. I never smoke below decks..

Welcome aboard Mate!

[David B]

Originally Posted by ransflyer

As we study sailing and cruising, my wife and I are more excited each day to buy a boat, outfit it, and sail away. But we don't drink. Is it possible to be real cruisers, if we don't consume alcohol? Everywhere we turn it seems that booze is an important part of the scene.

There are lots of related questions as well. Here are a couple starters:

1. When invited to dine on other boats, we can only bring another dish to share rather than wine. Is that rude?
2. When we invite others aboard, can we politely explain that we prefer to be an alcohol free boat? What is a good way to say this?
3. When visiting remote locations, it's polite to offer the chief a gift. What are good alternatives to a bottle of liquor?
4. Is soda pop an acceptable option for some or all situations?

Feel free to suggest other potential situations/questions and answers.

While this won't stop us from exploring the world, it seems that it's an important social issue that we haven't seen discussed and we'd like to be prepared.

Thanks in advance for your help.

You're just fine. The impression you have may not be totally accurate either.

In our circles (floating or otherwise) alcohol is nothing more than another social drink (I don't, my wife does - same for coffee and tea). Frankly if alcohol is needed to make socialising work, you are in the wrong company.

So don't get worked up about it or bothered - go as you are, and if it seems appropriate to take a bottle of wine to an event, then fine - otherwise take a couple of bottles of what you like to drink (there are some great sparking juices available these days - even packaged like fine champagne, so you don't feel you are the kid who comes along with a bottle of pop), and perhaps a platter of nibbles.

Enjoy your cruising - it's definitely not related to alcohol!

[fatherchronica]

Werner Erhard once confided in me that having a drink in your hand ir a cigarette made people less nervous when in new surroundings and meeting new people. And I remembered a movie where a guy carried a glass of ice at a party that never had alcohol in it, and my own grampa eating cigars so he could have one in his hand after the stroke doctor said no more smoking, and a movie where some old rich guy wanted male camaraderie so he got in poker games and had a bar tender in cahoots who kept serving him iced tea and he played the happy drunk and lost money, so they always invited him to play. The way old Wernie, that is what I called him, was able to confide in me is he had the super power of a stripper to make everyone in the room think he was staring at them alone. Anyway I digress. There are a lot of people who don't drink and cruise. A whole lot of us are old and our doctor's tell us that if you drink with your ( fill in the blank) you will die, or get so infirm you can't cruise. So in order to follow that dream we dreamed of and prepared for since grampa gave us "Peter Freuchen's Book of the Seven Seas " in 5th grade, we try to follow instructions and eat well and exercise and whatever else the doctor said.

[Melissa36]

Originally Posted by kmacdonald

Talk about "toxins"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lessons from Don Juan

[Zil]

Such a long thread. There are non-drinkers, social-drinkers, over-drinkers, and drunks.
The only way to avoid obnoxious drinkers is to not have alcohol allowed on YOUR boat. Same as tobacco, and other drugs, no problem for reasonable people.

[john61ct]

Reasonable is in the eye of the beholder.

Most people I know think asking guests to remove their shoes when entering your home is unreasonable, never mind abandoning the substances they're addicted to.

But the one point that's been made abundantly clear here, it's your home, your boat, you set the rules according to what's important **to you**..

Those who keep away because of those rules will only rarely be people you would've wanted to get to know anyway.

[danielamartindm]

Absolutely. When asked "what'll ya have," I reply "I have to watch my blood sugar. Some water or unsweetened iced tea would be great." I'm very happy to be a "designated driver," even on the water, and believe me, there are times when that calling is critically needed.

[sloop56]

Dear ransflyer
I have not had a drink since Sept 30th 1976 and by not having a drink I have been cruising 6mo a year since 2001. I have found 90% of the cruisers do not have a problem with me not drinking and the 10% that does have a problem I keep my distance as I would on land. If this is your wife and yours dream you deserve to live it to the fullest.

[sailorcherry]

Two easy reasons are:

-We're not drinking because we are on diets.
-I am on a medication I cant drink with.

Frankly, I bet most could say either one is true. Simple vitamins become less effective with alcohol use and booze certainly doesn't help most with their waistline, right? I feel those reasons are better for the more brief encounters versus anchorages/marinas you plan on staying awhile and building longer friendships in which sharing how you are sober would be better.

I have had boat neighbors who swallowed the anchor just because they went sober and couldn't handle being surrounded by the ongoing party. However, same group, I have seen the odd regular who is straight.

Honestly, when cruising I feel it is WAY easier to be and be around others sober vs at the marina. Between sobering up a couple days before the next days sail or needing one sober for anchor watch in high wind has kept us pretty responsible and not too judged for being so. At the marina sometimes drunks abound...and bring soap opera drama. One of the reasons cruisers say they stay out of marinas whenever possible. Have moved from a great dock because of such types...only to find a really awesome one that I felt was like minded.

Good luck and stay healthy