December 20 UNTIE THE LINES – the decision
The arrows of the sun are falling through the window of the train and the monotonous rattling of the waggons running over the tracks seems like a lullaby that is trying to put me to sleep. But I am wide awake. My heart is ponding fast and my thoughts are doing circles in my head like a hamster in his wheel.
I am on my way from Varkala to Amritapuri, in the South of India. My backpack is stored above my head and there are two other women dressed in colorful saris sitting across me. The air is hot, sticky and my nose has definitely experienced nicer moments than this one. I don’t have the slightest clue what those two women are talking about. Hindu or Malayalam (I cannot even tell you which language they were speaking) sound so unfamiliar to me that I can only guess if a conversation I am overhearing is actually friendly or maybe a fight. The typical Indian wobbling of the head which looks like a “ehm, actually…no” but really means “yes” does not help to solve the confusion.
But that is not the cause for my excitement. I have taken a decision. Quite an important one. At least for me. For my life.
The last year I have been experiencing what my parents have always called “der Ernst des Lebens” (the serious part of life). It always sounded somewhat like a threat and I probably heard it the first time when I started to go to school. But usually it just meant that there would be a couple of more rules and duties, creating new challenges to find a way to break or get around them. Now, the moment had finally arrived: I had finished university with a diploma in Strategic Management and had my first “real” job. Life had become serious.
My job was exciting and I learnt a lot. I worked with the General Management of a medium sized company close to Hamburg in the North of Germany to assist them in defining a new business strategy. It was interesting to see the theory of university lectures becoming something real and I had the feeling I could contribute to the development of the new strategy with what I had learnt previously.
But even if it was a great experience to work there, to make my way up to become the head of the marketing department, there was one thing I could not deny: I sat in an office in front of a computer all day long, and working hours often stretched out into the late hours of the day.
At that time, I was training for a triathlon with my friend Anna, and going for a run or a swim in a close by lake during lunch time were my only outdoor highlights during the day. Time management became a big issue and I found myself running from one place to the other trying to fit in work, sport as well as family and friends, which at some moments led to a feeling of emptiness because I did not have the time to truly experience things with the time and presence they actually deserved.
I needed some air, some time to reflect and soon I found myself on a plane to Mumbai, with three months of time to travel and my job waiting safely for my return. The effect was as expected: I felt light and free, my thoughts spinning around in my head and I could just let them flow.
The sea has always had a magic force of attraction on me. The sound of the waves crushing onto the beach, the widely expanding horizon and the salty taste in the air. You automatically calm down, time seems to stand still and you feel at peace. When I read a book about a circumnavigation for the first time, my heart started rushing with excitement and my thoughts immediately drifted away, picturing myself on a sailboat out on the ocean. It seemed to be the perfect way to travel, even more than that; it appeared to be the perfect way to live.
Big dreams usually seem to be connected to big investments – financially as well as personally. Approximately two months before finishing secondary school, I dared to delicately do a small internet research about what was needed to do a circumnavigation. A short comparison with my bank account, my sailing experience and my handicraft or mechanical skills quickly let me drop the topic again and follow the path that already seemed to be laid out for my life anyways: to go studying and find a reasonable job afterwards.
Nearly ten years later I find myself with a group of other travelers, having some cold beers and chatting away about life and happiness in the warm and dark night at Varkala beach. And there it is again, my dream to buy a sailboat, to untie the lines and sail the world. It had never been gone, but I had carefully moved it into the back of my soul, guarding it safely, in the hope that one day I would have the guts to put it into reality. When this handsome Swedish guy said to me “Hey Nike, if you think that this is something that would make you truly happy, why don’t you just go for it?”, all of a sudden, everything seemed so clear. My conviction, that it would make me happy seemed reason enough to completely turn my life upside down and try it.
Back in my spartan hostel room, I ran through all the hurdles that I had previously seen that had held me back from chasing my dream. And I tried to look at them from a different point of view. A very selfish and egocentric one, I have to admit. I checked, if it was really me, who cared or worried about these things or if they were views, created by others that made me feel that I had to go in line with them. I fell asleep with a warm feeling around my heart, accompanied by a slight fear, because I saw a big change in my life coming up and I did not know where it was all going to lead.
The train departs, and all of a sudden, my destination is clearer than ever: I will buy a sailboat and UNTIE THE LINES. For real.
[written in Lüneburg, 29-12-2014]
I love this blog post! I’ve been following your videos from the beginning but only came across this post after reading your recently posted FAQ page. Your decision to take a risk, follow the road less traveled and chase a dream resonates so closely with me. Super well written. Look forward to all the videos to come!
WHY NOT WRITE A SMALL BOOK ON YOUR TRAVELS EACH YEAR TO HELP WITH YOUR FUNDING OR DO SMALL SEMINAR AT SCHOOLS / COLLEGES OR DO PRIVATE ONES WHERE YOU CAN RENT OUT A ROOM AT A HOTEL & PUT FLYERS UP ALL OVER TOWN TO SHOW SOME SLIDES WITH A PROJECTOR ECT PICES OF PAPER & SOME WALL PAPER PASTE FOR ADVERTISING IS NOT EXPENSIVE, EVEN BORROW A PROJECTOR IF YOU HAVE TO, YOU HAVE THE TEC & NOLLEGE & DETERMINATION THEY ARE TOOLS YOU CAN USE TO FUND YOU TRIP INTO THE BLUE & BESIDES YOU MIGHT MEET THE RIGHT CONTACTS TO OPEN NEW DOORS FOR YOUR TRIP, I KNOW I WOULD GO & SEE YOU IF YOU EVER CAME TO ABERDEEN SCOTLAND, A LOT OF MY MOUNTAINEERING FREINDS FUND THERE TRIPS TO THE HIMAL RANGES. & I HAVE EVEN BEEN GIVEN THE OPERTUNITY TO TRAVEL TO THE HIMAL RANGE FOR FREE WITH CLOTHING & TRAVEL EXPENSES TO EVEREST BASE CAMP, YOU ARE A VERY ATTRACTIVE WOMAN WITH LOTS OF INTELEGENCE, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU JUST NEED SOME GUIDANCE & TO MEET THE RIGHT KIND OF PERSON SO YOU CAN FOR FILL YOU DREAMS, I WISH YOU LOTS OF LOVE & LUCK WITH YOUR PROJECTS & KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, BECAUSE I LIKE WATCHING YOUR SHORT FILMS, BLESSED BE YOU!
My wife and myself, both in our 60’s, are ardent followers of your videos and your successes and trials. We are planning a getaway after raising our children and preparing our boat, and your experiences are inspiring to us.
But more than that…you are an inspiring human being. We look at the trials you have overcome without losing your vision and it encourages us to keep going through our trials. You didn’t quit when there were holes in the bottom of your boat. You didn’t quit when sails ripped, motor overheated, or any obstacles presented themselves, and we celebrate your successes as a life well lived. We say to each other…”that girl has guts, and she deserves whatever happiness comes her way”. In persevering with accomplishing your dream, you have always held our fragile dreams in your hands, and you have never dropped them.
So as we take off this year, thanks for showing us how to be. We may have disappointments and trials, but we can always look at your guts and rewards for inspiration. Thanks so much
Thank you for your beautiful comment, Nick. It always warms my heart to read that my experiences enhance others to chase their dreams. Never give up and always try to see the good stuff in things that happen!
Ahoy, Nike & Karl
I like your blog, I have the same dream, I finished one which was to move from Belgium to Florida. After a few years of a lot of fun life became work fun work fun and I’m looking into this dream of mine of buying a sailboat and travel. They are a lot of people starting doing so and its awesome to read your adventure and all the details. Thanks for sharing, keep going, safe travel.
Harry
Nike, I love what you are doing, since you are actually living my dream too. I have had this dream for more than 30 years myself now, actually since that moment, when I climbed onto a plane in Johannesburg, South Africa to head back home after two interesting years filled with extraordinary experiences of all kinds, to follow the familyforseen path to finish business school, aquire a Masters degree in Mechanics and take over the family business. All that, to follow somebody else’s plans, instead of following my very own.
I ended up spending the following 3 decades tied up in the family business, until in 2015 I decided: “Enough!”
That year, without having any countable seasailing experience, I bought myself a smallish 25 year old Dean 365 Cat in more or less comparable condition as Karl, coincidentally just located in South Africa where it all started, and spent the previous two years’ holidays fixing it up. In mid 2018 I will “cut my lines” in Germany, finish the work on “Thelxinoe” and set sail into westerly direction. Closing a small circle, just to start a bigger one, so to speak…
I am obviously old enough to be your father, and certainly far less “camera-affine” than you are, so I’ll rather stick to blogging instead of vlogging, but I enjoy every single one of your episodes, as they encourage me, to further fill some of my white spots with colours, sounds and memories. It obviously is never too late (or early), to start something new. And maybe I can then inspire somebody in front of a computerscreen, to swap his structured life for something a bit more adventurous.
Wish you all the best, safe travel and fair winds. And should our paths eventually cross some day in one of those spots, I’ll buy you a beer or even two 🙂
Martin
Hello Nike,
we have been to your presentation yesterday night at Hambourg NRV about you, your dream, your journey and finally about your “husband” Carl. We did really enjoy this evening. It was really awesome! We know all your videos, nevertheless we were very impressed about your presentation. Very lively, very personal you are a real entertainer! Congratulations!!!
Especially your thougts about taking the decision to buy a boat an leave your live behind you did really touch me. It did inspire me! I also think: If the decision is already taken, everything is more easily
We share your dream, but we did just the first steps to our journey. We bought an old boat and started by repairing the boat (a bit as you did).
I hope that all workes fine for you an Karl!
Christoph and Marion by “hafenkino.blog”
As Shaun Sim wrote (in accidental or eye-challenged ALL CAPS above): “WHY NOT WRITE A SMALL BOOK ON YOUR TRAVELS EACH YEAR TO HELP WITH YOUR FUNDING OR DO SMALL SEMINAR AT SCHOOLS / COLLEGES…. THEY ARE TOOLS YOU CAN USE TO FUND YOU TRIP INTO THE BLUE & BESIDES YOU MIGHT MEET THE RIGHT CONTACTS TO OPEN NEW DOORS FOR YOUR TRIP (I KNOW I WOULD GO & SEE YOU IF YOU EVER CAME TO ABERDEEN SCOTLAND,)….
Shaun is quite right! As I’m sure you know, an alternative path for you could have been hiring yourself out as crew member for a voyage. Which is a detail to drop – by way of alternate path-way and invitation for the young.
My point being that you could bring the excitement and rewards of travel and the challenge and grit of doing it by yourself. And North American university students are no different than Shaun’s Scottish classmates: a visit from the young, vibrant, and accomplished sea and ocean voyager? Kewl!
American university students toss vast sums into “honoraria” for visiting speakers of renown or not – compensating them to visit and lavishly rewarding them for sharing themselves in group and public settings, bringing lived experience to the hungry minds of innocents.
Now, of course, public speaking is the most common anxious fear of ALL people, But baby steps in starts and re-starts. Then to family and friends, Then to mixed groups – and soon you’re on your way!
Experience, good or bad, and most likely, sometimes in-between – is the important living truth.
Universities, more than ever, want their students to travel abroad! (And too few bother to learn languages as you have.) So why not put together 40-minute presentations (eg, Powerpoint with photos and video segments). Start with an intro, three parts and a conclusion. Different emphases for different expected audiences. Go on tour during hurricane or typhoon season and put something the bank!
Student unions in the vast and richly funded American system can be contacted. Student organizations include travel and sports groups. They can also help you to identify the administrative office and people within then to approach about getting sponsored and rewarded. Does it take a student organization’s interest first? And then apply to the administration? Or the reverse, for example? (Bureaucratic challenges. Any connections to environmental, ecological, or politics or geography can be easily marketed.
Finally, there’s almost always some “students abroad” office to make enquiries with, because business students – or almost any other kind – who have language and cultural experiences abroad are easier to place in jobs. Win-win strategy!
American college and universities are vast machines. Your small but shared experiences already make up the material for an effective and entertaining public presentation. Even several of them.
Mein Deutschlehrer, Herr Balz, sagte, “Übung macht den Meister.” A bit of dabbling can lead to more touring experience. And your self-marketing may well generate more views of your VLOG and old fashioned blog, creating a complete, virtuous circle – and proverbs are often wise.
Plus, the reality of the solo-woman voyager is consistent with the empowered women theme that so much prized today.
Thus, what you have done and are doing is both old-fashioned adventure-story telling – which goes back to Homer – and the new-fashioned modern woman….ya can’t miss, Nike!
When you’re ready, when you feel the need to share yourself, in person – the pathway is open for you! Early experience will somewhere generate campus buzz. Publicity and reviews or testimony can help you turn your early steps into more powerful publicity for longer and more rewarding speaking tours. (Plus, it won’t hurt to have an e-book to sell.)
At any rate, I’ve ony seen two of your wideos. And now a couple of blog pages. And I am moved to read the above ractions to your tale and add one of my own – an outline that may be encouraging and complementary.
Thanks!
-Orson Olsen von Harrach
Ah – a PS: your can also connect with adults, young and old, through travel and outdoor adventure groups at http://www.meetup.com in many, many cities. Speaker arrangements are much less lavish. Perhaps only an entry fee or pass the bucket? And a room in the back of a pub or bar – increasingly, a brew-pub, for example.
This smaller opportunity, of course, means working a different crowd, and meeting more “all-ages” instead of youths (teens and the under25-year olds). You can adjust the content of your talks, accordingly.
This activity has a long provenance. Nineteenth-century US writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson and later Mark Twain, who toured the world to speak, are some of them. Surely Alexander von Humbolt wrote up on places you’ve visited – but I’ve not gotten into his biography by Andrea Wulf enough to know about similar German experiences. Ah – well – research to complement your life (our lives…) awaits, too!