life at sea - part one

Gliding across the Atlantic near West Africa the clouds stretch across an endless stage. Today is a sea day, one of many at this section of our journey. In these moments, sitting in a quiet pocket on deck the mind can wander and play among a collection of effervescent sheep in the sky.

At sea there is no rush hour traffic, the news doesn’t exist, and cubicles are a foreign concept. Life feels less heavy here. So in honor of sea days, this post and a few intermittent ones will share observations through my kaleidoscope.

The ocean: 

This expanse of liquid is pure magic. From deep to incandescent, each transition brings a unique fragrance, feel, texture, and energy. This energy permeates our ship as we roll along the surface. From high, fun, and bubbly to raw, irritated, and heavy.

The energy of the equator carries the biggest punch and at times there is the odd skirmish onboard. We both have felt the discomfort of this belt, like being in a low-powered microwave. A quick search uncovered sciencey facts on how sunlight hits the equator most directly with evidence of higher aggression in humans here.

Most days at sea are like an exhale, looking out over the ever-changing blue brings a sense of equanimity. At night the waves rock one into a deep sleep, reminiscent of infancy. After a few months at sea, standing on land feels weird and the undulations are really missed. I find myself swaying to get the sensation back, waves of all sizes are welcome as my sea legs are fully grown!

Below the waves is another story. According to Trevor, and I quote: ‘Only six sharks, a pod of dolphins, and a bunch of flying fish live in the sea.’ He is on the lookout for more.

Perhaps the rest come out at night.