Just received this 1-star review on my book Bumfuzzle. Thought it was pretty hilarious how she totally nailed the “real” cruiser that I talked about throughout the book.
“This book is dangerously misleading to new sailors. Glorifies ineptitude. Sheer luck they weren’t seriously injured or killed while on their journey.”
Man I wish I could make more people understand that it isn’t luck at all—sailing just really isn’t that difficult to begin with. Your odds—no matter how stupid you are—of being seriously injured or killed are no worse than they are driving to work. Now, which would you rather be doing?
Today we narrowly avoided death while playing on the docks and running around on the beach. Ouest did get a thistle on her toe at one point, but we were able to staunch the bleeding before she passed out. And Lowe did walk straight into a garbage can and leave a welt on his forehead. He’s now under observation in the ICU. Life man—it’s almost too dangerous to live it.
18 Comments on “Living Dangerously”
Further to your one-star review: do you really think its healthy for your kids to be smiling so much? Don’t you think it’s dangerous for parents to spend so much quality time with your kids?. Shouldn’t you be more private regarding your lifestyle instead of encouraging people to abandon meaningless pursuits of day to day life? And after all mustn’t sailing be portrayed as a difficult, dangerous task-otherwise cruisers won’t feel so elite in their pursuits?
There are days in the rat race that I feel like Bumfuzzle is the only thing that gets me through.
Beautifully said, Petrus. Pat and Ali, your photos are magic, and stories always well written and interesting. Love it! Thank you. 🙂
was the barbed wire fence to keep mad dangerous gringos out? Keep dong what you do well.
Pat, I agree with your perspective on the safety of crusing. However, from my sailing experience with crew, I have “scientific” evidence that the majority of people don’t have the mindset to sail their own boat anywhere, not even from one slip to another. Just owning a sailboat scares the pants off most people.
It’s also pretty evident that the majority of people can’t handle the freedom to live like you do…blame their parents, TV, Christmas festivities, peer pressure…Freud, anything you want. They would go nuts having to entertain themselves!
Perhaps you’re being compassionate and don’t want to tell people this, so I just did it for you. Sorry people.
When I first started reading your blog/website eons ago, I started thinking these people are either crazy stupid or geniuses. Then I got to the part of your first anchoring. You jumped in to make sure your anchor was set properly. What, crazy stupid person does that? None, only geniuses realize that dragging your anchor is one of the most dangerous part of sailing. So are they crazy stupid or geniuses? Maybe they’re crazy geniuses.
I am just trying to figure out how you have not fallen over dead from being in Mexico! It is a well known fact that everyone there is a crazed Narco. L’s hat is just too cool. I will bet a new fad will develop soon in every elementary school across the world. The hat makers owe him big time!
I agree your lucky to be alive.
Lets see. 1. GPS charts are avaible for almost all the world for the chart plotter. 2. Satelite phone to keep in touch with the world in cause of a emergency. 3. Internet for cheap contact with friends, for a emergency,for weather grids, and several other uses.
If Columbus Had all this he would have probably never left the dock.
Lowes hat is killing me!!
Death by pico de gallo and too much sand between your toes!
I hear you! We have decided to chuck it all and sail. We are now in the process of selling our house. My dad is totally convinced that he will never see us again once we buy the boat, and my plan is killing his grandchildren. How do you deal with this from people you’re close to?
It’s amazing how serious life has become. Everything has warning labels, everyone is out to get you, and doom and gloom lurk around every corner.
A dose of common sense and the want to enjoy life without fearing it goes a long way. Thank you guys for sharing your story!
Hi Pat & Ali & kids
Thanks for making your travels and adventures available for one and all to read.
With tithe diversity of backgrounds you have no doubt seen / found folks that are interested in sailing / cruising, well you simply are bound to strike differences of opinion on anything / everything from time to time.
A bit of controversy is good for stimulating discussion and hopefully to encourage folks to help fund your lifestyle
– not that I think you guys are making much out of book sales more the occasional paid lunch I suspect is more likely what you receive in exchange for your efforts 😉 I admire that you put together with your friend some insights to your share market trading (my next e book purchase) as with other aspects of your lifestyle you have been willing to share this helps for me at least to “de-mystify” your approach to life that is working very well for you and Ali, allowing you to acheive your goals and aspirations. What more can you hope as an individual or as a couple to achieve than your version of nirvana?
I suspect there is more than a little bit of envy or jealousy attached to many of the detracting comments you see. For me I think you guys are well educated young parents raising two kids your way. You have remained safe because you understand risk and consequence and accept risk to your appetite. Other people may or may not agree with what that is however in spite of this you are living what you guys think is your version of the dream.
Keep on living it.
Ron
Well, if you look at reviewer Boyles’ track record, she gave 1 star to 3 of the 4 books she read. I wouldn’t lose sleep over the 8% of people that gave you 1 star. What about the 80% that gave you 4 or more stars? I do think you have mellowed over the years. Maybe it’s age or maybe you are more worldly than you were back on book 1? As a non-sailor myself, your perspective appealed to me. The longer I have followed you, the more I like you. I also feel like I know more about you (Pat) since you seem to do most of the writing. It’s hard to get to know Ali because the story is usually told through your perspective. My favorite parts of your writing are when you are solving boat problems. I love how you show close-ups of bolts and broken hoses. It makes one feel like one is right there with you. Keep up the great writing! P.S. Yes, I did buy LOTM to support you slackers!
Lowe is totally rockin’ that hat!! Too cute!
LOVE Lowe’s new hat, he’s stylin’
I found Bumfuzzle through one of the forums a few years ago. They were talking about something similiar and I thought someone replied with a link to a disaster story so clicked on it and started reading Bumfuzzle and I read and read and fianlly decided to jump to the end and it was current….
I don’t know how stupid reviewers can get. Your trip around the world was one of the over-safe, most boring, voyages I’ve read about. You exagerated a lack of knowlege, failed to mention every adjustment, and course change that was made. kept the catamaran’s sails underpowered, picked up from your various mentions of low speeds. I didn’t see any time when you took unnecessary chances.
Love Lowe’s fedora. Classic X-Pat look. STICKS!!!! You are letting your kids play with common sticks? I know you aren’t crazy so you must have a gaping head wound? LOL, give them some string to make bows and arrows so they can shoot at each other, like my kids would do.