I was doing some deep cleaning the other day, which primarily involves taking things out of cupboards, reorganizing stuff, and wiping everything down with vinegar to keep the mildew at bay. {Mildew is one of the issues you face when you live on a boat in a warm, humid climate.}
Next to a plastic container full of bullion cubes, taco seasoning, and ranch dressing mix, I found a ziploc bag of boat cards that we've collected over the past few years. Boat cards are kind of like business cards of the cruising world.
Although, unlike the rather dull cards I used to hand out in my days working in corporate la-la land, which had my name, job title, company, and contact details, boat cards are far more fascinating.
Instead of a company logo, they have a picture of a boat, often anchored in an exotic location. Job titles are interesting, such as Captain, Admiral, or Chief Bottle Washer. Not something stuffy-sounding like General Manager, Organisational Development. Children and pets are proudly listed. And when you do see a picture of the crew, they look relaxed and happy. Social media links are common, so that you can stay in touch after you've headed off your separate ways.
It was fun looking at our collection of cards and remembering when and how we met, and thinking about what they're up to now.
Some folks have stopped cruising, sold their boats, and "swallowed the anchor." Others have bought new boats and are planning new adventures. Some intrepid souls have left their home ports with plans to cross oceans, maybe even circumnavigate. Others alternate cruising with working, in order to keep their savings topped up.
While their journeys may all be different, they have two things in common - boat cards and a sense of adventure.
You can see our boat cards and read more about getting them ordered here.
When cleaning or organizing, have you ever run across something that brings back memories?
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That's a great way to stay in touch. Now and then I'll clean out my closet and find a treasure like that.
ReplyDeleteThey're also great for jogging your memory when you know you know someone, but can't quite remember their names.
DeleteLove the idea of boat cards! I hope they find a way into your sailing cozy mysteries.... :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea! I'll have to work them in somehow.
DeleteHow fun. Boating is a very transient thing we've noticed. Great find and great memories.
ReplyDeleteI often find things that I've forgotten about and it is often a delightful walk down memory lane.
Have a fabulous day. ♥
Transient is a very good description for it.
DeleteI am not a lover of boats but am intrigued by your story!
ReplyDeleteNew follower here!
Best wishes
John
Welcome, John! Thanks so much for commenting. It's always great to know that there are new people following along :-) I see you have a blog so off to check that out.
DeleteEveryone should have a business card. Some authors have pretty ones, too.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought about business cards for authors, but I can see how that would be a good idea.
DeleteLove seeing our card in your lineup? But did you know vinegar can feed mildew in the future? We switched to Concrobium, (paint department at Home Depot) with much better long-term results. And the boat doesn't smell like a pickle...
ReplyDeleteGreat tip on the Concrobium! I assume you can use it on all surfaces? I'll check it out at Home Depot.
DeleteWhere would we be without that sense of adventure? Keep sailing and well-stocked in vinegar.
ReplyDeleteA sense of adventure (no matter how big or small) is the key to an interesting life :-)
DeleteThat is so cool! I didn't even know "boat cards" were a thing! Now I want a boat … and a card!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know they were a thing either until we started thinking about buying a boat. They're pretty cool :-)
DeleteNice! We hand out our boat card when we are traveling on land. Land travelers don't have cards - at least the ones we've met (or maybe they just don't want to give a card out to the crazy accordion player and his wife). But I don't think it is really a thing in the Rubber Tramp world.
ReplyDeleteThat's really interesting that RVers/land travelers don't use them. You'll have to make it a "thing."
DeleteWe have cabinets and drawers full of memories. Maybe someday i’ll have time to organize them.
ReplyDeleteImagine what a fun trip you'll have down memory lane when you get a chance to tackle them :-)
DeleteHey there! What a great idea, captain! My family and I lived on a yacht for 4 years in teh South Pacific, but there were too few live-aboards to think of boat cards, back in those days. Too bad! Our boat was the Brenda Lynn, named after my mom - so she would stick with the boat, my dad said!
ReplyDeleteYour dad sounds like he's a very clever fellow, naming the boat after your mom :-)
DeleteHow cool that you cruised in the South Pacific! You must have lots of great stories to tell.
Cool! Kinda like QSL cards for the boating world.
ReplyDeleteI had to google QSL card to figure out what I meant and then I was embarrassed because I should have known what they were :-)
DeleteMay the adventures continue !!!!!
ReplyDeleteBut maybe with less cleaning.
Yes! Less cleaning!
DeleteWhat an awesome idea!
ReplyDeleteI've definitely come across treasures while organizing. Boat cards sound like a great idea. Do you still keep in touch with the people who gave them to you?
ReplyDeleteWe do keep in touch with many of them - some have left comments here and on our FB page :-) Others I might follow through their blog and then there are some that we haven't communicated with since we ran into them in an anchorage.
DeleteOften I come across forgotten stuff when organizing. I almost expect to find things that trigger memory. When it happens by accident, when I just find something in the course of my daily life, that's when I really get excited.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice when daily life gives you a little surprise :-)
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