For the past 4 years or so I have lived and worked on boats. From Hawaii to the Mississippi River and now to the Columbia and Snake Rivers where I am currently at. Here are 10 things boat life has taught me that I hope will help me on the race. In reality, I have no expectations for the next year, but some things are a given and certain experiences will help with whatever comes my way.
1. Patience – Not that I have an abundance of it… it’s a work in progress, but I have met an array of people throughout my life of travels and not everyone has the same views as me and each person is unique in their own way. Instead of disliking someone for their differences, they really should be appreciated for who God has made them.
2. Community – I feel like an expert in this area sometimes, although I know I’m not. I don’t think community gets any tighter than working with the same people you share a room with and then also hang out with outside of the boat. You can literally be with someone 24/7. Yes, literally. You may not even like the person but they are there. This is where patience comes in. If you don’t start looking at the bright side of things, negativity can eat at you pretty quickly. However, once you appreciate the people around you for who they are you gain a true sense of community with them. You have their back and they have yours.
3. Servitude – Being a server on the boat what else can I say except for it’s my job? It’s not so much the job that teaches you how to serve someone. It’s your attitude. Anyone can be a server, but trust me when I say the guest can tell if you’re sincere or not. If you have the attitude that you’re just there for a pay check – it shows. Let’s be real – that’s actually why we are all there so it’s not like you can blame someone for having that attitude. But it’s your mentality that makes you thrive. There is really something to be learned from serving someone with all you have and doing it joyfully. It is difficult sometimes… a lot of times to keep a good attitude, but when you do it is actually so much more rewarding than being negative. If you learn to love what you do your potential is unlimited.
4. Laugh – There have been multiple times where things have gone very wrong at work or outside of work. To make light of that situation is the best possibly thing to do. If you have a problem, but you can laugh at it… it’s really just not as bad anymore.
5. Adapt to Change – Nothing on a boat ever stays the same. Things might change again and again and again… and then go right back to how you originally did it. As frustrating as this can be, there is nothing you can do but smile and roll with the punches. A good attitude is only going to help you so you may as well find that positivity somewhere within you.
6. Appreciation for Down Time – When you work 12 hours a day / 7 days a week for multiple weeks at a time you really learn to make the most of your time off. Sometimes that means running errands, taking a 20 minute power nap, or grabbing some lunch with the person you’ve probably been within feet of for the past 2 months… but whatever you do – you do it as quickly as possibly and you enjoy it.
7. Respect – People might say they don’t care what others think of them… but trust me, on a boat… you care. If you can’t get along with the few people that you work with then you’re probably going to be miserable. The easiest way to get along with everyone? Show them respect first. Show your roommates respect, show your co-workers respect, and show your managers respect (that’s a tough one for me!). Many times you have to put your ego a side and give in, but it’s for your own good.
8. Overcome Boredom – Appreciate where you are and who you are with. It could be a sea day so you’re stuck onboard and you may not be able to get off the boat the next day either because of your schedule. You learn to entertain yourself and your friends with the weirdest things. For example, making stuffed animals talk. (If you don’t already know… you may not want to know)
9. How to Make It Work – Someone has a special request and you just don’t have the means to make it happen? You figure it out. Use your resources and get it done. Period.
10. Gossip – Gossip spreads around a boat like wildfire. It’s better to just not get involved. Once you’re involved it’s just a downward spiral from there. Your name may get brought up and that will cause conflict with someone you have to see everyday. This will really teach you to confront the person that needs to be confronted rather than shying away from the situation.
I will be sad to leave boat life… at least for this 11 months, but weather I go back or not, my time spent on each ship and each boat has taught me more than I bargained for. I appreciate the opportunities it has given me and I look forward to this next chapter of my life!
