THE CHILDREN OF THE CRUISING WORLD

DECEMBER 9, 2012

Rod has taken up a new exercise program.  Volleyball, the sport for young and old, played 3 times a week at Secret Harbor here in Mt Hartman Bay.  The marina has a volleyball court just off the docks.

Teams are comprised of adults and children.  The kids range in age from about 10 to 14, the adults from the 30's to their 60's. Now this makes for a diverse group.  Everything about the game is in good fun, no attitudes, no complaining.  They play from 3 to 5pm and when finished all are tired and heading back to their mode of transportation, dinghy, kayak or tiny sailboat.

The children we have met come from places like South Africa, England, Australia, South America, Romania, Texas, Alaska and New York City.  All have arrived here in the islands via their own boats sailed across the oceans of the world.  Today twin girls about 10 years old, arrived new to the anchorage and wanted to play volleyball. They had obviously never played before but were soon learning the rules and basic techniques of the game.

 

At a break in the game, Rod sat down with the identical twins Kay and Rose, they wear different colored glasses so you can tell them apart.  Most 10yr old children have no interest in conversing with unknown older adults.  These girls were completely at ease, eager to learn about where Rod came from, answering questions about themselves.  I guess one of the most interesting things is they always look at you when talking and participate in the conversation enthusiastically.  The girls came from England across the Atlantic to the islands.

The children who live on boats are much different from the children raised in the neighborhoods of America.  For one thing, they do not have an electronic device attached to their hand or an earplug in their ear.  With the first conversation you notice how confident and comfortable they are in a new situation.  They are eager to learn about the people they meet young and old.  All that we have met have an air of ease around them, comfortable in their own skin, comfortable with who they are and easy to talk to.

In early afternoon Anna, her sisters and friend Jasman all, board their very small 9 ft sailboat in Hog Island and sail out through the reef, around the peninsula and finally into Hartman Bay, threading her way through anchored boats to the marina at the far end of the bay.  When they get to the dock, all disembark except Anna.  She pulls up the centerboard, takes down the sail and ties up the boat.  They then join the volleyball team.

When not engaged in a group activity you will find some of the sisters sitting quietly under a tree with knife in hand, carving something out of wood.  They seem happy with their world.  When we are on It's Perfect we sometimes here one of the kids calling another with the VHF, they obviously are quite experienced using the radio for communication and are soon organizing a new

adventure with their new friends.

The parents that raise children on boats should be very proud of the result.  These children are intelligent, outgoing, polite, friendly, happy and seem amazingly mature for their age.  They are a great addition to the wonderful group of people we have met while living aboard It's Perfect.