Elsey Curtis – Summering Extreme

September 19, 2011 By: Elsey Curtis

Elsey Curtis

If not an athlete of some accomplishment, one needs to be, at least, an extremely good sport to summer on a tiny sailboat.  Why?
Well, for starters, here are four factors you might consider.

1. Tight Quarters:  Sharing and fitting into a minute space is not at all like fitting into white jeans left behind on shore.  On the other hand, maybe so.  “Suck in your tummy,” Chip suggests.  His recommendation stems less from a premise that isometric exercise would help my progressively loosening stomach muscles (due to missing regular gym workouts these past 2.5 months) and more from his private concern. He simply hopes to pass me by en route to the head where I block his way standing next to the dinette table we nightly convert into a bed unless, of course, the boat cushions are soaked by rain.

2. Water Sports: H-mmmm, speaking of H-2-O, one must be sporting when this stuff occasionally seeps through pin-sized holes in calking surrounding portholes of our 35-year-old boat.  Although not exactly water athletics, Chip and I are challenged, trust me, as rumors of Hurricane Irene’s wrath wend their down east.  Enough said since we’re superstitious about borrowing trouble.

3. Hunting:  While summering, Chip and I stay in shape hunting sea glass.  For anyone missing regular Yoga classes, stooping low and wide at frequent intervals along beaches is a great substitute.  Merely putting one foot in front of the other, eyes intent on the sand, we gather bags of “loot” at low tides and enjoy an exhilerating sense of accomplishment, sort of like going to the gym.

4. Dreaming:  Last but not least, dreaming is an activity so connected to summering, it is impossible to separate one from the other.  In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if this entire summer is not one amazing dream.  In fact, pinch me come September or I’ll still be wondering— did I just imagine this last summer in Maine?