Not right now...

[dalbright1963]

If you were to read the profile description of our boat's page on Facebook, you would read, "An organic couple who HAD dreams of traveling to exciting destinations." After spending months at anchor, in 2020, 150 feet from a beautiful beach that we couldn't walk on, due to martial law, we saw the writing on the wall. On a whim, in the blink of an eye, we were restricted from movement, in a foreign country, with passports as our only representation.

Now, over three and a half years later, additional chaos and threats muddy the waters of travel, to the extent that we have resigned ourselves to remaining in U.S. territorial waters for the foreseeable future. World War, a collapsing world economy, civil unrest and a resurgence of the weaponisation of health issues, point to a real climate change where travel is ill-advised. The idyllic methods of travel where a welcoming country cheerfully accommodates your arrival can no longer be taken for granted, as geopolitics and economic disaster has many destinations on the brink of starvation and takeover.

One of the more popular cruising grounds for American cruisers is the Caribbean. A short peek into the economies and alliances of most Caribbean nations finds the imperial spread of China, in their ownership of ports, resorts and critical infrastructure of these locations, not to mention the construction of military outposts in some. Couple this with the de-dollarization that is sweeping the world and you have the perfect opportunity to put yourself and your boat (maybe your only home, if you are like us) in jeopardy.

Imagine, if you will, that you are the guest of a foreign nation who opts to no longer accept the dollar for payment. What if your bank has collapsed, as you travel, and your credit cards are no longer valid. Add to that a hostility towards your nationality because you are American. All of these factors weigh against the commonplace axiom that you travel without personal protection (pew pew). A recipe for disaster.

Another scenario could be that although you provisioned for months of travel, you arrive at a destination where the economy or supply chain has collapsed. Here you are with the items these people are lacking. You don't have to be very bright to see the conclusion to that scenario. It could mean your life.

We see so many cruisers, with their umpteen new Jerry cans and dual wind generators, boasting about their upcoming circumnavigation. Unfortunately, it is impossible to curb their enthusiasm with the realities that exist and the fact that they are not guaranteed safe passage or existence, at this moment in time. Best to wait for things to pass or accept that the world has irreparably changed and pick a cruising ground where you are not compromised. Any consideration of international travel, at present, is foolish and potentially fatal. Someone needed to say this.

[JPK]

Sweet Jesus, someone's been watching too many apocalypse movies. Take a deep breath. It's going to be OK.

[flee27]

I agree with you JPK. It does seem through a lot of lenses things look a little scary currently. But no need to jump off cliff IMO. There are still a lot of nice people in a lot of nice places. One might need to be a little more careful then in years past but by no means do I believe it is time to climb into the zombie shelter...

Good luck to us all.
Foster

[wholybee]

I'd rather not have someone with that view of the world sharing the beach or anchorage with me anyway.

[Mike OReilly]

A lot of what seems to be scaring you is simple geo-political change. Yes, the American hegemony is coming to an end, and that will mean change. The rest seems to be a consequence of too much screen time. Step away from the TV/computer/phone, and look up. The world is not nearly as scary as you seem to think.

[boatman61]

It's called Adventure.. a storm may sink you, an Orca may steal your rudders, you may get boarded and robbed.. or none of those things.
There's likely a few folk in Maui, Greece, Spain etc who would happily trade places with you for your options of mobility.
Their imagined security and safe life having turned to ashes or buried in mud..
Death is the only certainty in Life..

[Wolfe10]

Originally Posted by wholybee

I'd rather not have someone with that view of the world sharing the beach or anchorage with me anyway.

AGREE.


OP, please DO stay home. Happier for you and everyone else.

[skipperpete]

Originally Posted by dalbright1963

If you were to read the profile description of our boat's page on Facebook, you would read, "An organic couple who HAD dreams of traveling to exciting destinations." After spending months at anchor, in 2020, 150 feet from a beautiful beach that we couldn't walk on, due to martial law, we saw the writing on the wall. On a whim, in the blink of an eye, we were restricted from movement, in a foreign country, with passports as our only representation.



Now, over three and a half years later, additional chaos and threats muddy the waters of travel, to the extent that we have resigned ourselves to remaining in U.S. territorial waters for the foreseeable future. World War, a collapsing world economy, civil unrest and a resurgence of the weaponisation of health issues, point to a real climate change where travel is ill-advised. The idyllic methods of travel where a welcoming country cheerfully accommodates your arrival can no longer be taken for granted, as geopolitics and economic disaster has many destinations on the brink of starvation and takeover.



One of the more popular cruising grounds for American cruisers is the Caribbean. A short peek into the economies and alliances of most Caribbean nations finds the imperial spread of China, in their ownership of ports, resorts and critical infrastructure of these locations, not to mention the construction of military outposts in some. Couple this with the de-dollarization that is sweeping the world and you have the perfect opportunity to put yourself and your boat (maybe your only home, if you are like us) in jeopardy.



Imagine, if you will, that you are the guest of a foreign nation who opts to no longer accept the dollar for payment. What if your bank has collapsed, as you travel, and your credit cards are no longer valid. Add to that a hostility towards your nationality because you are American. All of these factors weigh against the commonplace axiom that you travel without personal protection (pew pew). A recipe for disaster.



Another scenario could be that although you provisioned for months of travel, you arrive at a destination where the economy or supply chain has collapsed. Here you are with the items these people are lacking. You don't have to be very bright to see the conclusion to that scenario. It could mean your life.



We see so many cruisers, with their umpteen new Jerry cans and dual wind generators, boasting about their upcoming circumnavigation. Unfortunately, it is impossible to curb their enthusiasm with the realities that exist and the fact that they are not guaranteed safe passage or existence, at this moment in time. Best to wait for things to pass or accept that the world has irreparably changed and pick a cruising ground where you are not compromised. Any consideration of international travel, at present, is foolish and potentially fatal. Someone needed to say this.

With the concerns that you stated, I believe that international cruising ( or perhaps even travel at all) is simply not for you, yes, the world is a difficult and rapidly changing place but cruising folks have always had to face adversity and adapt to variable food availability, water availability, sketchy fuel supplies and less than helpful authorities.

[jt11791]

Chat GPT, write me a whiny xenophobic treatise on why I should stay home and not sail around the world. Be sure to blame the Chinese.

[SailingHarmonie]

Good thing they are an "organic" couple. Think how bad things could get if the artificial couples get too common? For people like the OP, the ONLY option is to sign up for Elan's trips to Mars. Please do you will be happier there, or not...

[Cheyne]

Originally Posted by jt11791

Chat GPT, write me a whiny xenophobic treatise on why I should stay home and not sail around the world. Be sure to blame the Chinese.

Here you go:

As someone who deeply cares about the preservation of our culture, heritage, and way of life, I implore you to reconsider your reckless desire to sail around the world. While the allure of adventure may be enticing, it is imperative that you recognize the potential threats that such a journey poses to our cherished traditions.

First and foremost, embarking on a global voyage opens the door to exposure to foreign influences that could erode the very fabric of our society. Each land you visit will undoubtedly introduce you to unfamiliar customs, languages, and beliefs that run contrary to our established norms. The risk of contamination from these alien ideas could lead to a dilution of our values and a loss of the unique identity that defines us.

Furthermore, the act of sailing to foreign shores inherently endangers our national security. In an era of uncertainty, we cannot overlook the possibility that you may unwittingly gather sensitive information or be exploited by malicious actors seeking to undermine our way of life. Your interactions with foreigners could inadvertently provide them with insights into our strengths and weaknesses, making us vulnerable to potential threats.

Let us not forget the economic ramifications of your proposed endeavor. Every dollar spent abroad is a dollar that could have bolstered our own economy. By venturing into foreign markets, you divert resources away from local businesses and contribute to the decline of our own industries. This, in turn, leads to job losses and economic instability, putting the livelihoods of our fellow citizens at risk.

Moreover, the environmental toll of global travel is undeniable. Sailing around the world requires the consumption of precious natural resources and the emission of pollutants into the atmosphere. The carbon footprint generated by your voyage would contribute to climate change, further destabilizing our environment and impacting the lives of those living in vulnerable regions.

In conclusion, I implore you to reconsider your ill-conceived notion of sailing around the world. Instead of chasing after fleeting thrills, let us focus on safeguarding our heritage, security, economy, and environment. By staying home and preserving the sanctity of our way of life, we can ensure a brighter future for ourselves and the generations to come.

[Jammer]

a) There's lots to see cruising the USA. Enjoy it. Many people are unable to cruise here to the extent that they would like due to visa restrictions.



b) International travel has always required skills, resources, patience, and a certain amount of risk tolerance. When exactly do you believe the heyday of easy international travel began and ended? Each era has posed unique problems.


c) Jerry cans were never cool



d) Wind generators are passe

[deblen]

"Add to that a hostility towards your nationality because you are American. All of these factors weigh against the commonplace axiom that you travel without personal protection (pew pew). A recipe for disaster."


Arming yourselves & settling anywhere in the USA is much safer-no question.

[sailorboy1]

Sounds like a movie plot

[Chotu]

OP: You experienced that stuff during COVID. It wasn’t that much different anywhere on earth when that happened. Even in the USA the highways were nearly empty. You were not allowed to go ashore in many, MANY ports. There was not much difference from what you are describing.

The rest of that? Just stay off social media a while. It’s polluting your mind. I know. It happened to me for a while too.