Boy Meets World: 2014

This summer has been an interesting one. With a nonchalant, last ditch effort to procure employment after an internship at IDEO did not work out, I fortunately got a job at the Boy Scout's Florida Sea Base. I've been working at their docks since April 18th, mostly doing swim checks and helping provision boats. Though I haven't been able to do as much sailing as I would like, I have met a ton of really interesting people, and made lots of new friends from all over the country. I started doing yoga with a little Asian lady who works in the office named Yin. Hopefully I will be able to do some sailing with her and her husband, Cpt. Ron. Always good to know somebody with a boat!

I was able to help my friend Ryan Marskbury land a job down here. We jam on the ukelele and harmonica every once in a while.

My parents came down over 4th of July weekend, and I spent the day in Key West. We rented a little hobie cat, so that was cool. We also met a little family in hte KOA campground set up a tent. The father turned out to be a Romanian tennis coach. Most importantly though, I drank margaritas with my mom and smoked a cuban-rooled cigar with my dad!!

I went spinnaker flying with one of the captains here, which is basically using a spinnaker sail and harness to fly over the water, usually 20-30 ft. Very neat.

I'm almost open water scuba certified. Its very difficult to find time and instructors (especially since I'm not a chick) but I think i'll manage it before then end of the summer

I also found one of the coolest hangout spots I've ever seen. An old bridge kids jump off of into a canal, way off the beaten path down south. Another cool spot is this huge abandoned house about a mile down from base. Its a big concrete structure with its on little peninsula. It reminds me of something out of the Great Gatsby. I got a group together to do naked yoga on the roof and sleep on it. It was awesome (nice breeze too) There's a 360 view of the ocean from the roof, and is a awesome spot to watch the frequent lightning storms off in the distance

The biggest achievement this summer was surprisingly within myself. I'm learning to take sometimes unfavorable circumstances and make the most of them. This job can make one very frustrated, but learning to control how you perceive reality is very important, and I've definitely grown in that regard. Without a car, it becomes very easy to become stuck and aggravated after weeks straight on the little base. But staying busy and organizing events and activities with the resources available is the way to stay optimistic in an otherwise bum situation. I've been organizing little cookouts on the beaches and different things to bring the staff together and make the most of my summer. I suppose that's what I'm most proud of.

Other than that, being down here really makes me want to take off in a sailboat, and this experience has shown me I really could do it. Its not some sort of fantastic dream, but a lifestyle that many people live happily.

Until next time, take it easy