February 11, 2012
On January 8th, I stepped into the unknown. With only two moderately sized bags in which to pack my life I headed into a completely new existence. I did so believing that I could do anything for four months, the length of my contract. If it was a fundamental mismatch, then the simple answer would be to not renew and find a more traditional land-based job. If it did connect then after two months at home for vacation, I would be open to giving it at least another four month cycle. No ‘final decisions’ had to be made. And given the employment market at the time, it seemed to be the best option in front of me.
Like most transformative moments in my life I have seemed to stumble into the place I need to be. That has certainly been my pattern. When I first encountered Forensics as a high school student it was after reluctantly giving a speech in a public speaking class I didn’t want to take. My career path that led me to HP started when I was laid off from a small construction company after getting in the middle of office politics battle between a chief financial officer and the chief accountant. My career transitioned to IT as a result of my complaining about inadequate systems we were using in accounting at HP. My training career truly launched after a co-worker talked me into attending The Stuff Americans Are Made Of quality seminar at Disney. My marriage resulted from an unlikely job placement when my division was closed in HP, and I was told a needed to share a phone with a woman the next cubicle over. My invitation to the diaconate happened when it had no right to happen, given that I didn’t have a residence in the Diocese of Colorado Springs, or so they thought. For some reason my house hadn’t sold. You get the picture . . .
So once again strange twists of fate have me living and working on the newest cruise ship on the oceans. And surprisingly, it has been an extremely comfortable fit. Living in a self-contained floating community, training and administering development programs, and being present to both guests and crew, simply seems to fit like a comfortable pair of sweats.
This is not to say that the challenges of this life are not hard. There are many. In the first month being away from friends and family was not overly taxing. With the convenience of email and cell phone calls from US ports, contact has been fairly constant. But not being able to see the people you have been with for years and years can be wearing. If some are concerned they would go ‘island crazy’ if they lived on an island, unable to easily drive to different locales, then shipboard life is the extreme of that. The pace of shipboard life was the perfect match for my pent up energy when I arrived. Yet, as the second month gets under way, I can feel a little bit of reality setting in. I may have to succumb to those afternoon siestas that so many take, in order to survive the steady stream of 10-14 hour days. I miss being able to reach into my refrigerator and simply grab exactly what I want. The menus of the Crew Mess and even the restaurants grow quickly predictable. And, of course, I miss my forensics team.
Yet, the benefits of ship life are immense. First, I’m training again as the major component of my job. Teaching, coaching, encouraging and counseling truly make me happy. I like the fast-paced rhythm that makes me feel like I’m always accomplishing something. The warmth of the Caribbean is a real blessing for someone as solar powered as me. Waking up every morning and being in a different place, with enough familiarity, fulfills my wanderlust and desire for the familiar. The people here are mostly amazing, high-energy, hard-working, positive, and funny. Having over a dozen restaurants and even more bars within walking distance of home is pretty nice. Engaging our guests and representing our brand is something that makes me feel good to do. I am definitely spoiled, since I have a cabin attendant who makes my bed and cleans my room each day. Not sure I will know how to take care of myself when I’m home on vacation. If I stay on Silhouette I will get to explore the Mediterranean later this year. I truly look forward to the second contract which will allow family to sail with me at times. My life is pretty simple, which gives me the solitude and time to write.
Will I become a ‘lifer?’ I truly have no idea what the future will bring. But a second contract, at least, definitely seems to be in the offing. They tell me that they have been ‘turning over’ a lot of T&D Managers throughout the fleet lately. This life at sea isn’t for everyone. But it does seem to fit me.
It appears that the adventure will definitely continue . . .
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