A Secret to a Happy Life: Live Like a Boater 24/7
“A lot of people ask me if I were shipwrecked, and could only have one book, what would it be? I always say, ‘How to Build a Boat’.”
- Steven Wright
When was the last time you waved at someone from your car?
I’m talking about driving on the highway and waving hello to the guy next to you doing 70 miles an hour.
If aliens are observing our planet - and no doubt they are - they’ve probably noticed something peculiar about how humans change their behavior when riding certain vehicles.
They’d notice, for example, that when we’re on a boat we seem very happy and peaceful. We smile and wave at other boaters - our beautiful fellow human beings. People on dry land see us on the boat and wave at us.
But then something happens. We leave the boat and step into another vehicle - the one with 4 wheels. Suddenly it’s a whole different ballgame. We tense up, curse out loud, cut each other off, and yes, we still wave at each other - only this time with one finger.
Same human, different vehicle. What happened?
People even NAME their boats, hiring professional sign painters. (How come we don’t name our cars?)
Below are some actual boat names I saw recently (Notice how creative, playful, lighthearted and exotic they are):
Joyous, Segovia, It’s About Time, Flying Cloud, Copasetic, Sabre 52, Off the Cuff, Snookie Joy, Wife’s Squall, Verus, Sweetness, Sandy Said II, Quickwater.
If we named our cars it’d be more like Flat Tire, Drunk Drivin’, Bad Direction, Don’t Make Me Stop This Car, Breakdown, or Long Commute.
To be fair, chances are if you’re on a boat you’re on vacation. You’re finally free to relax, be happy and carefree…enjoy life. I get it.
But why wait until you’re on a boat?
Why wait?
So here’s your homework: wave at your fellow motorists the next time you’re on the road. Try it once. They’ll think you’re nuts. I’ve done it, it’s a great feeling.
And while you’re at it, think up a carefree name for your car and have somebody paint it on your trunk. Something cool, like Stargazer, or Gas Guzzlin’, or Hot Mamma.
What do you think of my little philosophy? What would you name your car? Got a boat story? Leave a comment.
Great philosophy! We’ve just moved to the country, and I’m getting a bit of practice waving at pedestrians… people greet us when we’re walking and they wave when we drive by as well (a proper wave, not one of those city-folk one-fingered ones!). I’ll try this out on my fellow motorists next time I’m out, and I’ll try to introduce my new country ways to the city next time I go into town
PS, my car has a name… she’s called Ruby :).
Hmmm, bit rusty on my html - that link didn’t work! I was trying to shamelessly show you pictures of Ruby: http://macnoodle.blogspot.com/.....-ruby.html
What a great, fantastic article! Thank you for olanting in our consciousness a Choice that we can make when we drive. Just last Sunday my husband chose to take the New York State Thruway rather than local roads. Why? To AVOID every and any traffic light. I could not believe he had this tremendous aversion to traffic lights. I am absolutely not bothered by traffic lights (unless it is a “damn that traffic jam”..JT). I will be forwarding this to my husband and I thank you for writing about this subject. This is a gift to me from the Universe. I had no idea what to say about this fast paced aversion to lights he has developed! I think you have offered a Great Service to all who read this article! Warmest regards and please keep writing! A Big Thank You from New York! Kathy Fowler
Mags - nice story about waving to your neighbors! And nice car. Donald Fagen has a song called ‘Ruby’. Maybe you can download it and play it while you’re driving and waving to passing vehicles.
Kathy - you’re too kind! Glad you liked the post. You are welcome to leave comments here anytime! And hey - look up my recent post called “Sexy Mothertruckers” and let your husband read that one too. It might make him appreciate stoplights more.
Good post, man. I look forward to seeing how you paint your car…Mine’s the “Ultra Mega Madness Machine”!
My car’s name is Beatrix. She’s a sexy sporty Volvo C30. I am very happy in Beatrix. Beatrix makes me happy. Our boat’s name is Serrano II. I am even happier in Serrano. Serrano makes me over the top happy. And yes, the boating crowd, in general is very relaxed and friendly. We had one old geezer get all cranky with us the other day, and we have no idea why. I guess he was experiencing some form of road rage.
Baby. Her name was Baby. And I loved her. For years, I loved her.
She passed away about a year ago, and I can’t find the gumption to name what I am presently driving other than….CAR. Sorry. (wink)
I moved to a small oceanside community a year ago. WHAT A GIFT I gave myself. The sense of belonging, of knowing some folks, of greeting familiar faces walking their dogs, of letting the dogs play together and not begrudging the time to allow someone to tell you their story.
My life is rich with the energy that allowing others into it can bring.
And boy do I enjoy when people wave from their yard as you drive by. I guess after reading your post, I should quit throwing things at them when they do! (wink wink!)
Mark Heng - love your car name - totally appropriate!
Urban Panther - Beatrix. I like it! (partly because ‘Beatrix Kiddo’ is Uma Thurman’s character’s name in ‘Kill Bill’.) Glad you get to enjoy a boating lifestyle. You’re way ahead of me.
Harmony - My condolences about Baby. Time to think up a new name for your new car! That’s great about your coastal lifestyle. Sounds like a quaint neighborhood. No throwing things!
Hi Mark,
Yeah, why is that? Boaters are more friendly?
I wave to my neighbors when I see them in their cars, but normally wouldn’t wave to a stranger on the road.
I haven’t named my car, but I’ll give it some thought.
Great post. I just came back from a vacation where my accomodation was literally built on top of the water. The dining/communal area faced the water, and we had boats going by constantly, and YES everybody made a point of alwasy smiling and waving. Secondly, this was an island, so, of course to get back to the mainland we had to take a boat, which left at around 5pm everyday. The staff and guests sang a farewell song and waved to those departing……..EVERYDAY. It really gave the whole experience that “feel good” touch.
I have always named my cars. My current car (an my favorite) is a chili red convertible MINI Cooper with black stripes down the front, black and white checkerboard board mirrors and a Mickey Mouse antenna ball. This car doesn’t go unnoticed. It has been so much fun. It invites folks to talk to me, smile and wave. In it I feel it an obligation to be friendly, wave and to the dismay of some, sing out loud. I LOVE MY CAR! If you want to see me in my car check out this site. The picture is at the bottom. I think in the photo you can tell how I feel about my car! :O)
http://tivate.com/interviews/i.....ve-teacher
Barbara - try the wave game. You’ll feel a little nutty but it’s good for ya, and it’s good for the other people. As for your car name, how ’bout, “Barbara’s Rocket Ship.” Yeah, I like it.
LadyExpat - Welcome to the cafe! Sounds like a great vacation spot - where is it? Sounds like Fiji!
Laurie - great to finally put a face to your comments! I’m jealous of your hot rod. That’s a keeper! Zzzzzoom!
Thanks for the great welcome.
Actually, Mabul Island off the coast of Semporna in Sabah, Borneo.