I have been spending some time at our family’s lake house in Michigan, and as a result, I have developed quite an affinity for boating and anything maritime culture. I suppose I have always had this love for the water, but over the last couple of weeks, it has really developed into something. I mean today I found myself on the Internet watching videos of creepy seamen tying various nautical knots. Although this does seem a bit bizarre, I can now tie an ‘anchorbend’ or a ‘sheepshank’ with the best of them.

There is kind of a cool community in the boating world as well, and boaters treat their fellow boaters as though they were long time friends. Just the other day a man approached me while docking our boat, and after marveling at my Grade A parking job, he proceeded to tell me repeatedly that I had “a beautiful boat there�. I pretended like it was mine, and said “Thanks�. He hung around for a bit too long though, and I started to doubt his intentions. But for the most part, the boating community is nothing but positive. I even love the unwritten rule of waving at every other passing boat. It’s kind of like a “Hey, I have a boat too, that makes us pretty sweet� kind of thing. I’m sure my Dad, being the control freak that he is, does not want me tooling around Lake Michigan on his craft as though it were my own, but I feel I am learning a great deal about the vessel, and can now take my Dad out for voyages, so he can relax without the stress of tending to the boat. At least that’s how I pitch it to him.

I have to run now though, because I must get to the local boating supply store to pick myself up one of those cool Captain’s Hats before it closes. I bought the boating shoes yesterday.