Here’s another post that doesn’t have much to do with the actual “sailing” or “cruising” part of sailing or cruising, but rather something that I think has influenced the sailing / cruising culture.

I read an article and listened to a podcast by Paul Mason, a BBC correspondent who interviewed Professor Manuel Castells, a noted world sociologist. During that interview, Castells talks about a new kind of capitalism growing from counter-cultures. He’s referring to a great number of people who have taken on the viewpoint [some purposely and some through inability] that the important things in life cannot be purchased.

“If we want to work to make money, to consume, it’s because we believe that by buying a new car or by buying a new television or a bigger flat, we are going to be happier. This is a particular form of culture.

“On the contrary… people are reversing the notion: what is important in their life cannot be bought, in most cases. But they don’t have the choice anymore because they are already trapped in a machine.” – Manuel Castells

Castells mentions large groups of people who engage fully in alternative, non-capitalist, activity. I think this can be said of most people who are sailing/cruising. They have escaped from the “machine” he’s referring to and are committed to living a lifestyle that is rewarding more intrinsically than financially.

People have started living differently, some because they want alternative ways of life and other because they don’t have a choice. Castells says he’s referring to his observations of one of his latest studies on people who have decided not to wait for the revolution – to start living differently – meaning the expansion of what he calls in a technical term ‘non-capitalist practices’.

This is exactly how I perceive myself while cruising. Breaking away from that machine and living differently is where I want to be. Just being a part of the human race, not part of the race to collect items and then spend precious time paying them off! I’m fully onboard with the non-capitalist practices.

As it’s been said before, I desire to collect experiences, not expenses.

Siochana,

Mike