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
Excellent podcast. In fact, I liked it so much… I bought the book “straight away”. Enjoy your weekend. Kosta.
I agree that there is freedom in escaping the temptation of materialism. I disagree that capitalism is at fault. Capitalism is a pure entity, influenced by those who participate. A prime example of greed and fraud is the Pink Ribbon campaign. Companies that produce cancer causing, toxic products are allowed to sell them with a pink label because Komen’s foundation only see dollar signs.
I think the sailing community seeks to escape the greed and manipulation of companies seeking to rob you. We recently decided to buy a vehicle, and we were tempted by the bells and whistles of new, but bought a 7 year old van instead. It will save us $8,000 over 3 years compared to the Jeep we had. We will put that to paying off bills and saving for a boat.
The only reason escaping from materialism seems impossible is because we are a gimme now society who feels it can’t wait and save for a dream, so we comfort ourselves by buying more stuff and getting deeper. Change means denial and self control, the opposite of current marketing.
You’re absolutely right, Tammy, about our “gimme now” society. It seems a large portion of our population has failed to experience delayed gratification when younger and as such, expects their adulthood to be the same. Gone are the days [for a lot of people] of prudence and self control, when you saved your money for purchases and didn’t buy until you could pay cash.
{begin rant} I fully support and respect raising money for breast cancer awareness and cure. A family member of mine is a breast cancer survivor, but as far as the Komen Foundation goes, I really believe that it’s dollar-driven and not cure-driven. I don’t want to make this blog a political or financial soapbox, but the Komen Foundation has raised more than 2 billion dollars since it’s inception. The CEO makes almost $460,000 per year and the founder makes more than $415,000 per year and when a cure finally is found, those people will be out of a job and the money river will dry up. {end rant}
I agree with buying a used vehicle instead of new. I made that decision long ago to never again buy new. The last car I bought was six years old and I’m driving it until the wheels fall off or I move onto my boat….hopefully the moving will happen first. 🙂
Mike
Hey Mike,
I think this post has a LOT to do with cruising, it is part of the motivation my wife and I have to make it happen. It seems to be a topic that appears in many of the cruiser blogs I read. In the US we’re taught from the time we were children that we should grow up, get jobs, buy that house with the white picket fence (on credit), the cars (on credit) and try to “keep up with the Joneses” until we retire at age 65. Realizing that I was spending 50 weeks a year of my life doing what society expects and 2 weeks what I wanted to do seemed crazy. The idea that it would likely continue until my health deteriorated to the point society didn’t find me an effective worker (retirement) sounded like the definition of insanity.
We too are searching for a simpler lifestyle with more “experiences” and less “things”. Good luck on your journey and hopefully we’ll run into each other in some tropical locale soon!
-Mike
ThisRatSailed.blogspot.com
Very well said! Especially the part about working until society has no further use for you…
Great post that I think so many of us future cruisers can relate to … a simpler way of life with lots of exploring and new adventures! We can’t wait!
I agree with you totally. I hope we cross wakes someday. Its always nice meeting like minded people.