Coming and Going - The Nature of My Job

It is the nature of my job that people come and go. Some stay longer than others, but we move around a lot. Some people may get transferred to another vessel, or they may get another maritime job that better suits them, some go back to school, and some just get sick of life on a boat. For whatever reason we are all moving in and out of each others lives. It is also the nature of my job that the relationships formed with my co-workers are intense. These relationships cross the spectrum, but those of my co-workers that I am close to have become like family. For so much time we are all we have. When we are out in the middle of some national park we cannot contact our families and friends at home so we rely on each other for laughter and support and sometimes even a loving hug that makes the day easier to deal with. Our universe is so limited that all we know anymore is life at work, life on our boat, so all we have so much of the time is on that vessel - each other. This makes the loss of a co-worker potentially so much more than usual. I have spent my entire time with this company, excepting 11 days working on the same vessel. Because of this I am one of the more stable (at least in terms of boat assignment) people I know within the company. In some ways maybe that makes it easier because I have more time with the crew, but also as I stay in place and people leave it seems so noticeable to me because of all the memories on that one vessel. One of the things that I love about my job is that I get to meet so many exciting people, both among the passengers and the crew. That being said, some are really hard to see leave. So, tonight on the eve of my return to Seattle for work, here's a thanks and a hug and a heartfelt 'I miss you' to the folks who won't be there when I report to work. You should know who you are.

Tim, Nancy, Pete, Me, Whitney "Pumpkin", and Charlene in Seattle March 2007.
They are five great crew members and friends, three of whom I've lost to other adventures.

As for all the folks at home I know it is I who is coming and going through your lives. In the time I have off I see so few people as there is always so much to deal with in my time on land. I feel horrible that I don't even see my friends in Chicago when I am so close. There are so many more phone calls I should make while I can. I too am guilty of coming and going in the worse sort of way. My thanks to everyone I leave on land for not giving up on me. I promise one day I'll come back, I'll won't be so boring, I will return phone calls and emails, and most importantly I will show up at the bar when I say I am going to. I miss you all too. More than you even know.