People

Everyone is different, and traveling around the world allows you to get to know some people a little better. We first set out to get to know foreign cultures and their people. Even if we don't speak their language, with a little patience you can gradually put yourself in their shoes and learn about their way of thinking. Last but not least, we have already learned many things. But you also get to know a lot of people from your own culture. People who, like us, have set out to discover the world, experience foreign cultures and master life in a different way to our usual social framework.

Papeete Marina, Tahiti

Of course, money always plays a role for these people. Some have taken delivery of their new boat in Europe and set off with a sufficient budget and can simply afford such a trip. However, these are very few. Then there are those who are traveling with a limited time horizon and budget. These sailors usually travel quickly, have little time to spend at the destinations, and are generally a little more stressed than all the other sailors. They are usually traveling on a very low budget and often try to keep their heads above water by working as influencers. If they don't succeed, it becomes even more stressful for them. The group of people who have time are quite the opposite. Generally older, not wealthy, but with a solid budget, they sail to wherever they like and stay there until various restrictions force them to move on, or until they no longer like it and want to get to know another place. We belong to this group. 

Tahiti, view of Moorea

But there is another group, the adventurers. Adventurers have usually been around for a long time, are divorced, often have a girlfriend who is at least 20 years younger and are equipped with a wealth of experience (the adventurer, not the girlfriend, but possibly also the girlfriend). They don't realize for a long time that they can be a pain in the neck with their wisdom, which is probably because they are alone for long periods and, when the opportunity arises, pour their heart out and a little more, like water from a bucket. These people finance themselves by chance. They certainly have a small basic budget, which often only lasts until the middle of the month. This makes it all the more important to earn money in some other way. I met one such person in the Papeete Marina. He has just hit the check pot. He has found a fellow countryman who has recently become a millionaire through an inheritance. Unfortunately, or fortunately for the adventurer, this fellow countryman has a very peculiar relationship with money. And because he has not made any comparisons, he pays a large sum to be able to live on board. But this symbiosis is anything but peaceful. I only hear the arguments when I'm on the road with the two of them. I don't even want to know what else goes on aboard.

Papeete Marina Launch, Tahiti

In any case, the golden boy has a somewhat excessive tendency to drink and often puts himself in a position where he is unable to act. Maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but at least his cognitive abilities are so severely impaired that he needs help. Actually, let's call him Ernst, he should be back home in Zurich by now, but as the flight leaves Papeete relatively early in the morning, he doesn't make it to the gate in time and as he has already postponed the flight several times, the flight has now been canceled. Not that it was a normal flight, no, Ernst is flying business class and it costs accordingly. You could have had a few beers for that price, even in Papeete. But the accommodation on the boat is also immediately deducted from his account. Our adventurer makes sure of that, even before Ernst sets foot on the boat again. Completely thrown off course, Ernst now needs a few days before he realizes the full extent of the problem and can bring himself to book a new flight. Here, too, he will have to ask for help, as booking flights via cell phone is not really Ernst's thing. It's all right for our adventurer, as long as Ernst takes advantage of his help, the rouble, or rather the euro, rolls. Especially as there is another positive side effect. You can really eat your fill. As Ernst likes to go to a "Spunten" (Swiss word for pub, restaurant), the number of restaurant visits has increased significantly for our adventurer in recent months.

"Spunte" Papeete Marina, Tahiti

It's easy to discuss the situation over a bottle of red wine, or a second one, if that's not enough. And the two of them discuss a lot with each other. After all, a bottle of red wine costs around €50, which I think is very noble of Ernst, but I'm a bit embarrassed. I always contribute a third, at least to the first bottle. Be that as it may, it remains to be seen when Ernst will finally get his act together and actually manage to book a flight and catch it in time to get back to Switzerland. Theoretically, it could be that I see Europe sooner than Ernst. Yes, that's how different people are and at the moment I'm asking myself: which people are more interesting, the locals or those from my own culture? I believe you have to be open to all people. With this in mind, I wish you, as always, fair winds and keep a stiff upper lip.