A Sense of Home

While sitting there on the chair in the sun, four hours into an eight-hour ship watch, your mind starts to wander. Almost to the point where you’re going crazy, I wouldn’t be surprised if we end up creating five new religions and eleven cases of schizophrenia by the time we return from this trip. Even though nothing really happened today, it’s on days like this that you start to realize; this is my home. Being woken up by your friends, seeing everyone at their best and worst, and learning life all over again together, it really does something to you. Everyone builds connections and bonds that could never have happened on land. That’s the beauty of days like this.

Today was my first time doing ship-watch, and as i said it is eight hours long. It sounds mad when I say it, eight hours is not a short time. The only tasks being, going on hourly check-up every other hour and checking that no unwanted guests come on board.

While everyone else in Portside is work force, some messing with the windlass, some coiling the tamps and some up in the rig greasing the tamps. I am sitting here with my watch-friend in the sun. Thinking about how we all knew nothing about life at sea, nothing about sailing, but most of all, nothing about each other. So many new and exciting sides of people you never could imagine. Seeing new friendships, and maybe even more than that begin is a very beautiful side of life. Wandering around the ship, knowing I have cleaned every corner and every toilet at some point, makes you feel at home on the ship. Walking from the cabin to the big mess in the mornings and saying goodmorning to your big family, makes you feel at home with the people on the ship. Today I realised, that this is my home. It has been my home for 21 days, and will continue to be my home for 29 more.

While everyone in Portside is cleaning the deck, cooking dinner and hoisting our newly repaired sail, me and my new watch-friend are sitting in the pouring rain. Thinking about how we’re living our best life right now and will look back at this all our lives. The gossip talks in the cabins, the reunions when you meet someone from another watch, exploring new cities and water together. And just seeing everyone, everyday. I love it and I am grateful for my ship watch for making me realise how much this time of my life means to me.

And suddenly, my eight hours off ship-watch is over. Eight hours that felt like three are over, and the free time begins! Sitting in the small mess, chit-chatting, singing along with the cooks music and having henna drawn on my hand. This day where nothing special happened, was actually one of the better.

I hope this gave you a glimpse of life on this ship that isn't the practical things, but the changes and feelings you develop. Here on Gunilla, everything is well!

Ayla Lysell, Portside