When There Is No Plan
There are days in travel when there is no itinerary.
No landmark.
No plan.
And still, you go somewhere.
The Pull of the Marina
For me, it is the marina.
Every time I return to Canada, I find myself walking toward the boats.
Even when I have nowhere specific to be.
Even when there is no reason.
Or perhaps that is the reason.
The Presence of Working Boats
Fishing boats.
Working decks.
Ropes coiled without ceremony.
Salt resting quietly on metal.
Not luxury yachts.
Not polished surfaces designed to impress.
Purpose Over Appearance
Just vessels that carry labor.
Weather.
Experience.
Each boat holds its own story.
A fishing boat does not compete with a larger ship.
It does not measure itself against scale or prestige.
It exists for its purpose.
And that is enough.
Travel as Alignment
Travel, at times, is simply returning to what feels aligned.
Not because it is spectacular.
But because it feels honest.
A Reflection That Connects
If you have read Waiting Beneath the Totem, you know that some places call you back quietly.
Observation Without Comparison
Standing near the water, I do not compare.
I observe.
A working boat deserves the same respect as any grand vessel.
Different function.
Equal presence.
What the Sea Teaches
The sea does not rank what floats on it.
And perhaps that is what draws me there —
a reminder that value is not measured by size.
A Simple Truth
Some visits have no destination.
Only proximity.
And sometimes, being close to the water is reason enough.
