What's the hurry?

Greetings to the Julia group which has now swelled to 450 people! It's been a while since writing to you because I'm still buried in creating the book about our six-year journey around the world. Hopefully, you'll be reading it by the holiday season this year.

As I re-live the experience over and over again during the editing process, sometimes I notice the anniversaries of key events--today is no exception. Eight years ago on April 1, 2002, Julia departed the coast of Mexico to cross the wide open Pacific Ocean. It was an emotional day for for those who were aboard.

Moreover, the lessons learned about life were rolling in as fast as the swells in the ocean. One of the most important is noted in the April 1 personal journal entry--one of many you'll be privy to in the upcoming book. You can also read this on my blog, http://larryjacobsonauthor.blogspot.com/
As you go through your day today, ask yourself, "What is the hurry?"
Larry

Personal Journal April 1, 2002
We departed Punta Mita, near Puerto Vallarta today at noon without fanfare, and headed out across the Pacific. The boat felt heavy; full of fuel, water, people, and enough food for five of us to last at least 45 days. I have to say, it was a bit strange to be sailing away from land and heading out to cross such a vast body of water. No wind at first, so we motored until we all watched in silence as the last bit of terra firma disappeared behind us. Then the wind came up and we shut the engine down so all we heard was the “whoosh” of the water going by—we were sailing. We were going!
For 25 years I have dreamed that I would cross the Pacific again, but this time as skipper of my own boat. Now here I am. I feel proud, happy that I’m with good friends, yet have great trepidation about leaving home and my friends and family--and at the same time am excited at the prospects of new adventure. That’s a lot of feelings for one day.

Mexico was a challenge; just finding spare parts for the outboard motor, buying oil, or the food we wanted seems more difficult than in the States. However, I have a feeling much of that fault was due to our own misunderstanding of the local way of doing things. I’m sure that we’ll get better at adjusting as this is only our first country out of many more to come. It’s our responsibility to adjust to different cultures, not the other way around. But after less than three months here, we were all ready to leave Mexico. While we enjoyed the relaxed state and the easygoing atmosphere, the frustrations drove us crazy.
“Ola, we would like to buy these rivets por favor,” I said to the shopkeeper.
“Uno momento senor. The cashier must count them,” said the small man behind the weathered table.
“Count them? But they’re already in sealed bags and there must be over 200 here,” I countered.
“Sí señor. She will count them for you, no problemo,” he said with a smile.
“But why? It says right here on each bag that there are 10 rivets inside,” I said.
“Sí, no problemo. She will do it for you,” the shopkeeper repeated still smiling.
“That could take a very long time,” I said.
“What is the hurry, señor?” The shopkeeper really meant it.
“Sí, no problemo,” I gave in. What was the hurry?