When we were first contemplating a long term sailing adventure, I whined that I did not want my life to be about sharing sundowners with strangers. Community is important to me. How can anyone cultivate community while traveling?

Albert insisted, there really is community in the cruising world, and I doubted it. What kind of community Is there when you’ve only just met someone, and you’re already leaving?

But I’m finding out that Albert is right. On Christmas, our mostly transient community put on a beautiful holiday feast. We were part of it. It was wonderful.

We floated in that sparkling sphere of safety and loving kindness and generousity of spirits  that is or can be …everywhere? Maybe there are no strangers?   We surely felt like we were home, with people we’ve loved forever.