Tug Crystal Coast on the Chesapeake BayIt's always a great feeling when we come past a sea buoy going into port.For one it means calmer smoother seas.Secondly,it usually means some fast paced work that tends to make the days click by.Nothing can possibly be better than waking up this time of year and finding myself in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay.I walk outside with a cup of coffee and watch the sunrise.Calm bluish green water with a touch of salt in the air,I love it.Well on the same note it does hurt a bit coming into the Port of Norfolk and have to leave again.Being so close to home and not being able to get there is a downside of the job but we are all paid well for a hard days work.Coming into Port this evening was a little strange for me.See it's been one year almost exactly since I switched companies.I was working this exact area almost a year ago when I received the offer I had been waiting over a year to get.Obviously I accepted it and was well on my way to learning how it really is supposed to work out at sea.The assist boat we used this evening was one of the boats I worked almost four years on busting my ass,working my way up,pulling eighteen hour days,making half what other people were making doing the same job.If you are wondering why did you keep with it,why not quit and find another job.I don't know the answer,maybe deep down inside I was taught not to quit,maybe I'm stubborn like my father.Whatever it is and or was I'm glad I did stay with it.In the course of a year,I have become a much better Mariner and I still have tons to learn.The funny thing is I can't wait to find out everything there is to know about my profession.
4 comments:
Nice salty sunrise in the bay; trannys in Port Norfolk. Watch your pirate booty mate!
Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Brumski!
I have also stuck with crappy jobs . . . sometimes you just have to pay your dues in order to get to a higher level and sometimes you just get to comfortable. Glad everything worked out for you in the end . . . so where to professionally next?
Next step?Hmmm good question.I have come to a bit of a crossroads professionally speaking.I could continue on and get my tankermans ticket which would enable me to work on oil barges and pays good money.I think I will,for the time being,stick with my dream and do what very few mariners do now days.Work my way up to captain from nothing.Many mariners go the easy route and just go to a maritime college,whis=ch is fine,if you don't want any respect from your crew.Only time will tell,right now I just have to put in time at sea and maybe next summer bite the bullet and take my mate trainee courses.Good question!
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