Wednesday, November 21, 2012

What is in a Name - Always Starboard

Always Starboard
A greeting card we found shortly after naming our boat

Susan and I struggled naming our first boat. It was a 2000 Fourwinns 248. This pocket cruiser had everything the big ones did except the generator. As one good friend described it, "the biggest little boat on the lake". It was probably the most spacious boat of its size at the time. Our first season we learned a lot about the boat and about each other. Boating has a way of bringing out the best in people. In that first season we fell in love with each other, and the boating lifestyle. When we decided to name it, we were actually thinking about upgrading. The 2 footitis, as I recall our boating friends called it. Ours ended up being a severe case of 10 footitis. We end up settling on a 2000 Sea Ray 340 Sundancer.

The name came to me as we were having an argument. The argument was so insignificant I could not tell you what we were arguing about the next day, much less know today. Although, while writing this story a thought came to me. I think it probably involved me looking for our next boat and not agreeing on what we were going to be looking at getting. I just remember the feeling of anger coming over me and needing to contain myself. I have little self restraint when I believe I am right and so does Susan.

To put the moment it in perspective, we were dating at the time, probably had know each other about a year. Susan was actually the owner of the boat and I was her Captain. We had both just been through divorce and like I did when going through the end of my practice marriage, I bought something for myself, (Harley Davidson Road King) she bought a boat. During the honeymoon of any relationship you attempt to control your emotions and not get upset with the other. You may filter yourself as to not scare off the other during an argument. It seems once you've been together long enough that filter comes off. I am sure you can relate. I digress, but it paints the picture.

Anyway, back to the argument...again reminding myself to not sweat the small stuff I backed off and sat in silence for a moment. Then it hit me...I blurted out, "I got it!"

She gave me a look that said you are about to step into that grave you've been digging with your words and then barked "What!?.."

I said, "I know what we are going to name the boat....Always Starboard" and there was a another quick moment of silence, and then a smile began to appear on the corners of her face. While noticing I was not going to be pushed into that grave I was digging, I followed up with "Because you always have to be frick'n right.". This almost started another argument, but instead both just started laughing and poking fun at each other.

At this moment I knew this was for sure the name of our boat, as it describes both of our stubborn tendencies. Susan did have her reservations about it, but I said we can always say it is "Always the Right place to be." and she agreed.