Lucky Man

From the very beginning of this journey all the way down to right now, I have been continually struck with gratitude for what can only be described as the great good fortune that has come into my life.

This sailing journey alone would be a once in a lifetime opportunity, but it has come into a life that has been rich with opportunity and adventure. And the fact that what began as a solo journey has turned out instead to be the beginning of living my life together with Jiayu is a gift beyond measure.

I was at one of my darkest moments when I first conceived and launched myself into this sailing adventure, buying an old boat with the financial remains of a dead marriage, preparing myself and the boat to journey through the world solo. I never could have guessed that life could turn around so completely.

My sense of gratitude started to bloom so fully in getting to know Jiayu that I kept threatening to have a T-shirt made to tell everyone how lucky I was. She used to ask me “What are you going to say to people if they ask about your shirt?” I always told her that all they had to do was look at my girlfriend and they would know why I was wearing the shirt.

Now, after the difficulties and inevitable frictions of living in a 28' boat together over a period of months, I am more certain than ever of my good fortune.

(翻譯）
從旅程開始到現在，感激之心持續浮現。我只能不斷驚奇於出現在我生命中的好運。

航行的旅程本身就是一生千載難逢的機會，但是我的生命中有過許多類似的精彩機會與冒險。然而，這個原本僅為我的單獨之旅竟轉為和Jiayu共同的生活卻是出乎預測的贈與。

一開始計畫與施行這個航行之旅，我正處於人生中最黑暗的時刻。已死去的婚姻所殘留的金錢讓我買了一艘舊船。我將自己與船整理好，單獨航向我的旅程。我如何也意想不到生命會轉一個大彎。

認識Jiayu之後，我的感激之心不斷滋生，所以我總是宣告著我要做一件T恤昭告天下我有多幸運。她曾無奈的問我：「別人問起你的T恤，你怎麼說？」我總是告訴她：他們只要看看我的女友就會瞭解穿這件T恤的原因了。

而今，在一艘10公尺小船上一同生活了數個月，經歷關係的困難與無可避免的摩擦後，我更加確定我所擁有的好運。