Well here it is, my first post from overseas. For security reasons, there are several
subjects which I necessarily have to avoid, such as my specific location, the mission of
the ship, and generally anything related to my actual job. Suffice it to say though, I am
out at sea for the first time, and loving every minute of it.
Life at sea is far simpler and more organized than anything I’ve ever dealt with before. I
wake up, eat, walk a short distance to work, walk a short distance back to eat lunch, then
walk back to work, then go to bed and begin the cycle again. On rare days like today,
there is more excitement. We took on supplies today, which involves literally the entire
crew. Everyone worked feverishly pulling ropes, moving and breaking down pallets, and
passing hundreds of boxes along human chains to freezers and storage lockers.
Other than that, there’s a lot of working out, playing cards, playing chess, and watching
movies during the down times between work and sleep.
I’ve also been writing much more profusely than ever. I invested in a nice little tablet
on which I can journal my daily thoughts and scribble down any random ideas. It’s
extremely therapeutic to be able to devote so much time to writing.
I have tons of books on this thing too, my two favorites right now being The Sea
Warriors, a nonfiction account of the period of British Naval history spanning from the
post-revolutionary period to the Napoleonic wars. The second is Two Years Before the
Mast, a journal written by a lawyer-turned-Sailor named Richard Henry Dana (for whom
Dana Point in San Diego was named). He sailed from Boston to San Diego back in the
late 1800s. You might wonder why I chose such nautical-themed books when I’m already
surrounded by true-to-life Navy culture, but I think it’s precisely because I’m at sea that
these books suddenly resonate so strongly with me.
Port visits are also a rare treat we all look forward to. So far I’ve been to a little island
owned by Portugal, and a larger one owned by Greece. We’re soon scheduled to see
another island, but of course for the sake of security I can’t be any more specific than
that.
All in all, I’d say I couldn’t be happier to be deployed. As strange as it sounds, my life is
so simple out here it makes me feel totally free, even if I’m technically confined within a
500-foot long steel hull.
Thanks very much to those who have written and sent me care packages, it means the
world to me that you’ve taken time out of your busy lives to think of me. I look forward
to seeing you all when I get back. In the meantime, keep an eye out for new content, I’ll
do my best to sneak in posts wherever possible.
Be blessed everyone!
-John-Rick
subjects which I necessarily have to avoid, such as my specific location, the mission of
the ship, and generally anything related to my actual job. Suffice it to say though, I am
out at sea for the first time, and loving every minute of it.
Life at sea is far simpler and more organized than anything I’ve ever dealt with before. I
wake up, eat, walk a short distance to work, walk a short distance back to eat lunch, then
walk back to work, then go to bed and begin the cycle again. On rare days like today,
there is more excitement. We took on supplies today, which involves literally the entire
crew. Everyone worked feverishly pulling ropes, moving and breaking down pallets, and
passing hundreds of boxes along human chains to freezers and storage lockers.
Other than that, there’s a lot of working out, playing cards, playing chess, and watching
movies during the down times between work and sleep.
I’ve also been writing much more profusely than ever. I invested in a nice little tablet
on which I can journal my daily thoughts and scribble down any random ideas. It’s
extremely therapeutic to be able to devote so much time to writing.
I have tons of books on this thing too, my two favorites right now being The Sea
Warriors, a nonfiction account of the period of British Naval history spanning from the
post-revolutionary period to the Napoleonic wars. The second is Two Years Before the
Mast, a journal written by a lawyer-turned-Sailor named Richard Henry Dana (for whom
Dana Point in San Diego was named). He sailed from Boston to San Diego back in the
late 1800s. You might wonder why I chose such nautical-themed books when I’m already
surrounded by true-to-life Navy culture, but I think it’s precisely because I’m at sea that
these books suddenly resonate so strongly with me.
Port visits are also a rare treat we all look forward to. So far I’ve been to a little island
owned by Portugal, and a larger one owned by Greece. We’re soon scheduled to see
another island, but of course for the sake of security I can’t be any more specific than
that.
All in all, I’d say I couldn’t be happier to be deployed. As strange as it sounds, my life is
so simple out here it makes me feel totally free, even if I’m technically confined within a
500-foot long steel hull.
Thanks very much to those who have written and sent me care packages, it means the
world to me that you’ve taken time out of your busy lives to think of me. I look forward
to seeing you all when I get back. In the meantime, keep an eye out for new content, I’ll
do my best to sneak in posts wherever possible.
Be blessed everyone!
-John-Rick
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