living in interesting times…

A bit nervous making, some Scalzi looking back, and the word for today is p-s-y-c-h-o-s-o-c-r-a-c-y…

The last couple of weeks I’ve been thinking a lot about the current cruising landscape, the general state of the world, and my future plans. Whatever you may think about the ongoing state of affairs, we can all agree it’s a whole new world. Well, maybe not for folks with the ability to ignore/pretend it’s all hunky dory and “laissez les bons temps roule”. Truthfully, I almost envy those folks but, as someone who’s conversant with history, I know how that story ends and it’s not pretty.

It’s no secret that folks on boats flying the stars and stripes have traveled on a cushion of USA privilege. With wallets containing US dollars, one could bumble along the various milk run routes and be welcomed where they sailed to.

For third world cruisers it’s a whole different story. Having seen the hassle factor and hoops they have to jump through to get a visa is a whole different experience. Seriously, just think how cruising would be flying a Mexican or Haitian flag.

Of course, we all might know if the US continues its current tack. Last I looked, bombing Caribbean civilians is not an act that engenders warm cuddly thoughts. Also, citizens from a fascist kleptocratic regime with a failing economy is an undesired tourist niche nobody wants. History tells us with the current course of US politics, refugees from a fascist kleptocracy won’t be welcome either.

Yeah, think about that word a bit… refugees.

So, my current thinking on a cruising route sailing towards a possible circumnavigation with minimal landfalls in countries we’ve pissed people off and generally avoiding active wars, might be problematic.

Still, as the Scots and Chinese say…

Living in interesting times…