On the Brevity of life and Water Toys…

My family is relatively young. We’ve been through hardships, individually and together… and good times too. Most recently—like many Americans—we endured the lay-off experience (ugh) but now have arrived at some (however momentary) stability.

We are pragmatic and practical people. Our purchases are thought-out, we buy things on sale, we wear drab neutral-colored shoes (and clothes for that matter…they all go together that way. Of course we end up looking like depressed socialists.)… There is nothing flashy about us, nothing extravagant; just simple, middle class, public worker values.

However, we have one dream. One luxury we can no longer live without. We’ve decided it’s time for a boat.

We want a 2007 Yamaha SX230 High Output (bowrider/jet propulsion) and it’s luscious. The Yamaha folks aren’t releasing official information about it until 8/21 at 9:00AM PST—not that I’m paying attention, ahem… We’re told they’ve added a head (porta potty…but it’s way more fun to say “head”) compartment to the model which I—as a mother and a female—am quite giddy about. (Ok, there is still some shopping and research to do and a boat show to attend… but we’re strongly leaning toward this boat).

Here's the link to their website and the 2006 models:

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/boat/products/lifestylehome/home.aspx

And a link to the 2007 preview:

http://www.motorboating.com/motorboat/photogallery/article/0,26512,1224122-26,00.html

Now, we live in a land of kayak, canoe and sail boaters who develop this appalled look when I show them our dream. They insist upon the peace and quiet of their water toys and abhor the loud ruckus of the power boat… This is primarily because they are not in one at the time. But, I tell you what, I’ll put any one of them in the Yamaha, tell them to hold on, and I’ll tear it up. Watch the grins appear.

I’ve always wanted a power boat. My parents borrowed one for a summer and I fell in love. I recall sitting in the bow, fully underway, with my little boombox playing Dire Straits, Brothers in Arms… transported to another universe. My dad let me drive it and I stood in “Miami Vice” ecstasy… I knew then I must have one of my own someday.

Fortunately, I married a man with the same intense desire for boat utopia and we have our priorities straight. Essentially, should we buy one? Of course not. Is it a good financial investment? Nope. Would responsible people pour their money into an oversized water toy? Nah.

Do we care? Hell no. Here’s where we are. Life’s too damned short and there are no guarantees. We could be the most frugal people on earth, make all the wise financial investments, pay off our debts, never go out to eat and save save save… But you never know how much time you have and all that sacrifice and waiting just might not pay off. What good is all that financial investing and conserving if you end up folding before you get to any reward? I’m not willing to gamble our youth and enthusiasm on this ideal of total financial security when we are too old to enjoy it…I’ve learned that even if you play the game by all the “rules,” you can still end up on the bottom.

My child will be 8 in November. She adores us, she loves spending time with us, she’s a daredevil and she loves the water. Our boat is not a sound financial investment but it’s an investment in memories. When I’m 90 (assuming I make it that long), sitting on my back porch…worn out and used up. Am I going to reminisce about the property I bought and sold, or the bank account I plumped up, or the credit card I finally paid off? Or would my mind wander instead to Cassie bouncing on some ridiculous inflated toy…screaming her head off and my lovely husband at the helm.

The boat will be our waterfront property… Our parlor… our family therapy…our social director…our amusement park…our escape… We’ll watch Cassie grow up on it, bring her girlfriends…and her boyfriends on it… through it we’ll keep her engaged and get to know her. We’ll have an outlet for forming new friendships…something to invite new people to do. We’ll bring old friends on it and watch them laugh… Jim and I will take moonlight cruises together…let our stress and responsibilities float away…reconnect when “real life” gets out of hand.

We work hard, we’ve achieved things nobody thought we could. We don’t make a ton of money and we don’t expect to be rich and famous. However, of all the luxuries or creature comforts… this is what we want. Cars, fancy homes, trips to Paris, in-home theaters…? Nah.

We’ll be at the January boat show and with luck, next spring, you’ll find us on some patch of water…tearing it up or laying around like happy sea lions.