Showing posts with label Freedom. Show all posts

In these times

There is a growing hole in my heart for all the people around the world that is continuing to suffer, who have lost their homes, their parents, kids, friends, grandparents, siblings, neighbors - to unnatural deaths caused by war, deadly diseases, attacks, food poisoning, vaccines and over-medication brought upon them by their (or another country's) government whose manipulation and control of the system, media and society is rapidly growing. We are soon outliving the last generation where most still have had the fortune of dying a natural death, and in my darkest moments I feel humanity is close to its own self caused destruction. 

I’ve cried, for all those millions of innocent people, first thinking it was an uncommonly severe form of PMS i was going through this month, but after the week had passed, I still cried. From the depths of my heart, a quiet, bottomless cry of sincere sadness and frustration. Knowing fully well my tears won’t help any persons situation, except flush my mind and cleanse my tinted heavy heart.

Life has always been precious, I’ve always been the first to promote a “live life to the fullest” attitude, but more now than ever, do I feel it is important to live true to ones beliefs and do what good we can with the time we have left. I don’t mean to put a damper on your new-year mood, but really, there are things we are in much less control of today than in the past. Real freedom is not as easily achieved as one might think. And unless we escape to the most remote place on earth which with a sky full of satellites and Google earth on each man’s computer doesn’t even exist any more, we are all part of the problem no matter we want it or not.

No matter how well we manage to avoid the corrupt and one sided mainstream media, we are still consumers. Consumers of this man-made utopia, a dream created by a few which is orchestrated so well that we have fooled ourselves to believe it so hard that we’ve made it into our own dreams. But truth is most of us are living and serving someone else’s vision more than our own. Like a dutiful citizen, the best sort of slave who doesn’t even understand it is being used and made use of. Who doesn’t understand that the hatred and bigotry they’re growing from within is a manufactured result of someone else’s greed and imperial aggression. A manipulated idea wrongly placed upon yet another naive human beings shoulders. Traumatizing its perception and ability to make his or her own decisions.
The more time that passes, the more that I see, know and learn, the smaller and closer do I build my world. Effectively I cut off what’s not meant to be there in the first place, clean the weed and add more love and sincerity into the things and people that are my most important, the strong pillars of my fort, my private life.

If I were to point out some of the most important of all aspects in a human beings life which helps maintain some sense of freedom, this is what I’d find:

Drink and eat healthy - Hydrating a human body is the single most important thing for our survival. Make sure to filter your tap water very well as it in many cities around the globe, especially here in the USA, contain a too high level of Fluoride (which is purposely added by the government), among other unwanted chemicals and pollutants such as lead and mercury. A Brita or Soma pitcher does not remove these invisible particles. There are great counter top filtration systems for around $200 and they last for as long as you take good care of it. Read more in this informative post by Wellness Mama. And here if you want to know how Fluoride, a highly toxic byproduct from the fertilizer industry, is bad for you.

Buy local organic food to the greatest extent you can. Non processed and no factory farmed foods obviously. Learn to cook your own meals. As long as you rely on others to do it for you, you will be in no charge of what goes into your body. Do you really want to leave that important aspect up to someone else?

Be selective - Regarding everything from food to choice of friends and partner. Understand your value: you are worth as much as anyone and everyone else and can make your own choices without having to justify or explain to anyone. Ask yourself: What is essential? Then eliminate the rest. Say no to events and activities of less value so you can give yourself fully to that what really matters.

Remove every sort of relationship/friendship that doesn't make you feel real good. The ones that makes your heart feel heavy and uncomfortable instead of uplifted. The ones that care more about themselves than others. The ones that pick on you or try to make you feel smaller only because of their own demons and insecurities. The ones that constantly talk shit about others because you know it, they'll do the same when you're not around. Learn to, and do not be afraid of demanding peace and harmony for your life. Drop people from your life who cannot stick to the truth and who don't prioritize honesty in the way you do. Say no to small people drama, you've got better things to do than be concerned for others who clearly need to work on themselves first. If you want to respect yourself and attract good people into your life, these are the choices you must make. But don't forget to live up to your ideals yourself, as well.

Follow your passion - What are your inner desires? Is there a possibility you can explore them, and not only dream about them? In most cases, it is the self that puts stop on fulfilling dreams, but only because you placed mental obstacles in your head. Stop doing that. Write down pros and cons with your current situation and another, more ideal situation. You might find that the good aspects of your current life overshadows the negative after all which in that case is great. Or, you could find out that a change is needed. Don’t be afraid of changes. They make you grow and you’ll find corners of life and yourself you've never discovered before. Email me if you have any doubt or if I can be of any help. I'm serious. We all deserve to do the things we've always dreamed of. Who knows how much time there is left. If you on the other hand are a homebody that prefer the comfort of the couch and a safe salary in the end of the month, don't be afraid to admitting it. Nothing wrong with that as long as you are ok with it and as long as you don't lie to yourself.

Stop stressing - Don't stress about all the things you should or should not do. Take your time. Your path is your path, no one else can ever know or feel what you are going through. Try and find peace in each process. It doesn't matter how long time it takes for you to accomplish/finish/initiate whatever it might be, it only matters that you know that you are on your way. Or that you are taking it easy for a while. I love the easy, reflective in-between moments, those are the times I gain perspective and can examine life and situations objectively.

Say no - You don't really need to do anything, no I'm serious. That is my standing point. These days, I only ever do the things that feels good and right, right then. I have nothing to prove to anyone. Whatever I want to do in life, I will do my best to achieve them one by one when time is right for each. Not going to rush it. It might be tempting to say yes to that offer or that event, just because it might lead to something later. Or because they pay well or whatever it might be. But if it's not truly what you want and not something that feels good in your stomach, why bother? I'm pretty good at avoiding such traps and as I get older I find security in knowing that when I am ready and fully prepared, I will do whatever it is I will be doing, but strictly my way.

Sleep well  - I prioritize this highly. Much above late nights and most sort of events. It's a good day that starts with feeling recharged. If you add a bit of stretching/yoga/exercise in the morning followed by a fiber and vitamin packed breakfast, that is a perfect start of each day, for me.

Spend less, enjoy real life more - Do you really need 25 pair of jeans and four TV's? Our society has made us believe we need so much of everything. Obsessive consumption is a sickness as much as alcoholism, although more expensive (hopefully). I see shopping as one of the great distractions in society. Constantly wanting and needing new products/gadgets/clothes distract people from really important things. It also makes you a slave to consumption and to the companies that only sell their products for profit, and not so much to make you happy. For each dollar you save on shopping, you can add that to your dream travel or dream project account. Spend the money on visiting friends or family. Or buy yourself freedom in the form of an apartment, other property, a car or why not a boat?

And then email me if you find a totally remote place far from all the political madness of the world as we know it. Though I'm guessing I'd need a spaceship for that.

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easy rider

Two of the things Alex have missed the most on our years of sailing (besides family and friends of course), was to work in a studio, and owning a Harley again. You know already that he's back in the studio for the time being, and so the search for the perfect bike has been something that's consumed most of our evenings as of late. My evenings too, cause what every sensible woman know is that the way to (world) peace and harmony is to first make sure her man is happy and entertained. 

So after a few weeks of search on Ebay and Craigslist we finally found this stunning red beauty for the right price, low mileage and much closer to home than expected. Well that is after I managed to fend off the ideas of buying a super cheap and run down Harley cause "I can fix it up in no time".. Hell no, can't deal with another renovation project now that the boat finally starts to feel alright.

He's owned many Harley's before, and this particular one from 98 is very similar to the Dyna Super Glide 98 that he had previously, though this one is a Wide Glide and red instead of the blue he had before.

Given that it also was his birthday yesterday, it wouldn't have been possible to find a better thing to do than head out on our first ride in four years. Especially since the glorious summer weather's still going strong here in New England. We rode through Cohasset and the stunning Jerusalem road and Atlantic Ave, and down through Marshfield and Duxbury and back. 

And what does this bike purchase mean for our sailing journey now you wonder? Well we've decided to stick around the US a bit longer, still have so much to see outside of MA and there's still so much business for us both to take care of here. Now that our O-visa applications for three years got approved as well (much thanks to experienced and super knowledgeable lawyer Eric Lorenzo at Barst Mukamal in NYC), everything is much easier both work and travel wise. 

In regards to the bikes future, it probably won't be a walk in the park, but it is definitely technically possible to bring the bike with us anywhere we go with the boat, dismounted below deck, if we really wanted to. Shipping is obviously another option if it comes to that. Thankfully we don't have to plan that far ahead in time right now and we're going to try and enjoy the most of this end to the summer that there is left. And then plan for some nice out of state bike excursions for fall..

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soon time to go

video from when we sailed from Central America to Florida last summer 

Only a few weeks left till our first sail of the year… these five months have been the longest time I've ever been away from it. Since Alex and I met and he taught me how to sail some 4,5 years ago, that is. The climate in Spain where we lived before this trip is obviously milder and allows for playing on water all year around. And the years spent sailing traveling from the Mediterranean to West Coast of Africa and the Caribbean and South America was warm and gentle any day of the year too… it's only here in North America that we have had to put a halt to our usual, ever moving, ever salty sailing lifestyle. 

It's been a good winter in many aspects as we've got certain very important things done here on land. But it will be such a relief the day we can move out from this harbour and finally embrace that special exhilarating sense of freedom one can only ever feel by steering your own boat offshore…. We're still not quite ready to leave the US completely, but a slightly new environment and a new destination is still on the horizon… 

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$$$ and freedom part III

This is partly, but very precisely what I meant with my first text about money & freedom, when I expressed my sadness for the capitalistic world that we sailed right into after a few years spent on various lazy islands. 

Ok this might be a little harder for most of you to relate to, but it speaks to me on so many levels. This is the true definition of people dedicating time, hard work and love for something they truly and passionately believe in. Something they neither make money of nor do because someone asked them for it. It really doesn't matter if it's about rave parties, selling everything you have to travel the world, dedicating your time for art that pays less instead of working corporate, or breaking free from your regular 9-5 job in order to become a self-employed. It is the creative, openminded, daring, free thinking that I respect and will always support on any level it might be.

I don't say that anarchism or breaking the laws are always necessary to achieve what you want in life though I am not a stranger to it either as long as you do it respectfully without hurting anyone in the process (the guys in the video does it so skillfully and exemplary). But what I love about this clip as well as the people I have the fortune to know in life who shares this very same mindset, is that they go after what their heart feel is right and not what some politicians, hypocritical and controlling rules, society, god or education have told them. They go and get what they want and do not sit around waiting for someone to say "it's ok".

What is life after all, if not a very limited period of time in which we shall indulge in our true passions and fulfill what our hearts yearn for the most? What is life if we live all of it under control of others opinions, regulations and rulership? My hat off to everyone who dare break free from the status quo, and who realizes that letting go of all what we are supposed to be doing isn't a crime, but rather a necessity to be able to live life fully in a way that will fill their souls with an honest, real meaning.

Thanks to my good friends who always share good video material with me, dear Johnny in particular!

Read chapter one in the $$$ series here, the side notes to the first chapter here, and the second part here.

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$$$ and freedom, part II


One thing you must understand before reacting too strongly on my opinions about the US and its commercial culture, is that I've lived full-time at sea since October 2010. One of the reasons to why Alex and I left for that journey, is that we wanted to detach ourselves from exactly this sort of commercial world, even though Europe and Spain that we left behind are still on average much less commercial than the US.

We wanted to see what else insights the natural world could bring us. So many knowledges have been gained, and spiritually I've transformed into what I believe is a much healthier person. I now see the negative in an even brighter light, and the good things with our world and existence are more important to me than ever before.

As the first real stop in a "real" civilization since we left Europe three years ago, is the land of opportunities, the land of commerce and the greatest driving force of industrialization - it is absolutely inevitable that I and we react in the ways that we do. In many ways, the US is the total opposite of the life that we wanted to reach when we left Europe. Now that fate brought us here, we will enjoy what we can, especially meetings with the American people that in the end aren't that much different from people from other places - it's merely the culture that is fucked up in my opinion - but we will also like always continue questioning the societies we visit.

While I mentioned that money completely seem to be running this culture, I didn't only mean in terms of the huge mansions, big four wheel driven cars and the sometimes obnoxious ostentatiousness that can be found here in this country, because I can have an understanding in that if you make a lot of money, you probably want to spend it on the things that feels right for yourself. But what I also meant was that everywhere you go, anywhere you drive, the country seem to be absolutely packed to its teeth with huge highways and no railways, one mall replaces the other within only a few miles, all the American brands squeezed right in where real estate and land allows - Mc Donald's, Dunkin' Donut, Subway, Taco Bell, Walmart and what else names are there. 

There seem to be very little left of real farms with real animals that you still find in abundance in Europe (I know I haven't seen it all here yet, speaking out of current experience). It also seems very hard to find small, genuine restaurants and shops that are created and nurtured by people who has a committed interest in delivering something with a soul. Smaller businesses are bought up by large ones, and the high taxes and regulations for self employed seem to discourage many from starting their own companies.

There simply doesn't seem to be a break from dirty commerce nowhere, and all what is left seem to be owned by very few, very wealthy folks, who I mentioned, really doesn't care about neither our health, nor the sustainability of this world. This is what makes me so sick to my stomach. I love many of the American people, as well as the beautiful, quiet little oasis in the forest where we stay. But it seems as everything outside of it is made up in the way that the citizens should spend as much money as they can on things that I think are not needed. Things that are not created with good intentions, only as a means of making the rich even richer. 

All that terribly produced food that are always within a short driving distance. Cheap china produced clothes made by slave workers from another side of the world, sold everywhere from Saks fifth Avenue to Walmart. And then the outrageously overpriced Whole Foods who yes indeed offer many great organic products, but today are one of the most successful businesses in America partly because they abuse the hype of healthy food and instead of showing goodwill and work towards making good food accessible to everyone, they jack their prices up sky high. Trader Joe's seem a better option, if one cannot get hold on all what is needed in local farms.

The emptiness I am talking about is not only found in the robot like people that work for these massive chains, but also in the whole system where nothing that is genuinely good and compassionate gets as much attention as the ones without a genuine business model. 

This soulless waste can be found in smaller doses in many parts of the world, and unfortunately the plan seem to be for politicians and multimillion dollar business owners to continue to grow all across the world with the very same pattern as here, where the vicious cycle started. Because of the immense waste that I have experienced both in this country and elsewhere, though mostly here, I myself have become even more committed to supporting brands and companies that are small, local and who still have a genuine interest in people, and not only in the filthy old dollar. Or at the very least, companies that produce with qualitative, natural ingredients/materials and cruelty-free methods.

In these last few years on water, I have learnt that I can live on almost nothing, it is actually very well possible to be happy with the bare minimums. So why would the something that I need or really want, have to be produced by dishonest means, or with cruel methods, for humans or animals alike.

I often make mistakes, and I wasn't half aware a couple months back as I am today, but each day I am working towards a better, more ethical environment in the small ways that I can make a difference. For example:

  • I strive for not eating animal products as I do not think it is fair of us humans to enslave and torture neither people nor animals, but it happens that I taste from someones dish that contains meat or dairy (though from organic farms most of those times). It also happens that I eat freshly caught local fish sometimes, my personal motive being that recently caught local fish isn't enslaved for many months as cattle, pigs, chickens, turkey's in a factory farms are. This is a personal standing point.
  • It has also happened that I've purchased a garment I needed that has leather on it, but from now on I do my very best in always choosing the pieces that doesn't. I still have some old leather jackets or other earlier purchased leather/suede shoes and bags which I obviously wont throw away as the animals already are killed and it won't help anyone if I stopped wearing it. But from now on, I make sure to limit my participation in killing innocent animals, the best I can.
  • I am from hereon committed to purchase beauty products only from organic, healthy, non toxic brands that are truthfully good for me, but it has unfortunately happened that I've bought a non organic product for my skin as at least today, the chemically produced concealers from the famous brands cover red spots much better than the ones made with organic ingredients. Within the six months that my new Shiseido product will last me, I hope at least one organic, non-animal testing brand will come up with a better covering solution so I can forever stay true to only what is good for my health. 
  • Looking at the absurd amount of waste of garments in malls and commercial stores, I've made the decision that I shall always try locating what I need in local shops or from smaller brands. I will rather spend my hard earned money on designs made by real people, and no longer buy into cheap china produced or stuff from the bigger brands and chains, unless it's from a vintage/consignment store. 
  • It does happen that I eat a meal with non organic produce, but for my health and to support local farmers, I am committed to always try to purchase organic. I rather live off only well purified tap water, homemade wholewheat bread and homegrown apples than digest the toxins and modified genes that the non-organic produce often contains. I'm not even joking, I have totally turned against food the way I had always seen it for thirty years, and there is nothing that could have me going back to purchasing into the delusion that is the commercial food supply. Give me good or don't give me anything at all.
  • As we all need money in order to survive, I have promised myself to always try working with only people and brands that I truly support ethically. I could choose to sell my photography to another multimillion dollar business that cares zero about who I am or what I really do as long as they can get away with whatever efficiently, or I could work with companies that has an honest approach and who stands for something I can relate to on a personal level. Money must be made, but thankfully I have a choice in who and what can be involved with my work. I've made some mistakes in the past of course, but for each day I am learning to make things better in order to become as selective and conscious as I want to be.
What I'm saying is that I am not a perfect human. No one is perfect, in any aspect of life, but should we stop caring altogether because we can't reach perfection? I do what I can to help spreading the word about how to take better care of ourselves and the poor old world that we live in, as well as how to support the ones who really need our support. Even if nobody is here to watch every step that I take, it is about integrity and working towards doing what is right. I can't change the ones who are not willing to make a change, but I believe in us all doing what we can to move the good and positive forward.

I believe that we constantly have to live with eyes wide open in order to not miss important information when it passes by. The world is ever evolving, and what was good yesterday, can turn out to be bad tomorrow, so it is really up to us to think for ourselves, to make a commitment - if a better world and health is important to you - and make sure to pay attention and continuously research for better options, more knowledge, real truths. I know this isn't hard at all, it's all about deciding how you wish to live your life, and then just go for it.

Read chapter one in the $$$ series here, and the side notes to the first chapter here.

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(side note to) $$$ and freedom

Before some of you people take offense next time and become sensitive about the fact that we might not share exactly the same worldview, you must learn to read correctly. I have nowhere stated that my thoughts should become universal law, nor am I running for presidency, and I did clearly say:

What exactly freedom is is up to every individual to find out, and when analyzing life, myself as well as looking at the history and evolution of man which stretches millions of years back in time and not only 237, I have come to some conclusions of what freedom means to me .... 

Besides the fact that I have mostly figured out for myself what freedom means to me, my text above also means (if you want me to explain further as some of you seem to have hard to understand my lousy English) that IF you are happy with working for a corporate business, buy four flatscreen tv's, have three cars, constantly refill your wardrobe with piles of labeled garments and eat GMO filled food, well then that is absolutely fantastic! I salute your decision of doing what you truly love and that you gain wealth, freedom and contentment from your chosen pursuits. We all have a choice. What I often question is merely, does everyone know that they have a choice? Have they searched and found what freedom and simple happiness really means, to them? Do they know what they really want or have they taken an outside image and made it theirs? And if they do know that there is a choice or two, are they then opting for what they believe is truly right? From the bottom of their hearts? Does their life's choices make them genuinely happy, or only falsely satisfied? On the short time we've spent here, I've seen a lot of emptiness in this country. Even if you have it all made and thought out for yourself, many others seem to live life on autopilot, almost as they were robots.

If you are happy with your life the way you lead it, then I am forever pleased for your sake. That is what life is about (in my opinion), to find your own personal interests and go for it. That is what we have done, and many of the other people we know and like. People who are either self-sufficient in one way or the other with their own companies or through their art, music or other pursuits that they share with the world, making the money they can in order to survive and lead a good comfortable life, but while truthfully enjoying the process with all what it means. Or, they're living very frugally, maybe sailing indefinitely, or in other ways working it out for themselves without being too much swallowed by commercialism and the whole pleasing-the-corrupt-system-monopoly-game. All those sorts of people are normally the ones that Alex and I get best along with for some reason. The ones that think for themselves and have made honest decisions based on self knowledge and an urge to live life to the fullest with open eyes and an open mind.

If you choose to see life differently than what I or we do, then that is totally fine and I am not going to argue with you. I'm sure we can learn something from each other, despite our differences. Like I said previously, it's a matter of defining the meaning of freedom. It doesn't have to be the same for you as for me.

Also I didn't point finger at only USA as some of you seem to have understood it. Quoting myself once more:

"This isn't only about America obviously, in many parts of the world, in particular in larger cities, are we wrapped up in the delusion and destructiveness of a natural human beings worst enemies - money, power and greed - I merely just use America as a prime example as it is more clear here than anywhere else I've ever been."

That last part is another personal opinion, based on my personal experiences after having traveled the world to 51 countries, stayed for more than two months in 11 of them, lived more than a year in 5 countries on 3 different continents and sailed oceans for a total of 3,5 years.

The funny thing with this US stop is that this country was never on our sailing itinerary, though we've visited before. Fate brought us here this time. And even though there are as many things we dislike about the US as there are things we enjoy about it, it has proven to be the most interesting chapter in our World Tour. America is a wonderful place in certain aspects, but it also makes me sad for other reasons. I have yet to find a place in the world that has it all though. I don't think such a thing exists, though I have my favorites (sharing those soon).

As with any other country we have visited on this sailing trip, I have the right to say and write whatever feels appropriate to myself, and it is lovely if some of you can relate, find inspiration or new ideas in what I have to say. But if you choose to get offended by my words and reflections, that doesn't really bother me too much. I am sure some of you have some opinions that I wouldn't enjoy listening too much on, that is why I try to make sure to read only websites/books and hang only with people that either shares my view of the world, or the ones that bring new interesting ideas and thoughts to the table which I want to learn more about.

This is an endless conversation. The one about freedom, money and true peace of mind, and I have another long article coming up here soon about what I truly need in terms of material, belongings and money, and how I work my way around it in a way that feels good and healthy for myself. I'm not a perfect person but I'm making active choices for my own wellbeing. Like I earlier said: we all need cash to survive, period. But the question should be, what is the right way to go for myself without sacrificing my health, freedom and happiness? I can only wish that you all have made your choices based on your own will and desires, and not someone else's.

Honestly I think a majority of you guys reading this particular blog are smart enough to go your way, or at least searching for the right way - corporate worker, business owner, creative or nomadic free spirit or however you wish to call yourself - I'm not sure why you otherwise would have started reading this blog in the first place. Remember that just because I talk about America, I do not necessarily talk about my American readers.

Thankful for the many different points of views on the subject. Answers to more questions coming up soon!

Read original post here.

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$$$ and freedom, part I

$$$ - An inevitable subject and base of many thoughts and contemplations when currently living in the land of commerce and commercialism. Having now spent almost four months in the US where we first started out with a week in the superficial Florida and ended up here in the more down to earth, as they say, New England. Down to earth is relative and perhaps true in relation to many of the other states in the United States, but isn't necessarily the case when compared to other countries and regions of the world. It is true that the nature, sea and coastline here in NE is absolutely breathtaking, any season too I believe (though a tad too cold for us six months of the year). But it is all still part of America, and once driving out of the forest where we momentarily live, into the civilization just a short ride away, you immediately become aware of what seem to be the most important thing in this culture. Money. 

United States of America was declared independent from the Kingdom of Great Britain on July 4th in 1776. The revolution ended a couple years later and the constitution was adopted on September 17th 1787. To keep the history lesson short: from that very day onwards, the new US was "founded" on the premises of freedom and opportunity. While the opportunities have been abundant for residents and foreigners alike and still are to a large extent, the so called freedom seem to have been misunderstood and totally twisted from what I think it truly should mean for a human being to have their freedom.

What exactly freedom is is up to every individual to find out, and when analyzing life, myself as well as looking at the history and evolution of man which stretches millions of years back in time and not only 237, I have come to some conclusions of what freedom means to me:

  • Being mentally balanced and at peace with my own being. No matter the location or time of life.
  • Feeling love, hope and faith. Whatever your faith is and whatever gives you hope.
  • Being close connected to nature as that is from where we come and where we can find an opportunity to heal naturally and gain energy and power to love, live and thrive.
  • Having a comfortable, non stressful opportunity to make a decent living that supports an uncluttered, harmonic, balanced and natural life. We need peace in order to be fully connected to our true spirit.
  • Access to the tools that lets you embrace and develop your true passion and desires.
  • Love, did I say that already? Nothing, is more important than love. Friendship, love of partner/family members, love of art, music, literature, photography, love for our universe and nature. Love, compassion and thankfulness for the natural things in life. This doesn't mean I want to love everything and everyone. Being able to be selective is equally important as is showing respect to people around us.
  • Always having access to healthy, organic, toxin free water and food for survival.
  • Being able to travel and learn about the world. The real world, I mean.
...and what freedom definitely does not mean:

  • Working as a slave to a large corporation that makes money of your stressful existence.
  • Paying high taxes that goes for supplying high bonuses to politicians that do not care about your wellbeing.
  • Being slave to consumption. Again, to large corporations. A destructive wheel of commerce that has fooled you to believe that you need four flatscreen TV's, three cars in the garage, twenty designer bags, new paint on your house each year, an indoor and outdoor jacuzzi, thirty-two different vitamin cans in your cabinet, twelve different cuts of meat in your freezer, make up and beauty products from an ocean of greedy designers that makes you believe that you need their specific wonder formula that will make you looking more young and beautiful than your neighbor. Yes I said designers, clothes designers first and foremost, no natural biochemists that works with organic ingredients that are genuinely good for your skin and longterm health. In 95% of the cases in the "beauty industry", they're only in the business for the money. As most other businesses around us in the society. 
  • Being afraid of the food that is sold to you in your friendly local super market. As it is now, in particular in the United States, most of what you find on the shelves in your commercial everyday market is a product of greed. The natural ingredients that were used when our parents were young have in recent years been replaced by toxic fillers, antibiotics, cancer causing growth hormones, dangerous ammonia and other additives. It is naive of us to think that a Snickers actually contains pure natural chocolate and naturally grown peanuts, or that the steak you brought home is a real piece of meat like they were served back in the days before the big (and largely subsided by the government) meat companies realized they could make more money by adding fake substances as well as first inject animal slaves with harmful hormones.
  • Being governed by a wealthy few that has no other interest than to slowly use and abuse every slave working/consuming human being in order to make maximum profit. You need to watch this movie if you haven't already.
  • Live in a world where our oceans, nature, natural resources and ancient tribes and populations/cultures are getting raped and vandalized by the very same people that has you fooled to believe that you need to eat twelve different cuts of carcinogenic hormone injected and glue filled meat and drive toxic four wheel driven cars instead of developing an extensive eco friendly railway system that could very well be subsided for our nature, health and future, rather than pumping money into additional destruction and hopelessness. 
Having now stayed in the US for a few months and got a chance to experience life up close, I do realize more than ever that the freedom the people of America were once manipulated to believe and take part in, is so far from what our ancient ancestors would have recommended as a means of reaching fulfillment and happiness. This isn't only about America obviously, in many parts of the world, in particular in larger cities, are we wrapped up in the delusion and destructiveness of a natural human beings worst enemies - money, power and greed - I merely just use America as a prime example as it is more clear here than anywhere else I've ever been. 

One would like to think that the day that we are about to die, if we get the time and a final opportunity to reflect upon past and the different episodes we've gone through, that we would feel pride and contentment in how it all turned out. That life was worth the many challenges and that we had spent most of our time embracing natural happiness and fulfillment rather than living our whole lives for a fake image or for someone else's interests who in the end of the day did nothing for us with pure genuine intentions.

Photo caption and as said on our Facebook page yesterday: A brand new 100 dollar bill straight from factory which the federal reserve keeps printing like it was toilet paper. Living on land in the modern world and not self sufficiently on the sea or in any other way by own means, we're all unfortunately part of the great illusion. It's up to each one of us to choose how much or little we want to be part of the game. 

That said, in the nature and at sea, you'll inevitably have another game to play by, the natural game of life, and the unexpected challenges and trials of our pure simplistic existence alongside the real powers of our nature, universe and our own minds. But maybe it is so that reality is a thought too scary for most people to handle?

Read the side notes to this post here and the second part of the $$$ series here.

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Morning choice

Instead of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a semi-burnt slice of homemade wholeweat bread with a thick layer of bitter orange marmalade spread on top is what Alex prefers in the morning. That is, now that he's cut down on his nutella addiction, and if there's no croissants to be found around. In any case, I think I'll stick to my fruity smoothies. Currently obsessing about pear and raspberry blends with plenty of freshly squeezed lemon juice. And parsley, have you tried parsley in your morning juice? Full of iron and vitamins.

It's interesting the way Nutella has during the last fifty years been promoted as a healthy choice for starting the day. Small kids have from the earliest of age learnt that a sugar bomb to hazelnut spread is an important part of a nutritionally balanced diet. Big companies, backed by even larger organizations, who with their customized, familiar commercials have always found their way to brainwash and manipulate people and our societies. Looking at what Nutella contains compared to the one of raspberry or pear, or any fruit, herb or grain for that matter, the choice seems obvious. It is such a valuable thing to be in control over what we put into our bodies. To be aware and conscious about what we eat and drink, where it comes from and whatever the heck it actually contains, does ultimately give us freedom.

The further one can be disconnected from the greedy powers of large corporations that cares little about the end client, the better for our individual independence. There are many industries to consider obviously and it takes time, effort, will and knowledge to disconnect from all major businesses and instead support local and only ethically produced/fabricated as most of us are dependent on "necessities" such as computers, phones, other equipment, clothes, oil, fuel and the list goes on.. But to begin with, changing the way we think about food, is an easy transition and one that will immidiately reward us, as it will in the future. 

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9 days at sea

I know you all like videos so here's a new one. This was our recent sailing passage from St Andrés to Florida. The trip started out fairly intense with 20-25 knots of wind and 8-10 foot seas. On the second day, the wind died out and sea remained still for four long days. Of course, we run out of diesel and despite our efforts of making use of the whole sail wardrobe, we didn't accomplish more than perhaps 50 n miles per day during those four calm days. On the fifth day the wind picked up again and unfortunately I don't have the action recorded anywhere except in my mind, but there were heavy and very active thunder storms surrounding us for the final three days before we arrived in the US. A tanker a mile away from us got hit by the lightning and we thank our lucky stars that it was there right in that time, otherwise we would have probably been struck and I doubt our boat would have handled it as well as the cargo did.

Also very glad for all the animal company we had the pleasure to experience during this sail, the dolphins, the minke whales (I think it was minke whales?), the boobie bird resting for the night on our solar panels and the massive amount of flying fish finding their way to deck. It was an interesting experience diving into the water of 5000 meter depth, in the middle of the calm Caribbean sea. Because of the strong currents of the gulf stream, the boat was still moving forward at 1,2 knots and made it almost impossible for me to swim back to the ladder... good exercise indeed! 

The last 300 miles went fast as we caught the strongest part of the gulf stream and could rapidly push forward, clocking 240 n miles in the final 24 hours. 

Let me know what you like the video. Having many ideas in my mind for the future, so as long as you like them I'll continue producing more.

22 comments