Adieu to MV Roland Oldendorff

Early morning, before the sun rises, a huge cruise ship glides past, lit up like a Christmas tree. It is on its way to drop off hundreds, perhaps thousands, of passengers for a few hours in town, letting them loose on this relatively small and quiet city of Gijón that never asked for, and probably does not deserve, that much attention.

I wonder what it must be like on board, surrounded by so many people all shuffling in the same direction. Then I turn back to watch the crane lowering its grabbers into the cargo hold, slowly lifting out the load. Another two days of work before all seven holds are empty.

On this final morning of my trip, I realize once again that I have gotten the better deal.

It has been a little over two months now since I came on board. The days have passed slowly, though the weeks have flown by. Preparing for the voyage took many months, and in all likelihood, it will take just as long to leave this life at sea behind. Will it be like stepping through a magic door, straight back into my ordinary life? Or will I linger, like toffee being stretched, caught between two worlds?

Either way, the sea will stay with me for a while yet. In the coming months, I will continue to write and record conversations with people who have spent much of their lives sailing or working on commercial ships. I would also love to hear from readers about what questions you would like me to ask, or what corners of life at sea you would like me to explore. And from time to time, I will no doubt drift into a bit of philosophizing, as is my wont.