The Call – and Calluses – of the Sea. Why More Men Should Get Out, Way Out of the Office

While I’m rather cerebral (a book worm, I studied intellectual history, worked for think tanks, pursue a rich inner life…) I’ve come to see and feed my needs for physical adventure.

The pandemic forced this — and led me to quadruple my time sailing, by snow birding to/fro Mexico Pacific coasts a few years and in 2022 taking on side gigs teaching sailing and coaching races.

While sailing will remain my avocation (mainly as my vocation calls to me so much louder), I would like to see other consider maritime and other outdoor professions (or avocation—even if only in retirement.)

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/06/business/economy/maritime-jobs-labor.html

This NYT piece — which I wish I wrote myself — has some great perspectives, by both the think tankers and the tankermen (all my brothers from other mothers!.

A telling quote:

"there’s always going to be this sort of built-in group of folks who cannot — just cannot — stand seeing themselves sitting at a desk for 30, 40, 50 years. It’s this hands-on business almost like, you know, when you’re a kid and you’re playing with trucks or toys, and then you get to do it in the life-size version.”

In case you can’t see over NYTime’s paywall, see: If There Is a ‘Male Malaise’ With Work, Could One Answer Be at Sea? - The New York Times (archive.ph)

I published an earlier version on LinkedIn:

Stefan Bielski on LinkedIn: If There Is a ‘Male Malaise’ With Work, Could One Answer Be at Sea?