Cruising Into New Experiences

Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Barcelona, Spain - May 2024

I am stretching my wings into the zone of uncomfortable.  Bruce and I will be embarking on a cruise shortly.  We enjoy the sea air and being forced to unplug from life.  This is a cruise that was not planned a year ahead, but instead is a cruise of opportunity.  We had received a nice discount on the cruise, but even better had some air plane miles to cash in providing us with a nice less expensive winter get away to a three places we have never been and even better, warmer temperatures.

I found a Facebook group for our cruise. (Seems like everyone has a Facebook group).  I am not much of a people mingler in person.  Virtual mingling is more my speed.  As I read through the various posts, a fellow cruiser suggested an on board gift exchange between cabins.  It seems like a secret Santa style gift giving.  We will be assigned 4 cabins and surprise them with a little $5 - $10 gift outside their cabin.  I have been racking my brain of a gift to represent Ohio.  Once the temperatures rise and I am through my infusion quarantine, I will get out of the house and look around.  I have never done this, but it seems like a fun way to spread a little joy.  Little surprises in the middle of the ocean - what fun!  

Last night while perusing the same group chat, someone suggest a wine share.  This is another new activity for Bruce and I, but it will require me to be face to face with people and dare I say, have conversation.  Everyone brings one local wine from the area they live and a glass.  We share and sample wines and get to meet people too.  The fellow cruiser has set a day and time of the meet and sip and will post on their door where the meeting location is.  This is further outside my comfort zone, but if I decide to bail last minute I will still have a bottle of wine in my room.  So a win - win.

I enjoyed the brief dinner encounters and the occasional excursions with fellow travelers in our group during our Mediterranean trip.  I think it sparked something in me.  Not working, I tend not to crave the peace and quiet I used to while cruising.  Bruce and I took a 5 day cruise from Los Angeles and slept 16 hours the first day and 12 hours each day following.  Between work and our children, we were exhausted.  At one port, we got off the ship and the turned around and got right back on and went and slept on the lounge chairs on the pool deck.  We just wanted to say we were in Mexico, but sleep was our highest priority.  We did enjoy the shows and a few excursions, but beyond that we slept.  Our life cycle has changed 14 years later and we no longer seek out the rest we once needed to refuel ourselves. It was nice to connect with other people and not be completely isolated on our Mediterranean cruise. I enjoyed it more than I expected. This time around we are not traveling with a group or any friends. It won't be the same experience, but it will be pleasant to see a familiar face from across a room and raise a glass or tip my head in acknowledgement.

Reflection:  New things are challenging and meeting new people is hard and uncomfortable for me.  I am not certain why.  I am told that I don't lack for conversation.  Yes, hearing what people are saying can be a real struggle at times.  Remembering what they say is even harder.  But as many say, I will never see these people again so I should not fear their lasting impressions of me.  Yikes - Does this anxiety and apprehension come down to me being concerned about what people think of me.  Ugh - Can I get over that already?