The Keys/Cays

The following is a poem written by fellow cruiser Hal Schade whom I met in Kemah before we left. I thought it summed up the reason some of us do this very nicely. It is "reprinted" here with Hal's permission. To see some of Hal's adventure, check out Griffin's website.

As you read it remember cays is properly pronounced the same as keys.

Trading in my Keys for the Cays

I ask myself as I move through this world

Do I really need all of this stuff?

I got keys for this, I got keys for that

I got keys for all kinds of fluff.

My keys all hang on a single chain

That links me to my workaday life

For all I've acquired a key is required

Material gains bought with strife.

I've had enough of this workaday world

I'm ready to do as I please

No casa, no carro, no worries tomorrow

I'm trading my keys for the cays

I'm trading my keys for the cays.

I'm heading for the tropics, nothing can stop it

Gonna visit some foreign sea ports

And the only chains I'll be thinking about

Are the galvanized anchoring sorts.

As I shed my keys I'm getting more free

To finally head out to the sea

The links are all severed, I've broken the tether

I'm trading my keys for the cays

Each key I'm surrendering has a happy ending

But I want no replacements please

No casa, no carro, no money to borrow

I'm trading my keys for the cays

The one thing we all have that is our own

Is time to use as we see fit

We have time to sort out the key to live

For me, cruising with friends is IT!

Each moment is precious we soon realize

There's no way to regain time gone by

Our dearest possessions are memories we have

And the dreams that ahead of us lie.

More friends to meet, new places to see

And lots of tall tales to tell

No casa, no carro, no worries tomorrow

Send all those keys to hell!

No casa, no carro, no estoy bromeando

Cambio mi llaves for las cayos

Heading for the tropics, nothing can stop it

I'm trading my keys for the cays

I'm trading my keys for the cays.

By Hal Schade and Linda Card

With contributions from Stephen J. Pavlidis and Robert Aude

Rio Dulce, Guatemala C.A.