Welcome to the first online chapter of Boat Builders Anonymous!
When one boat is too many and a thousand never enough
"We admitted that we were powerless over boat building, that our lives had become unmanageable"
It may be funny, it may be sad, but I do believe that boat builders, myself included, tend to get a little bit crazy about boat building sometimes, and need a little perspective on how it has affected our lives. I have learned that the principles of recovery apply to my whole life, not just my addiction to chemicals. So, for your edification and amusement, I present this opportunity for you to join me in the open and honest expression of how boat building has damaged our relationships, health, finances, integrity, as well as our emotional and mental stability!
Have you experienced one or more of the following symptoms? I have!
Built a boat in your living, bedroom, or apartment.
Collected books and plans of boats to build, and not built any of them.
Left an unfinished boat project untouched for more than a year.
Hoarded scraps of various species of wood because you might need one that is just the right size.
Fixed a cut on your hand with masking tape or duct tape.
While building a boat, started thinking of the next boat.
Grossly underestimated how long it would take to complete your boat.
Spent two hours just getting ready to do one hour of work.
Been stopped by the police for transporting lumber or a boat that was over the legal limit for length or width.
Lost a relationship because you were spending too much time or money building boats.
Didn't know when to stop correcting tiny imperfections in the woodwork or finish of your boat.
Drank alcohol or used drugs to calm the anger you feel over a mistake you made on your boat.
Lost sleep due to working late at night on a boat.
Insomnia due to thinking about a boat.
Late or missed meals or social events like your kid's birthday due to working on a boat.
Built so many boats that you were invited to do a show-and-tell at a regatta.
Give advice to other boat builders without being asked.
Proudly refer to your latest boat as "my baby."
Find it difficult to have conversations about anything other than boat building.
Think of other boat builders as either superior or inferior, but never equal.
Feel the safest when at the helm of your boat.
Given a boat to someone as a gift because you either wanted to impress them, or you had no place to store it anyway.
Married a strong, controlling, caretaker type of person (i.e., nurse, teacher, social worker), or married someone addicted to drugs, alcohol, gambling, etc.
My wife claims that all my spare time is spent reading boatbuilding plans,
books, and magazines. I, of course, disagree, but something happened
yesterday that lend creedance to her statement. I was on my way home from work, and at a stop light I glanced over at the Audi Quattro that was next to me. I was observing the crease molded into the body along the top of the doors and fenders, and the very first thing that popped into my head was "that car has hard chines". I haven't told my wife.
--- Ross Leidy
Suggestions on How to Get a Life...
Ask your family if they miss you, listen to what they say, and act on it.
Ask yourself, is boat building just a coverup for negative emotions like loneliness or depression?
Excercise, get a dog, throw the ball and go for walks.
Make an appointment for a physical check-up with your doctor.
Write a letter to yourself about the consequences of making an imperfect boat.
...perhaps we have something in common, and by sharing our symptoms and stories, find a better way to live with boat building. If you can relate, if you have a story to tell, a new symptom to add to the list, or a suggestion for recovery, send me an e-mail (details at the bottom of this page).
e-mail: innercom(NOSPAM)peak.org