These are popular slogans today that are seen frequently.  They seem to say "enjoy what you are doing, and getting there is half the fun" and I cannot disagree with them (even though I may be indifferrent about the product they are trying to sell!!!).  To me life is a trip that you won't complete until you die, and if you don't enjoy this trip you'll be miserable.  Inside life though, there are many, many smaller trips, and the attitude you choose to take these journeys on will affect your whole life's journey.

     The this attitude, or lack thereof first became apparent when we had a whole bunch of ice storms in this area back in 1996.  At this time, people's attitudes towards life readily came out in their likeness, or hatred of a winter snowstorm. Snowstorms are usally something you enjoy or absloutley despise.  Snowstorms usually make getting around slow, if not impossible.  For some folks, they simply don't care, they are fine where they are.  These are usually "trip oriented" folks.  On the other had, there are the folks that just can't stand the fact that they are immobilized...the folks that are already planning the next trip after they have arrived at a destination, hence the analagy, "destination oriented" individuals.  This explains the popularity of "go anywhere" vehicles with 4 wheel drive these days.

     This link didn't become apparent to me until recently when I was looking through a sailing newsgroup, and someone had mentioned why there wern't as many people getting into sailing as their used to be.  Many thoughts were brought up, but the one that stands out the most is that most people these days are "destination" oriented.  These people are easy to pick out everyday.  Frequently they are the ones that are always frustrated that things aren't happening fast enough, and everything is a chore, and a problem to them,  they can't wait for a project to be over with.  

While trip oriented people are usually much more laid back, rarely ever seemed stressed about the day's activities, and yet still seem to get everything done they need to do, and maintain their bright, cheery attitude.  "trip" oriented people are almost always seen enjoying whatever they are doing, no matter how busy they are.  Sometimes "trip oriented" people are seen helping others, and volunteering with a charitable organization.

     Getting back to sailing,  In this "destination" oriented world.   The typical person these days goes out to the boat dealer and buys the boat with the biggest engine on it, so they can get to their fishing hole with minimum time underway.  They can't seem to figure out people that just simply want to get on the boat and go cruising around the water.

The sailboat though is seemingly out of place in this "destination" oriented world. Most cabin-cruising sailboats only travel about 5-8 knots across the water, compared to the blistering 60 knots of many motoryachts.  A sailboat needs a skilled crew to handle the rigging and other componets that make the boat move.  Not to mention, sailboats get wet, and when their sailing hard, they don't even travel level, they lean to one side.  The ride on a sailboat at 6 knots though is very enjoyable, and downright exciting though if you think to enjoy the ride, and not be worried that you won't get there in time...besides isn't that WHY you are out on the water in the first place!!! to get away from all those appointments, and urgencies of everyday life?  So just sit back and enjoy the music, talk to your friends, you can do this on a sailboat because there's no noisey engine! And when the heavy seas send motorboaters speeding back to their harbors, you can sit on your sailboat and enjoy "burying the rail", hiking out, surfing the waves, getting a little wet on a hot day, and with no particular place to go!! (for more information on sailing, including info on that jargon, see my sailing page!)

     In the everyday world of land lubbers, there's all kinds of stuff out there for "destination" oriented people.  While these devices do make our life easier, there's just some people out there that just can't do without them!  There is the umbiquous cellular telephone for those who can stand the "down time" of being in a car.  There has been a decline in manual transmission sales in most modern cars probably due to this, and the simple fact that most people consider driving to be a chore.    There is also the ever-popular microwave oven, and the people who put EVERYTHING in them, no matter how bad it turns out, they refuse to turn on a stove and spend a little time to actually cook.

 
     To me, everyone should own a sports car of some sorts.  Not necessarily for everyday driving, but to enjoy every so often on a country back road.  A convertable perhaps, with a manual transmission, maybe even an old classic that requires a little tweaking and tuning in the backyard every so often.
      For those who don't ever cook, they should gather a bunch of friends or family together for a big cookout or dinner.   Unplug the microwave, and cook everything outside on the grill, or inside on the stove.
     Try out a fitness program, not because of your "destination" of getting in shape, but because you ENJOY exercise! Don't think of going to the gym a chore to stack into your daily regimen, instead think of it as something to look forward to after a stressful day.  Exersize is one of the best ways to relieve stress, and you also can't beat a nice warm hot tub too!