THE PHILLIP LAW AND DR. PHILLIP LAW

POST # 43


It started off as a pleasant autumn day, and I was up rather early to do some last minute tidying up on board the "Phillip Law" the sailboat that I had owned and lived on for the past seven years in Vancouver. I wanted to make sure that everything was ship shape today, because I had two potential buyers coming to the marina to have a look and I wanted the boat to be looking her very best.

The first couple arrived around 1pm as I recall, an older couple whom I had talked to previously on the phone that week. Everything was going swimmingly, and they liked what they saw. After about an hour or so, as we sat out in the cockpit on this sunny afternoon, they made me an offer. Now I had had other "offers" in the past, which for one reason or another had fizzled away, but what set this offer apart was that the people were prepared to go with me right then and there, to their bank, so that they could take out the cash and hand it over to me. This was as good an offer as I had ever had and for that matter was ever likely to get.

So there we sat, buyer and seller on the cusp of a deal. They get what they want, and I get what I want. Simple right? Well sometimes things aren't as simple as they first appear.

Now a bit of background. The Phillip Law had been for sale for quite some time and as the months wore on, and the season as well, the price kept dropping in the hopes of finding that magic number that would be agreeable to both parties. Selling a boat at the best of times is challenging as there will always be more boats for sale than buyers, but in late 2011 with the state of world affairs, owning a boat was one of those "nice to haves" as opposed to "must have" items. As a result it was most definately a buyer's market.

OK, so with that in mind let's revisit the scene described above. I HAVE A BUYER and not only that, they are prepared to go and get the cash right now and do the deal. Easy right? Make the deal,right? RIGHT? Well there was one tiny complication. The previous evening, a young guy had phoned to ask if the boat was still for sale, and I had told him yes, but that I had a couple coming over the next afternoon who sounded very interested. He asked me to do him one favour. He said, "Paul, could you at least wait until I come over late in the afternoon with my brother to have a look before you make a decision." I gave him my word that I would, because at that point in time, I figured two potential buyers was better than one.

Back again to the cockpit scene. Being a man of my word, I explained to the couple, that even though they had made me an offer, I promised these two young men that I wouldn't sell the boat until they had had an opportunity to look at it.
"Just call them right now and explain that the boat is sold" the man said to me.

So there I sat, with that old saying "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" rattling through my brain. Do the deal Paul, but wait, you promised those young guys a look. What to do???

At that point, I walked down the companionway into the main cabin, picked up the phone and dialled Stephan, to explain to him, "sorry Stephan the boat is sold." That didn't go over very well, let me tell you. And he was quick to remind me that I had promised him a look. He went on to explain that both he and his brother had arranged to finish work early this day, in order to get down to the marina. Then he asked me what the couple was offering and I told him, and over the phone he offered me more. Now what? So I decided to stick to my word, which was what I had wanted to do all along, which calmed Stephan down, but had the exact opposite effect on the couple in the cockpit, who had listened to the entire conversation.

When I returned topsides, it was like I was facing two totally different people. A few minutes before, everyone was happy and smiling, but that had now past. I had two very annoyed potential buyers facing me. I felt like I was trying to please everyone but of course in a situation such as this, it wasn't going to happen. They barely looked me in the eye after that, and the walk to the marina gate seemed to take forever. I told them that I would call them once I knew what the result of the other offer was, but as they walked up the ramp, and I returned to the Phillip Law, I had this sinking feeling that I had kissed goodbye to a sure thing. Would Stephan and his brother even show up? There had been plenty of no shows in the past, and even if they did show up, would they like the boat and make me an offer? And if not, had I sufficiently pissed off the previous couple to the point that they wouldn't want to do business with me ever again? All these questions were going through my head as I walked back along the dock.

My neighbour Tommy, and another neighbour Bill, two old salts in their '70's came up to ask how things went, and I explained the whole thing. They both reiterated the "bird in the hand" line, which was all I needed to hear at that point. They had been around for all the previous potential buyers, and I know at that point they thought that I had made a very big error in judgement.

Be that as it may I now sat back onboard waiting, hoping, that the phone would ring, and sure enough, right at the appointed time, Stephan and his brother arrived. Two young French Canadian lads, keen on having a boat of their own. After introductions, they got right to it, checking various things, like the sails, the through hull connections, rigging, and of course the engine, which I fired up so that they could see how it ran. Everything went to perfection, and after about an hour, they said the words I was hoping to hear, "We'd like to buy your boat, Paul". And with that, a contract was signed and they pulled a bundle of cash out and the deal was completed. To top it off, I ended up with more than I would have if I had sold it to the previous couple. Prior to their departure, we arranged a date for the handover, which gave me a few more days to finalize things. They would take over the boat on October 1st, the day I would depart for Orcas island to go housesitting.

All of this happened exactly one year ago today, September 28th 2011, and so I guess that would be the date that I considered myself officially homeless, even though I wouldn't be leaving the boat for a few more days. I certainly had mixed feelings about selling her. After all, the reason for my purchase back in 2004 was not just to live aboard, but my plan, goal, dream, was to set sail to the west and do one lap of mother earth. Certainly not an impossible dream by any stretch of the imagination. I wanted to do the trip solo, primarily for the personal challenges that I would be faced with along the way. It would have been new ground for this adventurous spirit, ground which I wasn't sure that I could cover. However, one never knows, until you try, and even though the thought of this adventure, dredged up some fears, I still felt that I was willing to give it a shot.

Whether it was those unknown fears, or whether it was the fact that in recent years, I have been more focused on other issues that I feel are much more important, who knows, but the bottom line is at least for now, that dream has been filed away. I haven't given up on the idea, but we still have to see what the future holds in store as to whether I give it a second shot. Only time will tell.

Now as a footnote to this story, well it wouldn't be complete without mentioning my departed friend, Dr. Phillip Law, who died back in 2010 at the age of 98, and of course the person I named my boat after. I have mentioned Phil once before back in an April blog, as this past April 21st he would have celebrated his 100th birthday.
I think about him quite often, but today more than usual because of the content of this story. The last time I had the opportunity to see Phil alive was on a trip back to Australia in 2009. There he was, the first day I visited him, at the age of almost 97, working away editing the final book that he would produce. Even at that age, there was still work to be done, and Phil being the practical scientist that he was, wanted to make sure all the work was done, before he checked out. What an inspiration he was, and still is in my life, and as I think about him now, my eyes well up with tears. How fortunate I was to have had a friend like Phil. His adventurous spirit stills lives within me, and for that I am forever grateful. And maybe, just maybe, it will be Phil's spirit which guides me across the oceans of the world on board another sailing boat, which would have to be named the "Phillip Law II".

Maybe, maybe not. The future is not yet written.


I think that is more than enough words for today. I had no idea that I would go on for so long, but the words just flowed from my mind to my fingertips to the computer keys, so I thought it best to just get them down, while I had the time and inspiration to do so. I hope my readers enjoy reading the story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Now, I am way overdue for my daily bike ride, so I must be off.


Happy trails,
Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer