Would You Like To Meet Me?

One of the items on my checklist has been to meet some new people, hopefully make some new friends, possibly even find a few teammates to ride out the storm with should things get rough.  This is something I have been thinking about for quite some time, and I think the time has come to open my door and invite you in.
 
If you share my views, or even if you don't, I would like to extend to whomever is able, a unique opportunity to meet me in person, and enjoy a fun outing where we can freely exchange information and ideas:

This is
"The Unwashed Mastiff"

Clearly not a filthy scow.  Bigger than she looks, in tip-top condition, and able to carry a dozen people.  This is where I propose we meet up.
 
The Mastiff is slipped on the Potomac River in Lorton, Virginia, and is available any time I need it.  If spending anywhere from a few hours to a whole day out on the Potomac with other non-crazy, sensible, intelligent, hopefully like-minded people sounds appealing, this is your chance to do that, and probably for the low cost of simply getting yourself here.
 
Obviously this cruise does not include travel or airfare, you have to be able to get here, but if that is not a problem, a trip like this can be arranged any time around the clock with just 24 hours advance notice.
 
Sound like fun to you?  If it doesn't, you should probably pass.  Just stay inside your safe space, where you can pretend to be safe.  But if you would rather step into a time machine and go back to whatever you were doing in the summer of 2018 or earlier, then this is for you.

A lot is happening right now, so much in fact that I have well over 70 pages of unpublished commentary culled from various sources in just the past four months.  I have not stopped following events.  I just have not been publishing much about them this year.  I have explained why already.  That will change soon, I do have an idea for something that needs to be done.  It's just that, for me, the time finally came to circle the wagons so to speak.  I am getting my own house in order as best I can, since I am no good too anyone if the now imminent 'poly-crisis' washes me out to sea.
 
I have enjoyed being an jolly, outgoing and approachable person all of my life...  up until the corona-hoax began. 
 
Since then, and as a result of my response to it all, I discovered that most of the people I used to like and hang around with socially the last ten years or so make better slaves than foxhole buddies.  Over the last few years, outside of virtual environments, I have become progressively more isolated, I am pretty sure many of the readers can relate, and have had similar experiences.  I find myself missing the ability to be myself these last few years.  That has been a negative.
 
But all this drama also came with an upside. Because of my efforts I gained far more sympathetic and professional colleagues, than anyone could possibly wish for, but its not the same thing.  For the most part, people have basically ostracized me locally, either for my views, or for the way I chose to handle encroaching tyranny, and I just let that happen, because mindless drones that all reliably trigger on cue are all useless liabilities, and few would even lift a finger if I needed a solid anyway, despite years of peaceful co-mingling prior to 2020.
 
If I do see them socially, they ask me; "
Where is Johnny? And who is this over-educated scientist guy that replaced him? 
 
My answer to all of that is:  
"I am standing right here.  I never changed.  You did."
 
The new 'Johnny' is here to stay, unfortunately, but he isn't as dry and serious as he appears.  This 'change' they are talking about was not a personal preference, it was necessary, for survival.  I will still be here after they are all gone.

My policy has been very straightforward since March of 2020.  

- Always act in honor. 
- Do no harm.
- Don’t bother me, and I won't bother you. 
- Don't be a pussy.
- If I see something wrong - I call it out on the spot, and in the face of whomever is the source of that problem.
- If somebody does me wrong - I refuse to take any of their shit, and I will steamroll right past them like they are not even there. 
- I do not comply with any tyrannical over-reach, EVER, and I have bullied the tyrants and their stool pigeons right back any time they dared to try and walk all over me, and no matter how bad they outnumbered me.  And I have yet to lose a fight.

If this invitation attracts attract the right sort of people, they probably know who they are, this might turn out to be a good idea.  But I have no clear expectations.  It is just an impulsive Hail Mary sort of move, to allow the universe an opportunity to present something of value, if there is something of value out there.  If there isn't, it may fall flat, but if I am able to host a few events like this over the course of the summer I would call that a win/win. 
 
Assuming that is how it goes, I would like to propose a few ground rules, just to lower any 'blind date' type concerns.
 
1.  No fighting -- unless it is strictly intellectual and entertaining for others.
2.  Bring your best positions and arguments, about anything.  I want to hear them, but be prepared to either defend any controversial or dissenting views you have effectively, because you will be expected to do that with anyone who disagrees with you, or don't bring them up.  That is what this sort of meet up is for:  We are pooling skills, and hopefully educating each other.  Learn one new thing and it  was a success.
3.  I can be a very diplomatic moderator, but disagreements are to be expected, and par for the course. 
4.  Expect that nobody in these meet-ups has met anyone else before.  I am not doing any background checks. 
5.  You are allowed to leave with the same opinion you walked in with, no pressure, no shaming.  We are there to hear each other, not win.  Stalemates are completely ok.
6.  Be open to the possibility that, you may be completely wrong about something, and even open to changing your mind about a long held belief.  No matter how convinced you are of a thing, someone else may not be.
7.  Don't expect the evidence YOU need to settle a debate will be available.  The Mastiff is a casual atmosphere, not an ivy league lecture hall. 
8.  Remember we are all there to have fun too.
9.  No smoking.  (Unless you want to do it standing on the transom, I have no problem with that so long as we are parked and the engine is off.)

Finally, and please understand, I HAVE to say this:
​

​As the Captain, I am responsible for your life while at sea.  I take that responsibility very seriously and am very experienced and very capable of doing that.  Just because this is a river trip, it is no different than being out of sight of land.  I am prepared for any problem that might possibly arise including anything that might go sideways.  I have been in tiny boats in the middle of a hurricane more than once, lost an engine, made it back to a dock even while sinking with a giant hole in the hull.  I have not had to use it much, but I also maintain active tow insurance.
 
Please just extend to me a few courtesies in return:

1. Please do not be that drunk guy that falls off the boat.  If I have to go in after you, and I have had to do that before, expect to be dragged back to the dock covered in life vests and tied to a raft.
2. Please be ON TIME.  I will leave port without you if you are not.
3. Please don't cancel two hours before you said you want to go.  I understand emergencies, but if you do that twice I will never invite you again.

 
 
Ok lets see if there are any takers.
 
Details are minor, we'll figure it out.
 
Please contact me directly by email first [email protected] if interested.  Include your name and phone number and how many people and the rest is TBD.  Advance plans are frequently hosed by inclement weather, we want a nice day.  Be prepared to do this a bit impulsively.  It is really only possible to make any plan about a week in advance and still keep it.