Let Curiosity Kill the Cat

Young children, puppies and kittens are all brave souls discovering new ideas and territories on an hourly basis, pushing and caressing and testing the world without the slightest fear of consequences or death.  

Grown ups are supposed to be better equipped to survive the wild world.  Secretly I don't think it is because they (we!) are braver, stronger, or wiser.  I think it's just because they get so comfortable with their droning routines, they give up their birthrights to discover new things.

Some think I'm suicidal to plan my own NZ circumnavigation adventure, but really, men have been charting new territories for as long as history, and I'm merely following someone else's footsteps.  I'm anxious about the unknown -- I'm not great at navigations and I mostly find my way around HK by sight, meaning I already know the water and islands without consulting maps or compasses.  But I wasn't born with the knowledge, and when I threw myself onto the water a few years ago to explore Hong Kong, I was even less skilled, less experienced, less resourceful.  Granted, I have my silly moments; like any other living creatures, I learn by making mistakes.  I expect myself to continue to make mistakes in NZ, I'm anxious about it, but I don't see why I should let it hold me back.

A man who is not afraid of the sea will soon be drowned, for he will be going out on a day he shouldn't.  But we do be afraid of the sea, and we do only be drowned now and again.  Oh mother sea, take me as I am: I come to you with fearful respect, but also with foolish, naive romance.