Ahhh, the Book Exchange

A lot of people ask what we do with "all that time" on our hands when we are cruising, well, I read. I read - a lot! Before we left Miami I stocked up on all those classic authors I never had time for like Ernest Hemingway, Herman Hesse, Charles Dickens & Ayn Rand. When we were sailing long, slow days I dove head first into tales that needed my full attention. Something, I couldn't do when I was caught up in the ho-hum of the daily grind(much like I am now). The first thing I did when we'd get to a new spot was find the book exchange! Packing up my good reads in a canvas bag and unloading & then re-loading with new titles and a BIG grin on my face! Free, Free, FREE! It seems nothing in life is free, except book exchanges!;)

Most every marina office or cruiser lounge has one, sometimes even the local marine shop. Personally, I feel a book exchange is a great courtesy that creates an intellectual space; allowing people to share fiction and non-fiction in a way that is old fashioned, friendly and leaves a warm feeling in my heart. When Gia was a baby, I got books for her that had names inscribed in the covers, sometimes paint stained the torn pages. They were once another child's books and for me that meant something. I have a thing for hand-me-downs. Gia, too, has left several books for other children to enjoy all over the places we have traveled. Once, in the tiny island of Nevis, we donated a few books to the local library and months later when we returned home there was a letter addressed to a 5 year old Gia, thanking her for her donation. I think I shed a tear of happiness. Books are powerful instruments that teach, encourage imagination and inspire us everyday.

Have you found your local book exchange? What are you reading these days?

“Books are a uniquely portable magic.”
― Stephen King, On Writing