If glamorous camping is ‘glamping’, then surely glamorous boating must be ‘gloating’[1]. Surely! But what constitutes gloating in this new nautical sense? First a couple of root definitions:
Boating – means simply messing about in boats. A boat is any vessel that is easily placed on a ship. A lifeboat meets the criteria. A fornicatorium, typically, does not. Boats may be wind or mechanically powered, or both. Any reasonably sized sailboat or stink pot passes muster. Stand-up paddle boards and kayaks arguably fit on a ship, but they also fit easily on boats and may therefore stretch the definition too far.
Glamorous – something that is attractive or appealing in an exotic or exciting way. That’s pretty broad, especially since attraction and therefore appeal is in the eye of the beholder. Still, given the number of comments Aleta gets in any harbour, it is safe to say she is glamorous.
Yet, cruising has aspects of danger and discomfort that are unappealing, even for hardened sailors. Quarters are cramped, weather can be a downer, and mechanical issues frustrating. For some that is the appeal. For us gloating is about the journey and the people (and dogs) we meet along the way.
Do you need a big yacht with a young, fit crew catering to your every need to meet the criteria? I don’t think so, but that’s the benefit of a broad definition. If you need a whirlpool spa below decks to fulfill your idea of gloating, then more power to you.
Is boating life glamorous? Certainly it is exotic in the sense it is foreign to most people. Is it exciting? It can be, even though we strive to minimize unplanned excitement whenever we can.
Do we gloat in the traditional sense of contemplating or dwelling on one’s own success, or another’s misfortune, with smugness or malignant pleasure? We try not to, but it can be challenging. After all, we are ‘living the dream’ on a beautiful boat and travelling to exotic places in her. We only gloat a bit after a brisk day’s sail, a spectacular sunset and a particularly well-turned gin and tonic or two on the poop deck.
[1] I can’t take credit for this neologism, it’s been around for at least a decade.