It's fortunate that since the 1912 Titanic sinking, the whole seagoing world met and agreed on basic designs and provisions for lifeboats. There weren't enough lifeboats on Titanic. Over 1,500 passengers and crew died, who otherwise could have been saved from the icy deep.
World War I was destined to start in 1914, and if these lifeboat reforms had not been made, hundreds of thousands of lives would have been lost to German U-Boats. Disasters can reap benefits over time if we choose to learn from them.
Our lifeboat is the best, with a radio locator, chronometer, paper maps, a satellite laptop with GPS, and flares. It's mostly covered from sun and weather, but has an opening for a sail; a battery powered motor; a solar panel; a de-salinator for drinking water; enough food, drink, medicines, blankets, books, toys, and internet cellphones to keep kids and adults as happy as possible. There are spears and rods for fishing, and a few wetsuits. Thanks to Elon Musk's SpaceX program, satellites are now providing internet connection everywhere on the globe.
We filled our boat with adult survivors and a few kids, so comfort is minimal. Everything tangible is provided for us, but morale can't be. It's crucial, and everyone must learn to work and live with each other, or things will get very ugly.
We'll have to keep up a double watch with vigilance, 24/7, or we could collide with ships. We'll use the charts and locator to steer clear of the major shipping lanes. A collision would destroy us instantly.
The first thing we did when our lifeboat hit the water was turn on the Mayday locator, a powerful nonstop emergency beacon.
It's a sad reality, but large ships no longer stop to rescue small craft, except on rare occasions. It's costly for the companies to stop, pick people up, house them, and feed them. But if they see us, they will certainly send a message to coast guards and the military.
There may be habitable islands nearby where we could find rest and refreshment, friendly natives, and a chance to stretch our legs for awhile. But there are a lot of miserable, disease-ridden, bug and snake infested islands also. Here's an example, Quiemada Grande, off the coast of Brazil:
Using the internet and GPS, we'll head toward any island where friendly people live. Right away we need to determine what ocean current we're in. Oceans are always moving, and we are certainly moving at up to 8 knots in some direction without doing anything. The closest island is not necessarily the one most close in miles. A farther island may be located in the current we're in, so we must keep that in mind when plotting our course.
We have the supplies needed for around three weeks, and if we're smart and lucky, landfall can be made in that time. But any storm will be a very serious hazard that will push us off course, and possibly swamp us. These are shark infested waters.
Long days of idle time are a real challenge for children, the fearful, and faithless people. Prayer is going to be our only weapon against terrors of Davy Jones' Locker. If we're fortunate, some of our fellow survivors will have stories to tell and songs to sing, corny though they may be. Singing is a surprising morale booster, as every combat soldier in the world knows. We'll find salvation together, or perish together. We'll tell the kids we're on a pirate treasure hunt, and the situation will be transformed for them.
No individual or group should be allowed to dominate us or drag others down into enmities. Cliques typically form up whenever people gather in numbers, and will inevitably reveal a few of the best and the worst types.
It's crucial that we remain focused on all the things we have working in our favor. Many people over centuries have survived for months at sea with a lot fewer comforts, medicines, and food. Some of us will break down and begin whining and complaining, but they must be silenced. There are an infinite number of things to complain about. Focusing on gratitude for everything we have going for us will raise our odds of success.
The adventure in store for us is epic, and we have an opportunity to discover earthly paradises like these:
We will be changed, and if we never worried about the reality of death before, we won't be able to brush it aside again. If we're fortunate enough to find an earthly paradise, the prospect of returning to our old lives may become unpleasant. If we were on the wrong track before, this will be a terrific opportunity to make a major course correction.
