How did I become a sailor?  By hanging out with Alan too much.  We met through a mutual friend when we were both living in Bellingham.  I lived in a 1200 sq ft apartment and he lived on a 22′ boat.  It has a double bed up front and 9 sq ft of walking space.  Cozy.

Bellingham, WA, 2012.

When you came over to his boat, you and all your company are welcomed down below for drinks and roaring conversation.  If it was a 9 sq ft house, everyone would get claustrophobic within minutes and never come back. The memory of a visit to Alan’s humble home always elicits a smile.

We gab everyday about lifestyles, boats, politics, and more boats.  His thoughtful minimalist criticism on life has helped shape nearly every big decision I have made in the last few years, (for better or worse.)

Last week, he asked me to take a photo of him for a special feature on the Brompton website they were doing.  The shoot lasted about four minutes

The website for the world’s best folding bike ran the piece this morning.  Click here for the link. Its probably interesting since he is good writer and just biked 500 miles on a folding bike to Oregon for a free glass of wine.