I started rowing a few months back. Mostly because I was bored at home and was craving for human companionship and partly, because I was working on losing weight I gained from too many free lunches.
I’m 30. Technically, unemployed except for the few writing and designing jobs I occasionally take. I was once a moneyed corporate stud in my high heels and mini skirts. Needless to say, I was also very unhappy with where I was and with what I had to do. I quit after 3 years of working in one of the coolest (I’m inclined to say cool, I helped in making them cool!) motorcycle manufacturers in the world.
I didn’t really have a solid plan when I resigned. I just felt the need to go or it would have broken me down and I would have ended in mental facility care. Yep. THAT bad. After maybe a month or two of lounging at home and finally being able to see my friends and family regularly, I decided to take a new sport.
Why dragonboat rowing? I thought it was something that I just HAD to try. The reason why I love automobiles, clocks and watches so much is because of the intrinsic details of the gear that gets it going. I came across a rowing team over on youtube and it made me think of human gears and it attracted and reeled me in. I only knew of one paddler from highschool and we were not particularly close, but we had a lot of common friends from way back. I contacted her through facebook on the same night I was watching the youtube video. Thankfully, she was nice enough to get me started.
Joining a dragonboat rowing team is fairly easy. The expected requirements were surprisingly low. Must I know how to swim? Not really, but it would be an advantage. What must I wear? Be dressed in shorts and shirt I don’t mind getting wet. When can I start? Be there at the Corregidor dock at 4am T-Th and 5am on weekends.
If there was one aspect I am now wealthy with, I have a LOT of time. Commitment to attend was not particularly hard.
paddlingidiot 