Living on a ship
Social and family matters
Seafaring is a career that appeals especially to the young. To
them, the freedom, the chance to roam the world, and the likelihood
of rapid promotion are particularly attractive. To many, the career
fulfils its promise. There are plenty of retired seafarers who look
back with affection at the opportunities for travel, the
companionship, and the experience it gave them of management and
responsibility: `The best days of my life`, they will often
say. 
 Canadian Pacific rating sounds bugle |
However, the attraction of seafaring faded for some as they grew
older. Particularly when they married, there was pressure for them
to spend more time at home with their families. Perhaps visiting
the same ports year in and year out lost its appeal. As a result,
many looked for work ashore, or at least where they could get home
easily, such as on a ferry or working as a pilot.
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