(viewed on 6/25/11)
Stuck in the very same airport on that same birthday, I watched another surfing movie. This one, Surfwise, is a documentary about a doctor who drops out of society and raises his enormous family on the road, stopping along the coasts and teaching his children to surf. Seriously, click on that link, this guy is for real.
As with any story of a renegade going off the grid, there are many idealistic moments when it seems like a lovely idea— why not get rid of all your worldly possessions and hit the road, experience the world up close, and live each moment, never knowing what will happen next? And there are times when this way of life proves to be immensely damaging to your children who didn’t ask for an adventure, and turning your back on society means you may never be allowed back. Surfwise is a fantastic look at someone who chose the road, and leaves the viewer wondering “Is it worth it?” long after the film ends.
In my opinion, it is. Children are inevitably going to get a little screwed up. Even though I don’t agree with MANY things “Doc” Paskowitz did as a parent, he certainly gave them courage, experience, and super interesting life. I will probably never choose a path as wild as his, but if I do, I promise to pay for my kids’ therapy when they grow up.
