Finding Joy Amidst Materialism: Lessons from Our Cruising Adventures
- gmaylone
- Jan 22
- 6 min read
About a year ago, some friends asked us if we wanted to go with them on a cruise.
This is something I have wanted to do for quite a while, but my lovely bride was not sold on the idea.
But with a little push from our friends, she agreed to take the plunge and go on our first cruise.
To say we had a great time is an understatement.
Yep, we loved it.
Fast forward, and a few cruises later, cruising has become a favorite pastime for my wife and me.
We enjoy the ships, the entertainment, the travel, the food, and the drinks.
The value we get from these experiences is undeniable.
Yet every journey also brings a sharp contrast into view.
There is a stark reality of poverty in many of the places we visit; it is simply unavoidable.
But intertwined with the poverty, you also cannot help but see the joy and humility of the people living there.
People with little in the way of material possessions but an abundance of love, happiness, and family.
These things always play on my mind and often lead me to reflect deeply on what happiness really means and how it exists beyond material wealth.
This winding rabbit hole usually leads me back through the years of my own memories.
Lessons from Our Cruising Adventures
Our first few cruises were all new to us: the luxury, convenience, and, of course, the destinations.
The ships are floating cities, offering endless entertainment options, gourmet dining, and comfortable accommodations.
Each day brings new destinations and adventures, all while enjoying the comfort of the ship.
Did I just write that? Sounds like a travel brochure. But it is the truth.
We quickly realized that cruising offers more than just travel.
It provides a chance to relax, connect, and experience new cultures.
Witnessing the Contrast
Now let me say this: after a career in federal service, with the bulk of it as a soldier or supporting the military, I am not new to seeing poverty.
I have traveled and lived all over, seeing both wonders and destruction.
But this is a little different.
The contrast between the gleaming, commercialized cruise ports or private islands and the local living conditions outside the port gates is impossible to ignore.
Any benefit from the industry seems to be quickly wiped away by rising costs that make local life even harder.
It hits you immediately.
It is visible in the simple homes with paint falling off, weathered from the endless sun, wind, rain, and salt in the air.
The crumbling infrastructure that surrounds you, broken sidewalks (if there are any) and power lines looking like strings of Christmas lights you fight with each December.
Fences are falling down, refuse is on the sides of the roads, all over empty lots, and found in what should be stunning beach areas.
Half-starved dogs wander around, unseen, now just part of the background.
In just the few hours you are there, you clearly see the daily struggles of the locals.
While people get annoyed at vendors trying to sell them something at every turn, when we slow down and think about it, that sale may be the only money they make that day.
It’s a hard in your face reminder of how incredibly fortunate we are materially.
Yet, even with all of that as the backdrop, I am surprised by the smiles and warmth we see all around us.
Despite what we see through our narrow lens of life, families still gather closely here, children play freely, and people share smiles and laughter; it is a joy that is genuine.
When you do buy something, you can see it matters.
When you stop in a little side street place to eat, you feel the true gratitude that you are there.
(Plus, the food is normally incredible.)
Lessons on Contentment and Happiness
For all we have accumulated, I wonder how the scales tip when we add all we have lost on the other side?
I think we would be shocked at the true cost just for what we have sitting in our garage and in our closets.
A few things feel clear to me:
Joy is not tied to possessions.
Gratitude deepens happiness.
Family and connection matter most.
Simplicity brings clarity.
This all pulls me back to being a kid. Growing up in “small town” middle America.
As I reflect, life was simpler; we found so much joy in the little things.
Joy, which feels much harder to find now, and is an absence that has created a void.
A void we try to fill with stuff.
Where I grew up, Muscatine, Iowa, was a very different place decades ago. So many parks, the river, and close-knit neighborhoods.
A town with festivals, parades, little shops and stores, working-class everywhere.
It sounds almost cliché when I say it out loud.
As my mind drifts back through time, I don’t really remember what I owned; I do remember how I felt, who I knew, and the memories we shared.
I feel the loss of the closeness we had as a family in those days.
Back when we really made time for each other.
Back when we all celebrated, laughed, cried, and grieved together as a family.
We can look for villains in this story, sure.
But blaming the generations that came before for wanting to make life better for their children, well, it just feels wrong.
They couldn’t see the future any more than we can.
We can’t blame the generations now coming into our world.
They only know what they have experienced and can't understand what they have never known.
Reminds me of a line from my favorite Bruce Lee movie: Enter the Dragon. The villain Han says: "We are all ready to win, just as we are born knowing only life. It is defeat that you must learn to prepare for."
The cruise ports are loud, colorful, and built to separate you from your money: pure sensory overload.
Familiar.
Comfortable.
An illusion.
But once you step beyond them, you see another world, an alien one for many.
But in this world, the things that matter haven't disappeared.
Family.
Love.
Connection.
Reflecting on Our Own Lives
This past year has been one of change.
Work, family, new commitments.
A thousand moving parts, all in different directions.
It has me reflecting on how I have been approaching happiness and fulfillment.
It’s easy to get caught up in more things and the next experience.
But joy shows up in quieter places in life.
Those quieter places tell me to slow down and appreciate the present.
Appreciate who I have in my life, not what.
As our lives keep changing, we are learning to change with them.
We talk more these days, and back home, we are focusing on meaningful connections and gratitude.
Whether it’s sharing a meal with loved ones, enjoying a quiet moment together, or spending quality time with family and friends.
Bringing It All Together
As we age and as we transition from the workforce, we continue to open our eyes to the richness of a life well-lived.
We feel it when we can spend time with those who matter most.
With our parents, if we are blessed to still have them.
Our children, our grandchildren, and, of course, those whom we call friends.
Slow down, breathe, and be thankful.
Make time where we used to make excuses.
The contrast between the luxurious illusion we live in on the ships and the simplicity of the communities we visit hasn’t deepened our understanding of joy, love, and happiness.
It has reawakened it with a vengeance.
Time is not promised to anyone, so make the most of it.
So, to my good friends from Fort Walton Beach who pushed to get us out on that first cruise. And who continue to share their most precious commodity with us, their time.
We thank you for making this last trip just as memorable as the first.
Not because of the ship or the destination, but for your presence, love, and friendship.
Making lasting memories by spending quality time with the people you love!
That's what really lasts.
Until next time!
I wrote this Knowing how truly blessed I am! Welcome 2026.
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