A New Lt. Dan Teaches Us A Few Things About Chaos

Image attribution: Getty Images original New York Post article

“The safest place to be in a flood is on a boat. We learned that with Noah. Everyone who stayed on land drowned,” Malinowski told reporters. “If the tide goes up, I go up. As long as the water stays out of the boat, I’ll be fine.”

So says the new sage of Tampa Bay,an enigma known as Lt. Dan, aka Joseph Malinowski, who is a one-legged amputee and boat camper on Tampa Bay.  Malinowski was a topic of interest for most of the press and politicians with coverage that ranged from dismay to disturbing.  

Malinowski is one of many around Florida, especially on the west coast, who live full time on boats inside the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and in the safe harbors of Tampa Bay.  It’s sort of a floating trailer park, with a tight knit community of hardy citizens, living a very free and inexpensive outdoor lifestyle. In many cases it’s a solo existence, where fellow boaters band together to take care of each other, especially in the chaotic inclement moments that happen when you live on the water.  Especially “big water”. I imagine at times it’s lonely; after all, people do need people (isn’t there a song about this?), yet they choose to be there. It’s how they’re built.  I always marvel at these residents when I’m driving or paddling by a small cove or inlet, either in a car, boat or kayak.  I can’t help but imagine what it’s like to live that freely. Not all these abodes still have the ability to move under power, some are a shade this side of derelict, perhaps not quite as free as they once were.  Others eventually become abandoned, ending up against a seawall or even in someone’s pool. From nomadic to hermit-like, this culture is resilient.

And from this resilience, freedom and self-sufficiency comes wisdom.  Lt. Dan’s quote is, to me, full of lessons.  We can learn from this guy!

1. Lt. Dan had a plan!  He stuck to it, even after receiving pressure from the mayor on down to abandon ship. Our venerable captain said “NOT TODAY.”  Certainly plans can have their moments; Ahab didn’t fare as well in sea lore. Regardless, having a plan can relieve the stress of not knowing what’s coming.  If you follow your plan, or at least the plan you have in the moment, you know to a certain extent what’s coming, until it doesn’t.
2. Lt. Dan refers to the history of the greatest book, The Bible, and one of its most famous cast members, Noah.  I remember a modern movie where a character once stated: “When the water got this high, Noah built himself a boat!”  Well, in this case Lt. Dan already had one, inspired by one of history’s greatest sailors and leaders. He did the opposite of what all experts said he should do, and it turned out pretty OK.
3. Lt. Dan knows about tides.  The saying “All boats rise in a high tide” is a fave of mine.  While we all are not built the same way and live the same life, when things are going well, we all benefit from it.  Banding together as a community with positive outlooks, forward thinking plans and historic data to guide us, we do better together!
4. Lt. Dan knows risk.  His simple rule about water staying out of the boat is his number one priority.  He focuses on the most risky behavior or event and avoids it.  There are myriads of smart people who’ve written about risk.  I won’t even begin to say I am an expert, I just know that when it comes to risk, I want to know what’s the riskiest behavior possible and how do I avoid it?  That’s where I start.
5. Lt. Dan believes in Lt. Dan.  Before this storm, lots of people walk by people like Lt. Dan and engage in preconceived notions about them.  In a recent blog, I talk about “Apart People.”  Lt. Dan is possibly one.  You might not give him a second look or thought.  But this guy knows himself, believes in what he can and can’t do, and does it.  Talk about freedom!  This spirit is not to be ignored or walked around.

These rando thoughts are what’s on my mind as I endured my second major storm in three weeks. I was already forced out of my house for at least six months after the first one and I am wondering and fretting about further losses after the second.  (As of this writing, intel still coming in) I’m happy to state that all Schums are accounted for and while assets are truing up in the loss column, what got us through was having a plan and sticking to it, believing in ourselves, and believing in God’s power to guide us through it all.  That’s how we roll here at Chez Schum. 

What guides you in times of chaos and crisis?  How do you show up for uncertainty and ambiguity?  At work and at home, with strangers and loved ones?  Don’t wait and consider it until it’s “too late,” think about what you will change before that “next time” does materialize.  Let’s not ignore the hippo in the room.  Trust me, he’s there, and is taking up a lot of space. Let’s clean out that attic!  Hippo first.

UPDATE!:  As I was finishing this article, new information came to my attention about our hero (or now, anti-hero) Lt. Dan.  Apparently Mr. Malinowski, Lt. Dan’s Clark Kent-esque alter ego, is a multiple felon with approximately 70 previous contacts with police, some quite violent (including attempting to set fire to a park bench and bystander and punching a police officer)  and at least nine mugshots I’ve been able to find. Malinowski has not been a good citizen. Does this change my view at all?  I don’t think so.  Malinowski seems to have had an epiphany of sorts.  His downward spiral began at 16 when the loss of his leg made life different and I’m sure, difficult for him. That certainly doesn’t excuse his behavior, it provides context. He cites God as part of his recent journey to believe in himself and what’s in and out of his control.  Is he redeemed? That is a decision between him and the Almighty.  I don’t know him.  And during that  moment when his timeline and ours intersected, he taught us things he learned for himself, that guided him for the moment, courageously and humbly.  I should be so lucky for moments like that.