We used to wait. For everything. Patience was not just a virtue. It was vital.
My morning routine back in college included a stop at the mail room, hoping for a reply to a letter that I had handwritten and mailed some weeks before. It seems so quaint now.
Technology has ushered us into an age of instant gratification and immediate results. Today, I send hundreds of texts and emails every week and expect prompt replies. Streaming services dominate my family’s watch lists. We tune in anywhere and at any time. Chats with colleagues and friends are often shaped by the 24-hour news cycle. If you are not caught up, then you are out of the loop and the conversation.
I could rebuild a Ford Lehman diesel in the time it would take me to list the pitfalls of the fast pace of modern life. Has all this speed made us collectively less patient? The short answer is a resounding yes.
On the other hand, having all the world’s information in a device that fits in your pocket can be a spectacular life hack. I have used YouTube as a virtual tutor to troubleshoot a malfunctioning multifunction display and a non-draining washing machine. Like many of you, I’ve booked a mooring or a slip on the fly when weather has put a damper on cruising plans. And I have earned a reputation among colleagues for finding the tastiest cuisine while on the road, thanks to crowdsourced apps.
As a music fan, I love having just about every song ever recorded at my fingertips. A tune comes into my head, and in seconds, it is pumping through the speakers. Combined with AI and algorithms, today’s digital playlists far surpass the mix tapes of the analog days.
However, after some experimentation on my end, I can say with confidence that the ghost in the machine has a tin ear. Every week, my favorite music app refreshes its tailored playlists to its individual users—and mine are all over the map. I love the Rolling Stones and John Coltrane, but not played back-to-back. Waylon Jennings’ “Luckenbach, Texas” is a fine song, but it does not belong on a playlist with Chet Baker.
Perhaps my scattered musical tastes are to blame. AI is only as good as the data that trains it. So, listen up, “Hal.” The goal of this exercise is to pair boating situations and music.
Planning a Trip: This requires deep concentration and unbroken focus. “Hal, play classical selections from Mozart and Stravinsky.”
Underway: With lots of conversations happening, the music is a minor player but important to the overall mood. “Hal, play hard bop jazz from the Prestige, Blue Note, Atlantic and Impulse music labels.
Washing the Boat: After a long day of cruising, there’s still work to be done. We need to get the people going. “Hal, play the soundtrack to the movie Almost Famous and start with ‘One Way Out’ by the Allman Brothers Band.”
Dockside Dinner and Drinks: Time for crowd-pleasers. “Hal, play Outlaw Country.”
I’m confident that this column, once published, is going to turn things around for my playlist. The AI is always listening, right?
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2025 issue of Passagemaker magazine.
