I am an Argonaut

I am an Argonaut.

No.  Not as astronaut.  An Argonaut.  Remember the myth of Jason and the Argonauts?  Okay, I had to look it up, too.  The Argos were a mythic band of sailing heroes.  For clarity, I have not entered some bizarre, role-playing myth club.  But I have joined a club that shares the Argonaut name: the Argonaut Rowing Club.

Yes, I know.  Toronto has a professional football team called the Argonauts.  And by "professional", I mean CFL.  I also mean 2012 Grey Cup Champion Argonauts!!!  I haven't joined those Argos, although I remain a loyal fan.  I was also delighted to learn that there is a historical link between the Argonaut Rowing Club and the Toronto Argos.  My past as a St. Hilda's Smasher is meeting my present as a member of the Argonaut Rowing Club.

I initially signed up for a Learn to Row program.  As a result of problems in my foot (the on-going sage of the fractured metatarsal), I will not be able to run for quite a while.  So I need to adapt.  I decided to try rowing.  As the Learn to Row program draws to an end, I can see the benefits of rowing, especially at a time when I dreadfully miss running.  And so I decided "go big or go home".  I signed up as a member in the Development Program, which is the next step for a person who has completed the Learn to Row program.

I'll tell you more about rowing soon.  But for now, I must tell you that this membership was quite expensive, even for an ex-hockey player who is accustomed to paying high fees for ice time.  I had no idea that lake time is more expensive than ice time.  My little Dutch heart nearly stopped when I hit the total (membership plus this fee and that fee, HST, etc).  (No, I'm not going to tell you how much.  Let's just say I am going to row whether it kills me or not because I want to get my money's worth.)

Here are my top ten thoughts after paying the piper a lot of silver and becoming a member of the Argonaut Rowing Club:

1. Holy crap!  Does this membership come with partial ownership of the Toronto Argos football club?
2. Sorry cats.  There's no money left in the budget to send you to summer camp this year.
3. I wonder if the fees include a steroid program.
4. For this money, do I get to name a boat?
5. I need to find cheaper hobbies.
6. At least there is free parking.
7. Can I afford a seventh thought?
8. Sure it's expensive.  But being able to see all the garbage on the bottom of the Lake on a clear day from the club's dock while the local swan terrorizes Canada geese?  Now that's priceless.
9. These membership fees make Leafs playoff tickets look cheap.
10. Membership has its privileges.  I hope.  I really, really hope.

Stay with me this summer as I try to become proficient at rowing...and as I aim to get my full money's worth from the Argonaut Rowing Club.