We need all the experience we can get

I was off the boat for only five days when the personnel manager called. He asked, “We’ve got a guy out on medical, can you cover his first week before going back to your boat?” For me, that would mean working for three weeks straight after having only a week off (instead of two) after my usual two-week hitch ended. Time off isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity. Mariners need it for catching up on badly needed rest and reducing their exposure to the constant stress that goes with the job. So the short answer is “no,” I didn’t really want to do it. I need my time off to recharge the batteries...