Glory
Do you have a thing for straightforward, accomplishable goals? If so, you've chosen the right field. Sailors start at point A with a very real goal in mind: make it safely to point B. It might not sound like much, but along the way they carry out an incredible variety of tasks to ensure the success of their mission.
In the end, they get to see their vessel pull into harbor and deliver the goods that particular port needed. While there might not be crowds of landlubbers cheering, there's always that undeniable satisfaction of a job well done.
There's also an undeniable sense of relief when pulling through a major storm without any casualties, injuries, or lost goods. And that relief is often followed by an immense sense of pride in both your abilities and those of your fellow crew members. It's kind of like a group project in your math or English classes, except all the labor is physical and if things go wrong, they can go very wrong.