Newness

I'm trying to find a word for our new life aboard the one boat we have loved at first sight.

 Exciting is too vague and rosy, complete is too finished, dream come true suggests more of the happily ever after scenario that is unrealistic really. Every feeling and its accompanied word feels like Cinderella's shoe- too small!  And then I got it, - integration. Yes that is where we are at. We are at the step of bringing together all the dreams, plans, tears, and laughs, into a fullness that could only be called whole.

This process, of integration, for it feels like a process, has taken us from the heights of celebration and the colors of joy, love and freedom, to the lows of fear and insecurity. Since the momentous sale of Tara , we have explored the landscape of our inner and outer selves, questioning our motivations and ambitions. What do we really want to do now?

A lot of people have all kinds of suggestions and advice for us. A lot of you think we should go cruising, while others believe we should buy a house while the prices are low. Both of those sound reasonable and if we were considering things from the point of view of reasonableness we might be swayed in those directions. We, however, are considering things from the scenic view of the  mountaintop of  our heart, where the rising sun leads us towards higher and often less "reasonable" ambitions. Same as it ever was, with the difference measured only in paper.
 
 Whatever we do will not be done out of fear or insecurity of the future. Wherever we go we will not be seeking self gratification but working for the gratification of LIFE!

Someone once told us "First figure out what you want, then figure out how to get it"
We have followed those words, and added some of our own... " figure out what you DON'T want and avoid it."

Meet...

... Amy and Chris. The new owners of TARA!

We are so excited for them, and for us, as we could not have designed better people to take care of TARA. No they don't have much boat work experience, (neither did we) but they have enthusiasm and common sense, a powerful combination in itself, combined with a work ethic that could only be described as fearless, as it takes them both to Afghanistan and Iraq respectively, as civilians for the Department of Defense. If these kids (anyone younger then us is considered a kid these days) can handle the heat in the Middle East, I think they'll be able to handle a little sweat on the deck of their new motor yacht! I'm so excited for them and their new life! I hope TARA doesn't require as much kneeling of them as she did of us. I'm sure there will be some dues to be paid, it is a boat after all, but I feel good, having gotten her to the point that we did. What a long strange trip its been!

The question everyone is asking us is "Now what?" We've also been pondering this a bit, and decided that for now we will lay low,  and devote ourselves to our new hobby- FUN!

With that in mind, while Chopper was smelling Billy's butt and Billy was smelling Chopper's feet, we were treated to a huge double rainbow right after the sale of TARA. It further confirmed that our feet are following a trail that is blessed, even though we are not sure where it is taking us or why.

So yes, we are now truly living a new life, aboard our one boat. Phew... How did that happen?

 And in case you all are wondering about that old saying about the two happiest days of a boat owners life...  I think the purchase of a boat will win every time. Even though I have learned the value of money, trading a boat for paper still seems abstract and absurd. And even though I am thrilled to have sold TARA, there is a bit of sadness in saying goodbye to such a good girl. TARA, thank you for all the lessons, I will miss you! I already miss you!

Slummin It...

...in the pool...

Sunset

one of the most dramatic sunsets I've seen in Maryland, bringing us storms (hopefully not severe) and cooler weather.

Party All the Time

America, hell ya!

Aside from battling the heat and getting thru work, it has felt like one long party since the 1812 sailabration and this 4th of July. We've been hanging out with old friends catching up on five years of having our heads up a boat's bilge, and making new friends who's income tax bracket and lifestyle falls more into the yachtsmen category then the working stiff division.

We had a perfect view of the fireworks this year at our new "yachty marina", and had a great time swimming in the marina's floating pool. It seems like our good karma with neighbors continues, as our new neighbor Dee, not only supplies us with fresh corn, but is nice enough to hose off the duck poop off of the pier while we're away. Despite all this pomp and glory we miss our little redneck marina with trees and live music and will be heading there as soon as the heat breaks. Anchoring is still to come and despite looking like real cruisers, we are still not there. The missing ingredients include a ladder to get off the boat, a proper dinghy and motor (although we could make do with the one we have), a bimini to mount the solar panels so they won't get in the way of the sheets (lines) while sailing, and courage. We are steadily pursuing all these goals, without putting too much pressure on ourselves, figuring that whenever anchoring happens will be the right time. For now here are some pics from the fancy pansy marina that somehow we have schlepped into.

can Americans dress up a boat or what!

Home baked american blueberry pie, yum!

What do you give two vegetarians at a carnage-que? Corn!

Dee and her teacup kitty Capt. Addy Tude

 neighbors

Jammin in the cock pit

Blue Angels

Ava

Chopper shows off his toys

All- American

Grillin in the cock pit

How did we get here...?

103 and rising

My last post makes me chuckle. I sound almost heroic with my "off the grid" sincere, yet cliche declarations, and definitely optimistic as to the cold showers keeping us cool in this wild heat. That may work if you're an actual cruiser, but for us working stiffs, the recent heat sent us panting to the nearest Home Depot for this monstrosity.

It was evident after the first day that the location of this new friend needed to change. The hose was way too long and therefore way too hot, becoming a very efficient heater. We had cool air blowing out of the unit and hot air being created near the ceiling, and the best we could do was a chilly- 91 degrees.

After some sweating, grunting, and a few cold ones, we set the beast in a new location and watched it do its job. Now with the temp at 103 outside, we can stay a cool 89 inside. Doesn't sound like much, but believe me its a relief!  Just in time I think. I was starting to feel my mind shift into an altered state of awareness. While normally this may be a positive thing, this scenario was closer to a bad trip.

I could recognize fellow air-condition-less humans by their rheumy eyes and unpredictable walking patterns. We would look blankly at each other and at that moment share a total understanding.  It was, mostly, wooly homeless men who were catching my likewise bleary gaze, and since the smell of piss and sardines clung to their beanies and blankets, our understanding was quick and limited. Mostly I understood, that it was time to break down and get an a.c unit.

Now although I don't quite feel like the crispy cool humans in slacks and shoes and jackets (!), who scurry from one cold place to another,  I can put together a sentence that doesn't being with "F+#* its hot!"

I'm still trying to digest all this. I mean is it not possible for us to live without a.c? I say if it was just me and T, we might make do by going to chilly public places and restaurants, but with the animals it just doesn't seem possible. And what about marina's? These treeless sweltering places, seem forsaken in the heat. So is sucking the tit of the electric man the only way to beat the heat?

Perhaps a forest retreat is the proper escape? However after the recent storms I have a new perspective on trees. While we on the sailboat were blown to a near 45 degree angle by gusts of up to 68 mph, homes were being smashed by huge trees. Trees that downed power lines and put hundreds of people into the previously mentioned heat- induced zombie state due to the lack of an available electric man tit. I guess the point is be prepared, a tree might fall, and hopefully there will be someone to hear it... and drag it off your house.

Or, maybe the point is be reasonable and responsible. Do what you can to live clean and simple, but adapt to conditions. Be real about where you are. We are in a city, on a boat, surrounded by water we can't swim in. We have animals on board with us that need to be taken care of. We have jobs that we can't quit, cars that need to be cleaned, and a boat awaiting a new owner. We are not free, of the electric man or anything else. I realize that this is a process of freeing, dependent on many things, not just being "off the grid" or "going green". We've come a long way in this process, but just like boat work, there's more to do.