We have a departure date!

I have been on vacation from work for over two weeks. I can not believe how quickly the time has passed. I have spent my days sanding, painting, lugging, and hauling with countless trips to HD, Joanne's, Jackson's, Bed Bath and way Beyond. I have cleaned the bilge, bouy's and boat bottom. Flaked, sewn, furled and washed sheets, and packed items in spaces I never knew existed in this 38 foot sloop. Here are father and son working on the solar panels!

The past two weeks have been a true test of our patience. I have always said my time off begins when I leave the office at 5 pm and this is a perfect example of appreciating the "in between" times. This process of planning and organizing for the trip is as much a part of the experience as getting to the destination. The chaos of living on the boat during the preparations has made it more difficult in some ways and helpful in others. Fortunately, we have had continued access to our basement including laundry , toilet and outdoor shower. And yes, we have our nightly hot shower and then run down to the heated cozy boat and hot toddy. There were evenings we could barely climb into the quarterberth to lay down our heads because of all the galley gear.  However, I am grateful to have had this trial run as it has enabled us to jettison things we thought we must have and also to grab more supplies we thought we could live without.

Yesterday I realized, or maybe Tim brought to my attention, that I was getting a little cranky so I marched myself to a yoga class in Portsmouth at Yoga by Donation. After a 1 1/2 hour class, including shivasana of an undetermined length of time, I became a renewed woman. It literally felt like a pile of bricks was lifted from my shoulders. I raved about the experience so much that Tim and I went back for another class together, today. Thank you Bob, what a fabulous gift to ourselves in the midst of this stress. I might try to sneak another class in tomorrow before we castoff

if I have the time!

We are so grateful to all of our dear friends and family who have taken such good care of us; lending industrial sewing machines, mending mattress covers, delivering delicious food, inviting us to dinner, kidnapping us from the boat  to take us out to dinner, lunches, cappuccino etc. This outpouring of friendship and love will be in our hearts for a lifetime, thank you all!

I want to say thank you to Anna for her instruction, patience and Apple expertise. Her support and encouragement have made me realize how much I can accomplish electronically and if in doubt, turn the machine off and start over!

We started looking at the weather window yesterday and have come up with a departure date and time. We will be leaving on Thursday morning with the outgoing tide. We have plans to stop in Rockport for lunch and to pick up salt water taffy for the trip and to send to my incredibly supportive office, the "gyne girls"! So far, those are the only plans on the itinerary....kind of nice!

I took this picture of the boat at the cottage dock this afternoon from across the river.