We Sold Our Boat

Part of me thinks we will change our minds. The other part of me knows.  

Hubs and and I are absolute about things. Big things. Huge decisions. 

Sometimes I think we make the huge life decisions on a whim and then run Head first all the way towards those decisions. 

Years and years worth of effort.

Then we change our minds. 

The thing is... We always decide together. 

We talk IT TO DEATH.  We rationalize every single senerio. We work. We plan. We hypothesize. We ratonlize. 

And we are at that point, place, time again. 

It's terrifying and at the same time a huge weight is lifted. 

We have a different direction. 

It feels so good. It feels right.  

But after years of this... This boatlife... This kind of promise, it's like the dream we were dreaming isn't valid. 

But it is. Because we have always been dreaming. We have been doing. We have been living a beautiful life of hope and future and love. 

We've just realized what freedom means for us.

And there is no point in prolonging a life that isn't ours. It's time to claim the life that is for us. 

That's one of the reasons we are moving on and heading back. 

So to all of the naysayers and... I told you so's... GUESS WHAT!? 

We are still living the dream. Still on our own terms. Still with hope and love and optimism. 

It's hard to swallow some of the bumps along the way. It doesn't matter though. 

What matters is what's right for our family in this place and in this time. 

Very long story short (the ways, hows and whys are for another post), we sold our boat. 

Yep.  You read that right. 

We bought an rv and are now taking this adventure on the road. 

Airabess is our family mantra. It was coined by our Coco. 

 It's our way of life.

Airabess isn't (wasn't) just our boats name~ it's us. It's our freedom, as a family, to want and to be who we are. 

With no regrets. 

Quick turn around, right.  Yeah... We don't do anything by halves. 

Crossing the Gulf Stream

Rolling mountains of water. In the dark. The longest 45 minutes ever, waiting on the moon rise. Followed by the longest 10 hours pushing our way through from peak to valley to peak again. 

At the time it felt like it would never end. 

I've read so many things about night passages. But nothing really prepares you for that first time out at sea with only the stars (and possibly moon) to guide you. 

Mellow drama aside... We did it. We crossed the Gulf Stream.  It was just as intimidating as we expected, but people have been doing it for ages. 

The plan was to anchor off Angel Creek for the night and shove off around 4 in the morning. Hubs decided to call an audible. The wind was light. The sea relatively calm. So we went for it. 

I think the abruptness of the call, coupled with strong coffee and anxiety made it even more uncomfortable. 

But we are here. Currently tied up in Bimini, but leaving in the morning to cross the banks. A long stretch for the next few days. Then... Then we will be able to take it one island at a time. 

Yesterday, after knocking out some school work,  Coco and I walked around North Bimini while Hubs worked on a few things aboard Airabess.  

P.S.  So far, I'm not one of those authors who enjoys night passages. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the fact that I can't see at all to begin with. It's even more a problem under the cover of darkness. I may change my mind. You, and I will just have to wait and see. 

  

Lobster, It's What's For Dinner.

Lately the weather has been blah (rain for weeks). Yours truly has been in beast, I mean work mode and Hubs has been in the project zone (there's a surprise). So, the fun factor has been on hold. 

But today, TODAY,  the planets were aligned. I got out of work early. Hubs was already on hold because Coco had homeschool P.E. at the park- After which we had planned on a quick trip to the beach for a cool down~ but the water was calm and the sun WAS SHINING.  Hubs called an audible and we went (slightly) offshore in the dingy with our snorkels and masks.  

We were handsomely rewarded. Hubs scored some dinner. AND... He cooked it too. 

Here's to bringing back the spontaneity. 

Waiting It Out

I know I've been quiet on the blog front (and Facebook) as of late. 
We are still here.  We are still hot.  We are still just in a holding pattern.  But it's all good.

I decided to use some of the waiting time to get a paying gig for a little while.  It's working out pretty well so far.  Though, it's definitely changed our schedule. 

We had planned on random sailing trips while we are here... but doesn't really work when I am working 5 days a week and my days off aren't consecutive.  Again, no biggie.  Hubs is finishing a few projects around Airabess, installing new systems and tweaking the old ones.  Coco is easing her way back into a school routine (we aren't officially starting until October), and I am bringing home the bacon.  

Also, making new friends and planning rendezvous for when it's time to set sail for real.  

A few more weeks (and if the weather is right) we will be on our way.  

People have asked why we didn't just wait it out back home.  Truthfully~ we just didn't want to.  We were so ready to just go (away).  It really wasn't necessary to acclimate for months.  Nor was it important we sweat our tushes off in the process.  But. We wanted to get going.  Get moving.  Start heading in another direction.   We were ready.  So we went.  And now we are here and waiting. 

It's kind of nice too when you can pull up to the dingy dock and not have to vie for a spot, Or have to wait at the showers (while we have access we use them, no need to use our hard hauled water when we don't have to).

I know it will be time to go before we know it!

Home

I spent my last day in St. Augustine having lunch with a dear friend followed by a concert with my kiddo and another dear friend. Not a bad way to say goodbye to our hometown. There was, of course, a ton of running around finishing things up. That's not what I will remember though. 

I will remember the farewell hugs and dancing my booty off. 

The following 2 photos courtesy of Jana Vallone. 

Friday morning we woke up early and mopped our way out of the house. Someone else lives there now. So strange and I obsessed over it the WHOLE way down to the Keys. Once here though I had other things to focus on, adjust to and obsess about. 

FYI you can pack all of you necessary belongings into a shoebox size car and move. It's not exactly comfortable, but we did it. 

So we are here and plugged in so we can put everything back together. 

We had planned on doing a few things pre-splash.... But the boatyard launched it earlier than they were supposed to. We will see how that effects us moving forward. Probably going to have to beach it, unless Hubs can do the chores underwater. Time will tell. And now we have that in abundance. 

The Next Step

I haven't posted in awhile because we have been readjusting to being on land.  And I'm sad and overwhelmed by it all.  

A sad sight.  But it is temporary.

I am so very grateful to have a home to return too and wonderful friends to welcome us back.  But,  the novelty of a big bed, reliable WiFi, and unlimited water... it's kind of worn off.

We left Airabess patiently waiting for us in the Keys.  And when we return we have a ton of projects to do.   Some before we get her wet, but most we can do while aboard.  I never thought I would be so excited to work on her. 

Unfortunately, we have sooo much to do here at home.  We have decided to go big for our next adventure.  To do that we need to rent our house.  To rent out our house we need to sell most of our belongings and get our little beach cottage ready. It's going to take some time. It takes time to make time... wait that's money.. anyway.  We are busy, busy, busy... again.  

Hubs is in crazy work mode (we hardly see him anymore).  Coco and I are wrapping up this school year.  I am working with the nonprofit I started last year, Earth's Lifeline Global Warriors,  teaching eco-classes around our little town, along with the odd job here and there.  And, because I really don't have much to do, I am working on getting my yoga teacher training certification.  

We have our lists again.  The working ones, the planning ones, the things to go, to sell~ you get the idea. 

All of this and a summer to do it in.  

I'm not complaining though.  I am so very fortunate to have this challenge and the reward waiting at the finish line is even sweeter.  


If you are interested in Earth's Lifeline Global Warriors, Inc.~ what we do and how we do it~ click the link.  It is something I am very passionate about.  I plan on working on expanding it as we travel.  Let me know what you think.

www.earthslifelineglobalwarriors.org

Decommissioning... For a little while

We have a little over a week before we head home. It's very bittersweet. 

Right now Hubs is in decommission mode. We are hauling out next Tuesday and since she is going to be on the hard (far away from her crew) we have to get her ready. 

There is an ever growing list of things that need to be done. 

All sails have to be taken down, the bimini disassembled (of course its part of Hurricane season we will be gone) holding tank emptied and sanitized, water tank flushed... And that's just the beginning. 

We are headed north in a tiny car that has to fit 3 people, a dog, a bike, our clothing, everyday electronics etc... There just isn't enough room for everything. 

And we aren't going to be home for very long. So deciding what is necessary combined with what can't stay aboard is the challenge of the moment. 

All food stuffs HAS to be removed. We absolutely do not want to come back to a critter infested boat. Currently we are working our way through the stores and will hopefully only have to deal with a small basket of food, spices, etc.. 

The things we can't  or dont want to take home have to be dealt with (books, bedding).  Mold is a problem... Especially when it goes unchecked for months at a time. That's another present we don't want waiting for us upon our return~ a fuzzy boat. 

I've learned to really love the simplicity this life afloat offers.  This isn't the simple part. This is the work. And bonus~ we get to put it back together in a few months. THAT I'm actually looking forward to because it means we will be on our way again. 

Focus

This lifestyle is an adjustment.  I've said it before, but it's not all sunsets and rum.  It is hard work and planning~ both to get here and to sustain it.  Living on  a boat has many challenges.  Living on an old boat has more.  But we have done it.  This very first adventure has taught us so much about what we are capable of and what we really aren't.

We know now what type of cruising family we are.  A lot of the illusions have been shattered.  Some of them have been tempered, and a select few have been illuminated.  I personally, am grateful for all the ways in which this life has presented itself (some more so in retrospect). 

Now that we have finally, four months later, worked out the kinks... it's time to head back to our home port and take the next steps.

We have decided to haul out Airabess here in the Keys.  For a few reasons.  She needs it.  It has been almost 3 years and she needs a new bottom job.  We could take her back up north... but that just does not appeal to anyone in the crew.  The ICW, while a good way to get our feet wet, is  not the way we want to travel.  It's at times very narrow and the opportunity for actual sailing is very small.  Plus, the bridges.  I NEVER want to do that again.  EVER.  We all agree on that point as well.

Another reason to go on the hard here is that Airabess won't be a distraction to our planning.  We have tons to do when we get home.  And we have done the 'work on the boat on the weekend' thing for too many years.  We need to focus on getting our family and financial repsonsiblities in order there~ so we can get back here.  We already have a list of projects and purchases that we need to get through.  But this time, Airabess will get our undivided attention... it's just going to be a few months from now. 

We will be in work mode for awhile.  And that feels good too, because we have a clear objective and timeline. 

That is what is going to get us back down here more quickly I think.  We don't want to leave her on the hard for longer than necessary.  And that is just long enough to take care of things back home.  If we took her home... we might not be as focused or in as much of a hurry to get anywhere.  Plus we would have to do the ICW AGAIN.  I did say that wasn't going to happen.  Bonus, we will be super close for the hop to the Bahamas when we are ready to go. 

So, this crew is in transition mode again.  I feel like it will be a very different this time around.  We know what to expect.  We know what we need.  We know what we want out of this thing.  So, we are headed back to make it happen.  A few months of landlubbing for an indefinite adventure... I'll take it! 

I sure am going to miss the sunsets though.  

Reality happens.

So, today wasn't so smooth sailing.  It was a crash course in... this is what could happen.  So, tied up at a marina for the night, hoping the prop guy is able to help us tomorrow. 
And it's okay because if something big was going to stop working, the best place for it to stop working is when you are at a marina fueling up, right?!....

We have had the most amazing couple of days.  The weather has been perfect, making good time as we make our way south, rocket launch, sundowners in the most ideal anchorage (deep water, no wind, no current), basically all of us were starting to relax.

Well, about that.  Maybe we should have waited a little longer, or maybe it was time for the universe to shake things up a bit... and so it did.

We pulled up the anchor this morning about 8 and motored back onto the ICW.
I should have known that the bliss of the last couple of days couldn't last because, well, it just doesn't.  You take the good with the bad.  I thought we had already dealt with the bad for awhile... not so much.  It was waiting for us in the channel to the fuel dock in Sebastian.

At the same time the the dock hand threw me the line to tie off, Hubs shouts, "We lost reverse!"  Of course he is joking.  He has to be joking, because why and how did we all of sudden lose reverse.  Then he shouts, "Nope, not just reverse, our prop spun off."  Mind you he is not freaking out as I would have been.  He just says it, like, hey look at that bird over there.  Like it's no big deal. 

I didn't realize that he was serious because, well, he didn't sound serious.  And, he has a tendency to not be serious. 

Well, he was.  Serious.  And I think he was freaking out a little bit, but well... Our prop spun off.  Damn.  Damn, damn, damn.

Fun times here on Airabess today.  Great fun.  And tears.  Because then Hubs says, "That's it ladies, dream over,"  Well, I took him at his word because I have no idea what the hell is going on.  I'm good in the galley.  I can throw some lines, but I know absolutely nothing about engines and propellers.  NOTHING. 
Then, well then he disappears into the office with the marina guys and I am sitting in the cockpit crying afraid to go in and see Coco because I don't want to upset her...

Finally, Hubs comes back and informs us all is not lost (this family leans toward the dramatics when we there is a loss of control)... it's just going to be a day or two to fix us up.  And we should be on our way maybe tomorrow.

Thankfully the whole prop falling off happened where it did and not while we were making our way under a bridge. And while Hubs and the marina guys moved the boat and got us situated Coco and I watched a dolphin feed, then later she was able to get face to face with a manatee. 

There is always a silver lining.  Today was so super stressful.  It was trying.  It was not all sunsets and clear water.  It was hard.  But, we are going to make the most of it... .like we always do. 

So fresh and so clean~

We spent most of yesterday getting dirty. And it wasn't fun. (Re)found a leak that required us to pull up the floor boards in the galley. But, before Hubs could fix it, I needed to pump out the bilges and clean up the mess). SO MUCH FUN! :-/

So, while Hubs took Coco to fill water jugs and run around for awhile (it has been super cold and rainy) I addressed the prep of fixing the leak. Then I waited for them to get back.... and waited, and waited... When I realized that it was going to be awhile before I got my galley back I decided to do something productive~ clean the head. (I know you are so jealous of this boat life... you are totally missing out I tell you...) After cleaning the head I was on a roll. Finished up the laundry, wiped down the walls and floors, and then they finally pulled up.

I was feeling really, really gross. But with no hot water and it being so cold~ how that was going to get accomplished was the problem.

Hubs had the great idea to mix kettle steamed water with cold water and viola HOT SHOWER!

There is nothing like a hot shower after doing grimy boat work. Especially when you didn't expect to get said hot shower.

Clean boat, clean me. Feeling like a brand new person!

All Aboard... Kind of.

So, officially moved aboard last week. We knew that it would take us awhile to get things in order. Between organizing our new living space and last minute things we needed to do before we could take off, we knew we would be in St. Augustine a little while longer ... but of course the weather hasn't helped at all.

We were already a week behind getting everything on board because of the weather. Now we are another week behind leaving because of it.

Right now it is rainy, windy, and cold. And I want nothing more than to head south.

I know there is always work to be done. Something is always in need of repair, polishing, or cleaned, but it would be so much easier to swallow if the view from the windows was different. If we were moving. If we were doing it all somewhere else. If, if, if... but that's not the reality.

The reality is that we have a few more days of this. So, I'm calling to hitch a ride to pick up just a few more supplies. Because unlike the original plan (to be south for Thanksgiving) we will still be moored in Salt Run and I want to celebrate something.  Unless the weather clears.  Then.  Then we are OUT OF HERE!

Marina life is....

...Not the life for me. 
It was a great transition for us.  We worked out some of the kinks safely tied to the dock.  It was determined how much electricity we would really need and use and what our water intake was.  And, we learned to simplify even more. 

Being at a marina was eye-opening.  We chose one that allowed 'work on boats'.  So, that is what we did.  But, it was confining.  It felt like being on display.  Any move we made someone was witness to.  Not that anyone cared... or was really paying attention.  It's just that is  not what we want out of boat life.   We don't want to be tied up to land.  We want to be surrounded by water.  We want the freedom of the open sea and air. 

So, as soon as we could... meaning we had our solar and wind power ready, a functioning galley and head, etc...  we made the move to a mooring buoy.  Not exactly a great escape.  But, the next step for us.  And that's okay, because it's our path and journey.

Moving to the buoy would prove to be another adventure all together...  Actual nautical navigation, bridge openings, and tying up to the buoy (I have no depth perception...).   We are definitely on a learning curve.  But that's okay.  It's fun this way!

Splash Day

Finally! After all the blood, sweat, and tears (of laughter and frustration)... it was time to get her wet.
We were totally prepared to have to haul Airabess back out immediately. I mean nothing, so far, had gone the right way the first time.  So with fingers crossed and expectations low we ordered the lift to come and drop her in.

Just slightly intimidating.  Not to mention the fact that the wind picked up and our little dream was just swinging back and forth on the lift.

 

So.  We did it.  And she didn't have to come back out.  Super stressful, but so exciting.  Finally Airabess was wet, and she didn't sink.  All of that hard work really did work.  Such an amazing feeling!

 

Hubs and Coco enjoying our first sunset on the water.

Time to start enjoying the simple things.

Tired of waiting

“If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything is ready, we shall never begin.”

—	Ivan Turgenev So, we are changing plans… a bit.  Not trying to get EVERYTHING done on the boat.  Just trying to get it in the water again.  Then, while we ARE on the water… we can work on finishing, while we are living :) Much better.

Mast Drama

It's really awesome doing boat work when your back is busted.  But slave away I did.  Because I wanted to, but also because I really needed to.  Stuff needed to get done.  The only way that was going to happen is if we did it... so commence to the never-ending bending and lifting that is rebuilding a boat. 
We sanded and painted, painted and sanded and got Airabess all nice and shiny... at least on the hulls.  The topside is coming, or so I'm told.

Honestly, it was really hard, but kind of empowering.  I did stuff and used tools that I never thought I wanted to.  Team work at it's finest.  Hubs was mostly patient with me and it felt good to help.

Then it was time to raise the mast.  I had every intention of just staying out of the way.  I really had hurt my back.  So, I was just there for moral support....

But... then it kind of got a little crazy, and he needed help.  Thanks again adrenaline for kicking in.

And this is what I walked into...

I know you're jealous.  This boat owning thing is awesome. 
Then, for icing on the cake.  I got to run back down the rusty ladder and grab the furling and hold it for, oh, almost forever.  Hubs ran around securing the rigging all the while telling me to hold tight, as I was what was holding the mast up.  I'm still not sure if this is true... I know so much about sailing and all, needless to say  I did exactly what he said.  I am pretty dexterous though and managed to take some pics with my phone.  And, yes, Hubs was all, "Put the the phone away."  That was until later when he was grateful I documented our idiocy.

And, holy shit!  We did it.  We really did it.  It was totally stressful and painful and trying.  But we did it~ in less than an hour.  Because, well, then we would have had to fork over another $300.  I mean it- teamwork at its finest.  

I could also tell you all about the jackass crane operator. But, it doesn't matter.  Because the mast was up and that's all that mattered. 

I will never forget the relief and satisfaction we both felt when it was done.  We had worked really hard, but it was really our first test of ability... and I think we passed.  Long time cruisers might not think so ... I really don't care.  Hubs and I did it.  Together.  And that is what this whole thing is about.  Us, together, making shit happen.

It's a Glamorous Life

Working on a boat in the dead heat of summer really sucks.  Doing it in a boat yard sucks even worse.  But, that's what we were doing.  Sort of.  We were trying.

Hubs and I had no idea how much we actually had taken on. It was no fixer-upper.  It was a complete disaster.  We had to completely gut her.  COMPLETELY!

By the time we had finished pulling, ripping, and struggling to get everything out, the only thing left was the fiberglass hull.  That was it.  We had to start over from scratch.  Plus we were scratching... fiberglass is itchy.

We thought we had gotten everything off.  We were wrong.  We had company. Company in the way of black widow spiders.  Apparently, Airabess had the ideal conditions for a whole colony of the damn things. 



Such glamour this yacht life.....