Back to Life

We have finally made back to the place we will call home.  

Is the wanderlust gone?  
No.  
I don't think once you've really started to see what the world has to offer you can ever really be satisfied in one place.  The next trip will be aboard a plane though!  Europe anyone?

But, we aren't really gypsies.  So, it's time to get back to reality.  Or rather the reality we want for our family.

So, when choosing the place we would settle down it was important to look at what brings us joy.  Jobs, work~ that's available in lots of places.  But, we had to consider what, outside of income, would be comfortable, attainable and in line with what our lifestyle is about. 

And, duh.  Just, duh.  Of course we knew where we wanted to make our roots.  We had already started before and came back during this great big Airabess adventure.  We keep coming back.  
Again and again and again; where layers include a bikini and sarong~ not fleece leggings and flannels.  

The Florida Keys really is where this crew calls home.  
I think we have known for a long time.  But... we thought maybe.  And now there is no question.  No, "what if?" 
What if... we could sail the Caribbean and set ourselves up in the Virgins?
What if.... we see the west coast and really, really love it?
What about... a cabin in the mountains?
Why not... where we have a house?
Why?  Because none of it worked, or worked out (i.e. the USVI).

It feels absolutely amazing to be able to know for sure. 

We get this life to experience and I don't want to look back at the end of it and wonder what it would have been like if I had put it all out there.  
It's all out there.  No regrets or questions.

I was welcomed back to the job I had last Summer before we took off to the Bahamas and the beyond that never happened.  RV Airabess is a convenient bike ride to and from.  Which is perfect because when you step out of life for a year or two there are a ton of things that need to come together- car, housing, furniture etc...)  

It will all work out.  I'm not worried.  Not stressed.  Just super hopeful and excited about this next chapter.  

Life is so full of every day moments that are worthy of recognition.  So, I am still going to post about our adventures. Maybe not as regularly, or maybe more.  For right now, we are getting into the groove of Airabess life here, at home, and still living this amazing dream.

Hello Alabama, and Mississippi

We are making out way over the border today (1/19/2015). 

We spent the last few days at Big Lagoon State Park. The sun finally came out again after a week of fog and rain. 

Sandy Pine Hike was maybe the highlight. And yes... It was sooo sandy. 

There was a beautiful lookout over the lagoon halfway through the estuary trail. 

I can not even believe I'm saying this, but, we kind of got bored. After the trails and multiple games of cards, and reading, and downtime, it was time to move on. 

The whole crew is looking forward to different terrain. Unfortunately, it's still a lot too cold to venture off the coast. So, we will take what we can get and embrace this part of the experience. There are so many worse things than being bored...

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. 

Too Many Adjectives

One more week and Hubs is finished at work. The next day he is heading down to Airabess to do a couple days of prep work on her, then back to the house. When he gets back it's serious crunch time~ last minute home projects, processing our last bit of stuff, logistics, saying our goodbyes... 

And we are outta here!

Oh, and the day before we leave, Coco and I are going to Soulshine.  It's her first concert. She can hardly contain herself. Neither can I for that matter. While she and I are getting our yoga and dance on my wonderful Hubs is going to be packing up the car and prepping us to head south first thing the following morning. Have I mentioned how much I love and appreciate him.  He does take care of us. 😊

www.soulshine.com/

To say we are excited would be an understatement. If you think we are ready, well, you would be right. But ready, and excited really don't cover it. A lot nervous... We are leaving our home in someone else's hands for at least a year, a little apprehensive to set out... um, yeah!  Ecstatic, joyful, eager, terrified, thrilled, hopeful, you name it we've experienced it on some level. 

But it is TIME! Finally.  Well, in 3 weeks. 

Backyard Bouquets

One hundred percent ready to be back on our boat. But, trying to enjoy this time here.  We are so, so, so busy. 

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Paring down our materials to the bare minimum. 

Getting our house ready for our renter... Which is super challenging while we are still living here. 

I'm finishing up my Yoga Teacher Training.

 Hubs is cranking out some serious hours at work. 

Coco heads to sailing camp next week. 

School plans for next year. 

Collecting and purchasing the things we need for Airabess. 

Trying to see all the people we are going to miss while we are gone. 

You get the idea. LOTS TO DO!  

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It's so weird to think someone else is going to be living in our house. And exciting at the same time... Because that means we have taken the leap. 

We have widdled down to only a few material possessions each. It was a process. Now that it's done though... It's so liberating. I can honestly say I'm not missing any of the things that I've already parted with. And it's getting easier to let things go. Some things we donated, a few we sold, and others we gave to friends and family. The only things we've really held onto (besides necessities) are pictures and art work. 

Longing for family dinners and sunset chats. But it's coming. This time we have perspective. This time we have unloaded some financial and mental burdens. This time we are ready.... Well as ready as you can be we when you sell everything and move aboard a 34 foot ancient catamaran with your family of 3 and dog. 

For now, I'll be patient and enjoy what this space has to offer~ backyard bouquets. 

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.  

Now

Birthday sunset... I'll take it. 

Over the last few days we have been vacillating between going big and heading to St. Thomas. We went so far as to purchase an airline ticket for a friend to come and help us make the journey. 

Then, reality set in. We do have to deal with that sometimes. 

We still have some major responsibilities keeping us locked into the continental United States. And, as much as we want to be irresponsible.... We are just not those people. 

Plus, we are still newbies at this boat thing. 

So, change of plans... Again. 

For now, and of course this might change too, we are going to be kicking in the Keys. Hubs is going to rent a car and go home to get our car. That way we have more flexibility.  If the weather isn't exactly what we want or need for taking out Airabess, then we can hop in the car and explore the Keys like everyone else. 

Work is on the horizon. It can't be avoided (for me anyway, I don't do too well without that energy outlet). We are going to continue to take care of our responsibilities and then make the journey to the islands a few months from now. 

There's a good chance we might actually have an amazing time doing it this way too. 

Hubs and I are planners. We are goal oriented. Now we have a plan. 

Ironically, now I can really relax. 

I miss my Hubs...

So many obstacles, too many things in the path of our dream.  
Sometimes it seems like too much.  Sometimes we wonder why we are working so hard to get 'there'.  Today tonight, when my Hubs has worked 16 hours and comes home completely exhausted I question our motivation.  
Is it really worth it?  Not now for sure.  But, later, when later comes, will we be glad we missed out on life now~?  It kind of seems like a gamble sometimes.  It feels so far away right now~  on Friday night when we have been separated all week, when there is no time for family, for us.  
So, I'm holding on and betting on our (very close) dreams.  Crossing my fingers and toes that its not all in vain.  

I really have a love/hate for this time of year.  It's Spring and with it comes the hope of so much possibility.  But, it is also the harbinger of the dreaded  'busy season'~ it pays the bills and gets us 'closer' but  we are also denied the ever elusive 'time' we are fighting so desperately to get to.  

And then there is this....

 And I remember what we are working towards.  
That is what gets me through times like this. 

There, I did it.

I was so excited to have my own project on Airabess.  So excited... and then I threw my back out, like slipped disc threw it out.
But damn it, I WAS going to do something on that boat if it killed me.  So, I put a heating pad on (still hot, still Summer), took something for the pain, and headed down there. 

I laid out my tarps and did another wipe down with acetone (the rest of the prep work was already done).  I got out the paint and mixed it up according to the instructions.  I set up my work station and got to work.  The port side went great.  It was early still so even though I was in the sun it wasn't THAT hot~ YET.  As I was working  I kept stirring the paint... per the instructions, but it started getting gloopy and sticky and it was hard to work with.  But.. I finished the outside of the hull and was making my way down the inside.... and bam face to face with a freaking black widow. AGAIN.  Seriously. 

I thought we had taken care of those stupid things.  Apparently not.  I must have missed it when I did my last wipe down, what with all of my enthusiasm to get started (you may insert eye roll here). 

I really didn't want to call Hubs.  I really wanted to do it myself.  So I took the drill to it and it felt so good. 

I tried finishing up the bottom, but found 2 more freaking spiders and the paint had turned to cement. And my meds wore off.  So, I broke down and called him. 
Ugh!  Why, oh why could it not have gone the way it was supposed to:

 

Hubs: Wow, love, you did a fantastic job.  It looks awesome!

Me:  Aw, thanks babe.  It was no big deal.  Piece of cake.  What's next?

Instead it was more like this...

Hubs: Uh, what happened?  What did you do to the paint.  You drilled the spider?!  While it was still on the keel?  What were you thinking?

Me: sniff, sniff... I hate this boat.  I am DONE!

 

Okay, so it wasn't that bad.  Especially now in hind sight.  And in my defense he did give me bunk paint to work with and I had a broken back.  Not to mention they were Black fricken widows. 

 

 

Either way its done and you can't see it.
 

 

That's what it looked like before.  This is actually a pic of raising the mast.  I'll tell that super fun story another time soon.

This is what it looked like after.  In this case, it was splash day (again another time)... but the bottom paint is what you should be ooohhing and aaahhhing over. 

 

Impressive, isn't it?

Make it Mine

I have a boat project all my own. And… I am so excited.  Surprisingly so.

Hubs has been waiting for me to take some ownership; to want it.  Make it mine.  Whatever.  It is his dream, but I am along for the ride and its not always so fun in the passenger seat.  I have been doing my thing.  Doing whatever task he asks (most of the time begrudgingly).  I have been almost completely present to this project.  But now… I have my own thing to do.  By myself.  With no supervision.  Start to finish.  And it’s not that big.  You won’t even see it.   But, I will know.  And right now that is so huge.  Because as his dream becomes my dream… I am able to stake some claim to the work.  The dirty work, not the regular domesticated work of living a life with a family.  BOAT WORK.
Bottom paint.  Sanding, cleaning, taping, and painting.  Really not a big deal.  But sort of a game changer :)
Never~ ever thought I would be stoked on sanding and painting.

The Dream

There has been progress.  Lots of progress.  Things are looking different.  We have had a few, “This is as bad as it is going to look”, and ‘it gets worse before it’s better’.  But, truly, there is positive change.

The windows are in.  Most of them.  That was huge, because there was water flowing into the boat… and that, obviously is not good.  Floors are going down, cabinetry up.  All good stuff. Although, Hubs came home the other day and offered me good news and bad news… Bad news~ ripped out the galley, good news~ I get to pick out the new counter top.

Finally, I think we have found a rhythm to the work-on-the-future versus live-in-the-now conundrum.  We have evaluated our parts in the big picture of this scheme we have plotted.  I think (with hope mixed in there) that we are each comfortable with our place in the project.
Having a schedule has helped.  It’s funny because we really do have every day scheduled for the month.  It makes it a lot easier though, less frustrating.  A whole lot of communication upfront to avoid disappointment later.

I am still waiting to put my mark on the journey. Hubs is still waiting for me to put my mark on it as well. I know it will happen.  I know it’s not yet.  I mean, I’m here.  I’m committed to it.  I’m all in…. with a great big smile on my face.  It’s just not really part of me yet.    I need to get comfortable with it. Not the possibility of it. I need the everyday life part. I am still very rooted in the now, because I have to be.  I think that is the part I need to play now for our family, to make it work. To make the right now part of our life work.  We have a 5-year-old, a house, and the rooted on land life… for right now.
The dream is very much alive in me though.  Now, if I could convince my husband :)

It begins

By late October it was finally cooling off.  Time to get the party started.




Um, yeah.  So in this case party does not = fun.
Party = boat work


Yay!  I was so excited. 

Life and Working on a Boat

      
We are in full swing of busy season where we live, and Hubs and I both work in the service industry.  We have a force of nature also known as our fabulous daughter. We have our own home… and all that entails, as well as a rental property.  We have family obligations and celebrations.  Working on Airabess, which is on the hard.  Oh, and it is about 500 degrees in the sun.

All that being said…we, meaning Hubs, is making some progress on her.  Most of it off.  Did I mention it is hot.  REALLY, really hot.  Hotter than hot.
Getting there early is the key.  Getting off before the midday sun is in full effect is absolutely necessary. 
We have enlisted the ‘help’ of our nephew who is fifteen.  Young and clueless and to be honest… willing to do some of the stuff Hubs and I don’t really want to do.  Like for example~ climbing up inside the forward berth sanding upside down, and inside out.

But, we can only find the time to get on the boat for a few hours every week. So, we are trying to focus on things we can do at home when we have an hour here and there to spare.  Sanding and painting everything we brought home.  Fixing the oven, pumps, redid the propane system….

Pump before (yuck!):


And after (Niiicceee):


Much better.
Little by little~ when we can find the time.
I keep saying we.  Hubs is doing almost all of the work. To be more accurate, 99% of the work.  He knows what to do.  I don’t.  I am taking care of the kid, the laundry, the yard… the life stuff.  Different jobs right now.  Once everything is painted and sealed up on the boat I will actually be participating the some of the labor.  For right now, that is impossible.  We have tried a couple of times… not happening… yet.  There is a whole lot of hull sanding in my future!

But, and there is always a but… we have our boat.  We have Airabess.  So much earlier than we planned.  So, I like to think we are ahead of the game.

Oh Happy Day

Getting her to the boat yard was a little stressful.  There needed to be a rolling roadblock down one of the busiest streets in downtown during rush hour.  A permit needed to be pulled to open up a closed street so that she could finish the trip from Punta Gorda.  And all of this hinged on a delivery guy  who was not exactly dependable.
BUT ~ he made it, and so did our boat.  We got to watch her make the turn down King Street.
Kind of a little emotional for me.  Because, well, we actually bought the boat.  And now it was here, and the work was going to really begin. 
It seems so unbelievable to me that we are actually doing this.  We have talked, and dreamed, and plotted and schemed.  And HOLY SHIT we are doing it!  For real.
I think Hubs wants this blog to be about the restoration and adventure of it all.  But, those things are very different for us.  So, instead, it will be my take on the whole thing.
Hopefully.

Oh, happy day.
That's her the one on the lift…not the bigger one right behind us.  It’s the only picture I have of all three of us with her.  And, it’s not a very good one… oh, well.
This is before the work began and all the possibilities were before us.  Over a year ago, and we have done so much and so little.  But… we are doing it.  That is the mantra that I keep repeating to my Hubs .  He is discouraged and overwhelmed.   He is hopeful and optimistic, and doing the work.
Still blown away that our dream is coming true.