Who wrote that? I’ve been wondering the past couple of days. Few will probably be surprised that Barbara and I have decided that we have a lot to discuss before simply picking up where we left off. Her newly married daughter and son-in-law are also living in the house with all their belonging for a couple weeks until their house is ready. Although I love Aly like the daughter I never had and think the world of John, it would be pretty crowded under the current circumstances. Besides, I have to look after the boat. I couldn’t decide if it was worth the boat buck to have a new chain put on the mooring for the amount I would be using it so, for the time being, I’m still officially a crazy old guy on a boat.
Fortunately, the South Portland town dock is virtually unregulated. This was always a source of frustration to me when I lived here as derelict boats kept me from using it for pick up and drop off of daysailing guests. Now that I’m a derelict, I quite like it. I’ll be taking some short cruises down the coast as soon as the weather clears. My younger son will join me for an overnight as soon as some decent weather lines up with his days off.
My current view:
I’ll be hauling the boat mid month for bottom painting and re-pitching of the prop, taking advantage of the cheaper on shore storage rates to make a family visit road trip. Hopefully, Lee and Lynn, who you may remember from the Hampton to Saint Mary’s posts, will be in Maine by then for some cruising together. They’ve only seen Maine as far as Casco Bay and I’ve promised to show them the rest.
Beyond that horizon, the future is even more unknown at this point than everything that lay ahead on the trip south. Cruising the ICW is more expensive than I thought it would be. Every credit card payment on this trip has been larger than my retirement income, even without the unexpected expenses. Another person of my income and I could make it work quite nicely but that seems a very remote possibility at this point.
The time in Woods Hole, reconnecting with my past and accomplishments, also made me realize that I have some rare skills and would still like to do something with them. I had some extensive discussions in Newport and Woods Hole about a project where I could do that and I’m hoping something comes of it. It would probably mean living ashore again for a while but I’m not going to be able to keep Strider without additional income unless I just sail the boat back south, sell the rig for some cash, spread some tarps over the deck, mount a Briggs and Stratton generator on a 2 x 4 frame over the stern, and just sit for the rest of my life.
This was supposed to be, in large part, a voyage of self discovery. I’ve returned with more questions than answers. If I’ve learned anything, it is that life is cruising and cruising is just life. The next post in this forum may be a while appearing and it will be titled, “The First Leg”.
Fortunately, the South Portland town dock is virtually unregulated. This was always a source of frustration to me when I lived here as derelict boats kept me from using it for pick up and drop off of daysailing guests. Now that I’m a derelict, I quite like it. I’ll be taking some short cruises down the coast as soon as the weather clears. My younger son will join me for an overnight as soon as some decent weather lines up with his days off.
My current view:
I’ll be hauling the boat mid month for bottom painting and re-pitching of the prop, taking advantage of the cheaper on shore storage rates to make a family visit road trip. Hopefully, Lee and Lynn, who you may remember from the Hampton to Saint Mary’s posts, will be in Maine by then for some cruising together. They’ve only seen Maine as far as Casco Bay and I’ve promised to show them the rest.
Beyond that horizon, the future is even more unknown at this point than everything that lay ahead on the trip south. Cruising the ICW is more expensive than I thought it would be. Every credit card payment on this trip has been larger than my retirement income, even without the unexpected expenses. Another person of my income and I could make it work quite nicely but that seems a very remote possibility at this point.
The time in Woods Hole, reconnecting with my past and accomplishments, also made me realize that I have some rare skills and would still like to do something with them. I had some extensive discussions in Newport and Woods Hole about a project where I could do that and I’m hoping something comes of it. It would probably mean living ashore again for a while but I’m not going to be able to keep Strider without additional income unless I just sail the boat back south, sell the rig for some cash, spread some tarps over the deck, mount a Briggs and Stratton generator on a 2 x 4 frame over the stern, and just sit for the rest of my life.
This was supposed to be, in large part, a voyage of self discovery. I’ve returned with more questions than answers. If I’ve learned anything, it is that life is cruising and cruising is just life. The next post in this forum may be a while appearing and it will be titled, “The First Leg”.
