Here it is, two months plus since my first optimistic
post, and we've finally moved onto the boat! What happened? Life. Business
meetings, travel, family commitments. There's a great line in a Beatles song
that fits right about now: "Life is what happens when you're making other
plans." But here we are, at the satisfied end of our first full day as boat
dwellers. It wasn't without hitches.
Last night when we arrived, we spent so much time stowing all the provisions and equipment that a life connected to the water requires that we missed the Sunday night get-together with our boat neighbors. Thankfully, it's a weekly affair, and we're planning to be regulars. Then our marine air conditioner decided to call it quits. Sure, it was of questionable pedigree and landed in our posession for a cheap $100 and a bottle of rum, but it gave us a few good years of dedicated service before finally emitting its last cool gasp just as we decided to rely on it for real. But no worries, a jury-rigged window AC we lovingly call Mr. Frosty got us through that first night. My husband has promised many, many favors of a private kind for having the forethought to throw it in the car as a back-up plan! Here's a look at the frankenfix that solved our AC problem...thank goodness for ginger ale and duct tape!
Today a spare with a wiring issue was quickly repaired by the resident mechanical genius (my husband John) and put into service for our second full night of comfort aboard. Just like the pirates did, as John would say!
The kids sleep in the V-berth; for the uninitiated, that's the pointy part of the front of the boat!! It's a tight squeeze, and we probably have less than a year before Ian stops putting up with bunking with his little sister, but we make it work for now. Hey, you can do anything for a year, right?
In between air conditioner repairs was a full day that really served as proof of concept -- three laptops, 2 iPads and one radio likely spiked more amps than this 30-year-old boat has seen in some time, but all performed beautifully. The kids, kept down below by severe lightning and rain squalls (on our first day, no less!), were blissfully watching Disney Channel on the newly acquired iPads that were procured primarily for school use but will serve us well for entertainment, we've decided. (Photo below: Ian and Eve on their iPads with Mom's and Dad's laptops awaiting use.)
Several hours of work later, I made a grocery store run -- you still have to eat in paradise! -- and upon return, we set out for our family exercise. John and I ran, and the kids biked. Running past an active military runway is a good reminder of the many people whose service and sacrifice allow us to have this amazing experience, including the man I have shared this journey with for nearly a quarter-century. It's also a good lesson for our kids, whose cries of "The sound of freedom," whenever the jets scream overhead makes our hearts swell with pride.
The day ended with a family swim and search for cool sea life, followed by steak under the beach tiki hut, courtesy of my son Ian, who not only suggested the dining spot but expertly cooked the steak on a transom-mounted grill while John focused on solving the AC crisis. I could get used to this.
Rockstar Rocket enjoying
his trip down to the boat!
Last night when we arrived, we spent so much time stowing all the provisions and equipment that a life connected to the water requires that we missed the Sunday night get-together with our boat neighbors. Thankfully, it's a weekly affair, and we're planning to be regulars. Then our marine air conditioner decided to call it quits. Sure, it was of questionable pedigree and landed in our posession for a cheap $100 and a bottle of rum, but it gave us a few good years of dedicated service before finally emitting its last cool gasp just as we decided to rely on it for real. But no worries, a jury-rigged window AC we lovingly call Mr. Frosty got us through that first night. My husband has promised many, many favors of a private kind for having the forethought to throw it in the car as a back-up plan! Here's a look at the frankenfix that solved our AC problem...thank goodness for ginger ale and duct tape!
Today a spare with a wiring issue was quickly repaired by the resident mechanical genius (my husband John) and put into service for our second full night of comfort aboard. Just like the pirates did, as John would say!
The kids sleep in the V-berth; for the uninitiated, that's the pointy part of the front of the boat!! It's a tight squeeze, and we probably have less than a year before Ian stops putting up with bunking with his little sister, but we make it work for now. Hey, you can do anything for a year, right?
In between air conditioner repairs was a full day that really served as proof of concept -- three laptops, 2 iPads and one radio likely spiked more amps than this 30-year-old boat has seen in some time, but all performed beautifully. The kids, kept down below by severe lightning and rain squalls (on our first day, no less!), were blissfully watching Disney Channel on the newly acquired iPads that were procured primarily for school use but will serve us well for entertainment, we've decided. (Photo below: Ian and Eve on their iPads with Mom's and Dad's laptops awaiting use.)
Several hours of work later, I made a grocery store run -- you still have to eat in paradise! -- and upon return, we set out for our family exercise. John and I ran, and the kids biked. Running past an active military runway is a good reminder of the many people whose service and sacrifice allow us to have this amazing experience, including the man I have shared this journey with for nearly a quarter-century. It's also a good lesson for our kids, whose cries of "The sound of freedom," whenever the jets scream overhead makes our hearts swell with pride.
The day ended with a family swim and search for cool sea life, followed by steak under the beach tiki hut, courtesy of my son Ian, who not only suggested the dining spot but expertly cooked the steak on a transom-mounted grill while John focused on solving the AC crisis. I could get used to this.
Ian and Eve look so cute cuddled up there. Looks like you guys are having a tremendous time, and Rocket is in doggy heaven!
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