Excited and Sad

Today is retirement day...I am supposed to be ‘over the moon’ with my new freedom, but it actually feels like a normal Friday evening before a weekend trip on the boat.  Maybe tomorrow the true excitement will set in, but today I will allow myself to be a little sad.  I walked through the building today saying goodbye and hugging people that have been a consistent part of my life for many years. I have grown accustomed to their camaraderie, and have always thrived on the positive energy we shared.  On any given day I interacted with 20-30 people who provided a spectacular network of social and thought provoking interactions.  I usually came home exhausted from so much social energy and was happy to sit quietly and watch the sunset.  Looking forward I think...poor Keith!  I either need to bridle the energy or he needs to learn how to deflect it:)

  As you know the date has been on my calendar for some time, but somehow there was a glitch in our system:)
I have wonderful memories of everyone, and I will truly miss each person!

Explore. Dream. Discover

One week from today, we plan to take Mark Twain’s advice...”Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed in the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.”

Mark Twain makes it sound so easy...just throw off the bowlines.  For some people it might be that simple, but I have been accused of having a ‘touch’ of OCD or it could be my Type A personality.  Either way Keith and I have an extensive list of boat projects we were hoping to finish before we left.   A few weeks ago we realized that the list would not be finished, in fact the list will never be finished, so we changed our strategy and decided to thoroughly plan the future projects we would like to complete and order all of the parts/supplies before we leave.  The idea is that when we are anchored in a beautiful cove for a few days, waiting for a weather window or just enjoying our freedom from schedules, we would have everything needed to complete a project.

Soooo on most days for the past few weeks our package delivery looks like this, and yes...this cart

contains a bathroom sink!  I think the marina office will be happy to see us leave:) On June 29 when we throw off the lines (actually we’ll be bringing them with us) our boat will be sitting a little lower in the water, because we plan to embrace the true definition of cruising = fixing your boat in exotic places! Maybe Mark Twain was missing one tiny thing...

Explore. Dream. Discover. Work On Your Boat!

First Aid

How much stuff do you need to have onboard to be considered ‘prepared’ for a medical emergency.  I realize that ‘stuff’ is only one part of the equation.  How many classes should one take to be prepared to handle medical situations, should they arise when help is not easily accessible?  I have no formal medical training, but I have taken the initiative to gain basic first aid and CPR training, wilderness first aid, and I recently participated in a ‘Stop the Bleed’ session, which prompted me to immediately order the triple pack of tourniquets!
Now the question is how to organize all of these items so they are easily accessible when needed.

I am taking the advice I’ve read on other blogs and sites to separate the supplies into two kits. One would be for ‘boo boo’ type injuries, and the other is for ‘OH CRAP’ injuries.  Realistically, once the items were separated it was clear to me that we now have a normal first aid kit and a Stop the Bleed kit.

The Stop the Bleed kit contains clotting gauze, Israeli bandages, tourniquets, splints, lots of tee shirt rags, and several versions of glue since Keith won’t let me practice suturing on him.  The bacon bandaids are for the ‘boo boo’ kit:)). Our grandchildren have a bandaid addiction!

Water Toys

As we prepare to cruise, and think about entertaining our grandchildren for extended periods of time, we have been challenged to identify fun and educational items that are easily stored on a boat. We have a variety of books, toys, and craft items.  We already have a great collection of ‘water toys’ for ourselves that we know the grandchildren will enjoy.  Kayaks, paddle boards, rafts, waterhammocks, and noodles are in great abundance.

 However, I hope these people leave before the grandchildren arrive or they will be seriously disappointed in our level of preparedness!

Less Than a Month

I know I shouldn’t be surprised, but after counting down for three years, I’m shocked at the realization that I have less than one month until retirement.  The process of planning to become cruisers has been a very long journey.  The idea had presented itself several times during my life, but really became a ‘goal’ ten years ago.  Since that time Keith and I embraced the dream together!  

We started researching everything!  We decided that a Trawler would be the best choice for us, and began our search.  We bought our DeFever49 RPH 6 years ago and immediately started upgrades.  Once Keith retired, his new job title became ‘Master of Boat Projects’, and I must say that he has done an amazing job!  Preparing for this lifestyle change has given us a true focus that few people seem to have...it has also given us a lot of joy and excitement about the future.

Three years ago we selected June 30, 2019 as my retirement date.  People thought I was eccentric/crazy/ridiculous (choose any/all that apply) when I started my retirement countdown in 2016, and the process felt more like a game than reality...jump ahead to today...we really only have 18 days before our dream becomes our reality!!