dAY 7 - Getting ready to depart....

Well yesterday and today have been most interesting. We are stil in port in Ft. Lauderdale.
Back track....
In our little port is like a little town. We have "Jim" the playboy who drives a corvet down from Onterio...without wife. He has a fishing boat and he and and his account friend just left this morning for Key West...."to do some damage".
Then there is Gloria. She appears to be the local "massage therapist" by day but something else by afternoon or night. It's like a little "Peyton Place".
None-the-less...tomorrow morning we set "sail". Actually cruise.
we've learned much from "Captain Larry"...the previous owner of our boat. We have boarded his boat; an 80' Trawler that is magnificent. Someday.
So, we went to several marine stores, purchased charts, etc. in preparation of our departure. It's funny; Larry has cruised around the world twice, but he says he wouldn't want to cruise up the rivers because it would make him nervous. Interestingly, today over lunch we talked of his experience in Malaisia during the sunomiee (sp) and he was there on the boat we just purchased. He said that at one point in the afternoon, the water dropped about 30 feet. Then about 15 minutes later, it rose 30 feet. He and "our boat" was tied up at the Malasia Marina (new) so the depth and pilings were substantial. He said that the water rose and lowered every 15 minutes for about 3 hours. He says he wasn't scared; just paid attention. Such adventure.
Well more tomorrow as we cruise.
God's blessing, Lisa

Day 5 - at the end of the day

Oh may gosh!!!! Today was SO exciting! We cast off the lines and Larry gave Lisa the wheel. I steered our boat=to=be down the ICW ("Inter Coastal Waterway"). She is amazingly easy to manuvuear. I did a complete turn and later backed her in the slip space. She reponded in a most excellent way. The, we took on fuel...almost 1800 gallons. At the port side fueling up, I heard Ed say, "okay stop!" I was down in the Master State Room watching the fuel level rise on the tank gage. I went up to the main deck and ask Ed, "what happened?". He said, "this is fuel on the deck...we overflowed a little". So, Larry and I started putting dish washing soap on the side of the boat, then washing it down as well as squirting dish soap in the water and spraying water in it to dilute it. I ask Larry, "can we get fined for this?" He said, "yes, but it's still my boat so I would get fined, not you".
After that ordeal, then the sign removal guy arrived with hair dryer in hand. he took off the old lettering to prepare for new lettering tomorrow. Tomorrow is a big day... we will close on the acquisition of our live-a-board boat. Whewhoo! Thanks for joining us on our journey. God's peace, Lisa

Day 5 - Almost ready

Yesterday, (Sunday) was another mega busy day. More shopping (groceries this time), more unloading, more cleaning, and we enjoyed our first meal on Great Mates II. She's almost ready for our cruise. We are still awaiting some final documentation from Malasia (the country in which she was flagged) and we should close late today or tomorrow, then depart, weather permiting on Wednesday morning. Today Ed will silicone down the new lamps, flower vases, etc. so they remain in their places while we are underway. Ed tells me that when he was in the Navy, everytime they got underway, the ship played the theme from "Rocky". I'm thinking about a theme for us....any ideas? God's peace, Lisa

Day 3 - Provisioning

Today and mostly yesterday was all about provisioning. Yesterday, Ed told me, "Lisa, I can't shop anymore". Hence, I told him, you go have a cocktail and I'll complete the shopping".
Next day. This is Saturday and it's been a whirlwind. We began our day at a little ocean side breakfast place and then proceeded to the boat to unload all of the purchases from yesterday. WHEW!
Then,after unloading and cleaning out kitchen cuppords and making up ALL four beds with the new linens I'd purchased from Lands End, washed, ironed and folded, I made them all up. How pretty they all look!
Then it was off for more shopping. The Gallaria Mall, Pottery Barn, etc. picking up more items needed. Off to another mini mall, pruchasing more. Then canme ABC and the big purchase for the trip....LIQUOR!
We contacted Larry and once again unloaded.
OH, we are getting so tired.
Day is done and we have finished dinner which we purchased at Publix, drank some wine, talked of the day and crashed early. Tomorrow, more provisioning, organizing, etc.
Another day unfolding our dream. God provides. Oh, and we talked with son-in-law Billy who is overseas serving our country. He overlooks the Himilayan mountains.
Lisa

Day 1 - travel to FL - boat broker oddity!

Thursday morning, Lucas dropped us at Indianapolis Airport, headed for Ft. Lauderdale.
Upon arrival, our boat broker, John Earle picked us up and we headed to his office. In route, our banker, Gavin texted me and said the wire transfer for funds to the brokers escrow account was in process. Great timing. We arrived to the broker office and met Betsy the office manager. She said, "oh, your wire has just now come through, all is well". Isn't that amazing that as we walk in the wired funds were complete?
John our broker called the documentation agent, Amalia to determine if a scanned/emailed copy of the deletion document now signed by the Malasian government was okay in order that she may begin the documentation with the US Coast Guard for our new boat and she confirmed, yes,that would be fine. Great, we won't have to wait on "snail mail" so the appropriate documents can be mailed from Malasia to the US so we can close on our transaction.
See, the boat (now known as "Chartwell" is "flagged in Malasia" and we can't close on it until it is deleted from Malasian records)
Anyway, we headed to lunch and enroute, John, Ed and I got to know one another, families, etc. To make a long story shorter, John mentioned that his parents (from Vermont) had moved to Panama and we building a home there. We said, "well, our friends Ken and Chipper Gregory had also purchased land in Panama a few years ago with the hope of someday building a home there". John said, "well, my parents just got a little concerned about the way things were going in the US and decided to try this for a while". "They moved to a town called "Boquetta" (sp). We said, "wow, that wierd, that's where our friends also purchased land". John said, "hugh, what are there names?" We responded. He then called his mom and ask her if she just might know these people. Here's the real WOW to this story.
John, our boat broker in Ft. Lauderdale has parents from Vermont who have moved to the country Panama and built a house and it is right next door to our friends from Greenwood IN, the Gregorys and the land they have purchased! The Earles and the Gregorys have had cocktails on the Earles back porch and their realtive, Peter who also has built a home there emails with Ken Gregory monthy. Peter and his cousin John, our boat broker grew up together as best friends.
For those who read this who know me understand that I believe that there is no coincidence in life....only Gods plan unfolding before our eyes if we chose to let it happen.
May God have the glory.
Peace, Lisa

Beginning

Ed and I depart tomorrow for Ft. Lauderdale so we can begin the process of closing on our new boat! We are SO excited as God is unfolding before us our dream of the last 6 years to purchase a live-a-board boat and explore and learn. If you wish to comment, please do so. Otherwise, we will keep you posted as to our journey.
God's peace, Lisa