A new year....new possabilities

It is January 21' 2011.

Welcome back to our blog. Today is misty, foggy, rainy, sunny and back to the previous hereto mentioned. Sarasota is like that but mostly absolutely awesome. I love this town. I have told Ed, "this is like Bloomington IN but by the sea".

To drop back from my last post in March of 2010....

After we docked in Sarasota, we learned from previous dock mates in Marathon Key, (Kim and Craig) that there was a great high quality boat yard near by names, Snead Island Boat Works. So we followed their able guidance and made an appointment to be hauled out in order that the bottom 14 inch crack might be repaired.

Well, well, well, that was done among many other items as our list grew and at 30k we said, "we have to stop now". Fellow boat owners will understand how this happens. But, it is what it is.

Side note, I recall shopping in Key West with good friends, Melodie and Chris in an emerald jewelry shop. While I was so very tempted to purchase one exquisite item, I told the salesman, "I have to get a thuster installed, so I will have to pass". ....a boaters life.

Well, after Great Mates was "on the hard" at Snead Island, she was all fixed and Ed and I began to cruise her back to her slip in Sarasota at Marina Jacks. Oh, after we got out into the Manatee River, we noted the engine temp gage increasing. Further quick check told us that we had lost our generator, so we had no electricity and then the main engine overheated. Two totally unrelated incidents at the same time. So, We put the main engine in neutral, Ed went to the engine room and started the alternate generator, the whole time we we drifting in the river towards "massage destruction".

Ed added cooling water to the main engine, we proceeded along the way to run aground but finally made it back to Sarasota. Ed says, we should have had Snead Island add wheels to the damned thing if we are going to keep cruising these ICW waters.

Well, fast forward to summer in Mooresville IN. Everything we have done to our home since it was designed and built in 1986 was for resale value. So, the spring of 2010 was dedicated towards curb appeal, via landscaping. We also enjoyed our camp mates and other friends while home in Indiana for summer 2010.

In August Ed organized a guys trip to Great Mates for a long weekend. He, friend Rex, nephew Joe, son, Lucas and son-in-law Billy rented a mini van and headed south. While there are likely things that occured from which I have been spared, all had a good time.

On to October, Ed and I popped a flight for a month in order that we might do a maintenance trip. It was during that time that we spent lots of very fun times with friends and dock mates, Steve and Lynn Kluz from St Paul MN. I can not elaborate.

We were home for the holidays and then Jan 3rd, we departed for our beloved Great Mates. That brings us to today.

What I find fascinating about boating life includes:
there is always a project.
I never get tired of the scenery.
We are about as laid back as I have ever known us to be.
If you think, "I need to get this done today", think again. It can wait til tomorrow or the next day or the day after that.

Ultimately, I am grateful to God that we are living aboard. I pray daily that God uses me according to His purpose. We pray that we are following Gods plan for our lives together....now 32 years and counting.