moving to a sailboat

This is the post that I made to inform the people in my life via Facebook that I was going ultimate tiny home!

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I considered being a lifer in Vegas. Instead, I have about 146 hours left in my beloved hometown.

By Friday the 21st at noon, I’ll be on the road heading to the next chapter. Our new home is a 1990 Endeavour 42 sailboat.

This final week is beautiful and sad. So much goodness and change have happened to me in Vegas. I’ve lived 23 years of my 50 in this city. It’s given me wonderful times with friends and family. I’ve climbed the corporate ladder here. I’ve lost both parents here. My sweet Buddy was a native. The next chapter is nomad life. I deeply appreciate my boss and team being cooperative with going fully remote.

The pandemic has changed life…and there is so much more than the office and the corporate ladder.

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There’s been a work-related curveball thrown. Nothing to discuss here and now. I’ve been living on Mach 5 for three days now. Haven’t found a place for everything, the van is still acting as secondary storage. Oh yeah, and we have a 5×10 storage unit in Ceres (pronounced series). More downsizing must happen!

Next week, we take her to the yard for chainplate inspection and replacement. Chainplate works is considered “destructive” so we cannot fully unpack until that work is done. For example, one chainplate reaches into the hull via the forward head (bathroom) cabinet, which is where all my bathroom stuff goes. I’ve included a diagram found from a Google search to illustrate the chainplates and their importance. It’s part of what makes a sailboat a sailboat!

Image from Google on 24 May 2021

59 North, sailboats, & inspiration

It’s Sunday. Mid-vacation period. I am taking a break from the Annapolis Boat Show after three days of thousands upon thousands of steps and up-down boat ladders and sugar scoops! First day, second boat, I managed to twist right ankle, stub toes, and bang elbows. At some point, I acquired a big round bruise on the back of a calf. I am sore! It has been wonderful!

This morning, M and I attended a brunch presentation on sailing the arctic circle given by Andy and Mia from 59 North. They have a well done podcast and blog. Last summer, they sailed to 80N. Andy mentioned that he wrote on the blog every day. No matter what. It is their way of capturing, sharing, and documenting. Unlike the Delos crew that was also onboard Isbjorn and documents via video, Andy and Mia prefer to participate than document in the moment. I thought that was a great way of looking at videography, blogging, photography, and as well as living a different life without sharing. To me, when you go on a journey, it is natural to want to share. When you do something like blue water, live aboard sailing that is rare, I feel like you owe something to the life to share experiences, share the harm modern life is doing to the oceans, and inspire the next generation. However, as Andy says, Delos crew spends 60 hours producing a 30m video. That’s not the life for me, or M, or Andy.

Earlier, this week, I inadvertently accepted a challenge from Sam of Sam Rogers blog to blog! I have been beyond lax with my writing. So, here I am, writing a reflection of my Annapolis time so far from my quiet and step-free hotel room in the Historic Inns of Annapolis.

First to the Arctic sailing…I would love to do this. Insane, I know. I am often the coldest person in the room and tend to ache when really cold. Like a headache in my body. Then I get grumpy. Andy shared a Norwegian saying: there is no bad weather, just bad clothes. Hence, my normal problem and my desire to sail surrounded by ice. I would be prepared! I think it would be a tough and utterly divine experience. Once I have the right gear and clothes.

Second to the boat show…the sailing community is super friendly and open. Everyone has stories, sound advice, and wants to help you join the life. Such a contrast to the modern world and politics. Really makes you pause about being plugged in, you know?

Catamarans are so incredibly livable, and pricy. We have learned that we need to set our price point higher and will need to figure out how to accomplish that. I feel that I can make any boat from 38-45 feet, cat or monohull, work for us as a home. Each has pros and cons, but each works. I am ready to sail, learn, experience, and rule out boats or features via experience. Ah, see? I am ready for experiential learning, some Blooms analysis and synthesis! Let me be an adult learner!

To that end, M and I must figure out when in 2019, we can escape to Grenada for serious experiential learning or to San Diego for basic training. Even Lake Mead at home for some basic ASA training and scuba lessons.

Those plans and using my steps to build better leg muscles are on deck when I return home. Tomorrow, I start Cruising University!