What do we do all day ?
This is the question we encounter most often when we're visiting (ugh, or working) back in the US. Without a house, car, kids living home, full time jobs, etc..........what do we do all day ? Well, to dispel any notions that we've become lazy, frivolous wastrels; I'll attempt now to fill you in.
7:30 AM- Slowly waking from last night's festivities, I stagger to the galley and start the generator. I begin the water making and power generation process. Since I still would like to complete my slumber, I also turn on the aft cabin A/C and return to bed.
8:30 AM- OK, time to actually get up. We've already accomplished a lot (the batteries are now charged and our reverse-osmosis water maker has added 150 liters to our tank). And, it's breakfast time........fresh mangos and cereal.........and possibly one of those yummy raison buns. We read the NY Times to be sure we are up to date on all the world's crises............hard to feel close to any of that when you're floating 40 miles north of Venezuela.
11:00 AM- We do 15 minutes of boat cleaning in preparation for hosting our German friends Gabi and Thorsten..........it's Gabi's 50th birthday so we need to have the boat looking sharp. Since even our 53 ft sailing yacht has only 400 square feel of space indoors, 15 minutes is plenty of time.
12:00 PM- We walk to the grocery store..........2 miles...........and carry back 8 bottles of wine and assorted food. This is actually the hardest part of the day.
1:00 PM- Since we've been so productive, we scuba dive (again). Actually we scuba dive every day........so far 41 dives in 42 days. We visit our frogfish, tarpon, parrot fish, and other aquatic friends.
3:00 PM- Thoughts of taking on another boat project are swept away with the logic that happy hour is now only 3 hrs away..........can't start anything that we wouldn't finish. So, we read our Kindles and have a light snack.
5:30 PM- Work intrudes again. Kirstin must manufacture the snacks and Tom blows up the balloons for Gabi's balloon garland............Tom also checks the chinese-made 99 cent tiaras we will all wear. Check, check, and double check.
6:00 PM-11:30 PM- Happy hour.........the extended version. We have this weird synergy with Gabi and Thorsten. We all think Happy Hour has lasted 2 hours and the clock indicates that it's been over 5 hours..........a good problem to have with guests (you don't want them to leave).
11:30 PM-11:45 PM- Clean up.........one garbage bad, all the empties in..............ready for tomorrow.
If this sounds idyllic, it is. In thoughtful moments (under the ocean while scuba diving or looking at the stars at night) you pinch yourself and wonder how your life has gotten this good. A worry intrudes.........since life can't get better, I wonder how it will get worse ? Anyway, our intention is to ride this wave until it crashes. More to come.
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| Going diving |
7:30 AM- Slowly waking from last night's festivities, I stagger to the galley and start the generator. I begin the water making and power generation process. Since I still would like to complete my slumber, I also turn on the aft cabin A/C and return to bed.
8:30 AM- OK, time to actually get up. We've already accomplished a lot (the batteries are now charged and our reverse-osmosis water maker has added 150 liters to our tank). And, it's breakfast time........fresh mangos and cereal.........and possibly one of those yummy raison buns. We read the NY Times to be sure we are up to date on all the world's crises............hard to feel close to any of that when you're floating 40 miles north of Venezuela.
11:00 AM- We do 15 minutes of boat cleaning in preparation for hosting our German friends Gabi and Thorsten..........it's Gabi's 50th birthday so we need to have the boat looking sharp. Since even our 53 ft sailing yacht has only 400 square feel of space indoors, 15 minutes is plenty of time.
12:00 PM- We walk to the grocery store..........2 miles...........and carry back 8 bottles of wine and assorted food. This is actually the hardest part of the day.
1:00 PM- Since we've been so productive, we scuba dive (again). Actually we scuba dive every day........so far 41 dives in 42 days. We visit our frogfish, tarpon, parrot fish, and other aquatic friends.
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| Kirstin underwater |
3:00 PM- Thoughts of taking on another boat project are swept away with the logic that happy hour is now only 3 hrs away..........can't start anything that we wouldn't finish. So, we read our Kindles and have a light snack.
5:30 PM- Work intrudes again. Kirstin must manufacture the snacks and Tom blows up the balloons for Gabi's balloon garland............Tom also checks the chinese-made 99 cent tiaras we will all wear. Check, check, and double check.
6:00 PM-11:30 PM- Happy hour.........the extended version. We have this weird synergy with Gabi and Thorsten. We all think Happy Hour has lasted 2 hours and the clock indicates that it's been over 5 hours..........a good problem to have with guests (you don't want them to leave).
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| Happy Birthday, Gabi |
11:30 PM-11:45 PM- Clean up.........one garbage bad, all the empties in..............ready for tomorrow.
If this sounds idyllic, it is. In thoughtful moments (under the ocean while scuba diving or looking at the stars at night) you pinch yourself and wonder how your life has gotten this good. A worry intrudes.........since life can't get better, I wonder how it will get worse ? Anyway, our intention is to ride this wave until it crashes. More to come.