We’ve been aboard Escape Velocity exactly one week and it’s been wonderful and hectic. Every three minutes or so I have to pinch myself that we’re really here, that this is really our home. And every other two minutes I’m reminded of how much we have to learn. But that’s the fun part!
Two days into our new life we welcomed our first guest. My sister answered our pleas for help in the initial unpacking and organizing and we’re so glad she was here. All work aside, it was important to Jack and me that we share our accomplishment with our near and dear, and they don’t come any dearer. In our darkest days of planning and saving, and especially in the many setbacks and disappointments, Nancy and Dave have been there for us, with a timely visit to Pittsburgh or an invitation to NJ, a Facetime conversation when we couldn’t be together, and always, always, unconditional support. I don’t know what people do who don’t have the kind of family I have. Lucky me!
We were on the boat for a total of four days before our truck arrived and in those four days I got so used to life aboard that I couldn’t imagine what else we could possibly need to make life any better. But oh, then the truck arrived, and there were my Global knives, our coffee pot, our bikes! And unfortunately, so much more.
When we started on this journey we had no idea what we’d need or want on a boat, and we acquired a lot of stuff through the years that now we see we won’t need at all. Like the two full unused bolts of upholstery batting bought at Joann on sale because we thought we’d need to reupholster the seat cushions. Nope. Or the heavy duty battery charger bestowed on us by another boater, and who can turn down free stuff? Or the cute stainless steel Force 10 barbecue we liberated from an old derelict boat about to be chopped up and burned. Or the teak veneer, lumber, trims and plywood leftover from Spellbound and that we’d need to restore a fixer. There’ll be a Craig’s List extravaganza as soon as we get organized. Maybe we’ll at least recover the cost of shipping it all down here.
We also took a lot of things off the boat that were left by the previous owner. Nice stuff, too, but things we didn’t need. Luckily, there’s an exchange table set aside in the laundry room at the marina and as soon as we added a hand mixer or insulated glasses or dishes or utensils they’d be snatched up by another boater. Recycling at its best!
In between unpacking and sorting and organizing our first load of boxes we managed to live the Schulz life, which involves visits to the local cafe for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, and the minute-to-minute appreciation for where we are right here and now.
So, is there a schedule yet for shoving off and future destinations or will it be mostly tooling around locally to get a feel for the boat? Rohani and I will be in Fort Lauderdale the first week in December (as we always are), but I suspect you may be long gone by then.
Bob
Thanks for the kind words. I was thrilled to be the first guest/worker and to see you both so very happy to have taken such a giant step toward fulfilling your dream(s). Escape Velocity is a beautiful boat and will be even better once it has been fully “shulzified.” Let me know when you run out of tomato paste! 😉
I love, love reading your posts. It must truly be fun to have a new adventure. Take care.
Love Marylyn