Dave and I developed a power point presentation and have had fun sharing it with several groups over the past two years. We do the talk together - taking turns. But this time it was just me.....sharing my perspective about living together in a floating small space. I told the 40 guests about our two-year journey.
Every time I look at this power point pictures I get a lump in my throat and the memories come flooding back. What an adventure we had! Peaceful evenings at anchor sharing wine and card games in the cockpit, learning to find extra storage space wherever possible, creating balanced meals in a very small galley, meeting hundreds of new friends.....all doing the same thing in their boats. Snorkeling in the Bahamas, using uncooked ziti noodles to catch red snapper while anchored in Tilloo Pond, reading more than 200 books! Having porpoises swim right alongside our bow.....rolling sideways to look up at me as I whistled and banged on the side of the hull.
One night we listened to another cruiser as he played the bagpipes at sundown in the anchorage at Mile Hammock Bay. Haunting, unexpected, beautiful. Remembering walking on beaches from North Carolina to the Bahamas, back up to Maine and all the way down again to the Florida Keys. Using a dinghy to get to shore instead of a car to drive down a road.
As I told the group, we learned to sail after our youngest went off to college....so we were in our 40's. And we left to live aboard when we were 53. If anyone, when I was younger, had ever told me I would own a sailboat never mind live on one full time for two years I would have said "No way!" But.......a door opened, an opportunity presented itself and we were able to grab it and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
I miss it.....I'm so glad we had a chance to do it....and it's fun to share the story......
....because the memories come flooding back.
I'm sure you did an awesome job. I remember the fishing in Tiloo Pond. I believe we were there with you? Do you tell them the part about the storm coming and all hell breaking loose? I also remember that quilt you had on board. It's beautiful!
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