Where are we now..

 It is November 1, 2013. We are still hauled out in Port Townsend and yes, I am so tired of saying that! However, rumor has it that we will be in the water mid November. We actually got our original slip space back (talk about coming full circle). The arch is on with most of the accessories ie. wind generator, solar panels, and radar. The mast and boom are on but still need the Forspar boom vang placed and a few other details. Our engine guy is supposed to be finishing all the connections in the next week. It is quite exciting to be putting the boat back together versus apart. Here is the apart....

                            The view of the salon, torn apart! That is the new stove on the table.

                                                        The galley also, torn apart!

                                       The Nav station...torn apart (notice a recurring theme)?

                                                      The battery bank...torn apart.

                                                  Journey's room, yup..torn a-p-a-r-t.

                                                          Starboard side of the salon....

                                                                 Our stateroom..

                                                                  The port side...

2 Steps Forward, 10 Steps Back!

John has pain stakingly placed the water maker in its rightful place under the port side settee. I wish this was easily done as I just typed it but anyone with a boat knows differently. This was accomplished with   removal of hoses/ac/heater unit to make room followed by cleaning, painting, retrofitting platforms for mounting. Of course there were a few other deviations along the way ie. multiple phone calls, curse words, and discussions) but making progress. Simultaneously, mast projects are under with Fast Track install completed, mast steps, completed but riveting and sealing up 96 holes was an unexpected side bar from removal of storm track.
The bottom is dry and we are waiting for the bottom job to get underway. We are perpetually frustrated with the slow movement of those we have hired to work on our boat. It causes huge amounts of frustration on our part and unnecessary stress-this subject will be continued.
We do have the house up for sale and I have started selling many items to clear things out-that feels good!
We have had multiple "issues" arise which derails us minimally but it does take a toll. Planning to leave land life when one is fully hooked in is a major undertaking as anyone who has done it can tell you. This doesn't happen without an amazing amount of hard work by everyone in the family and with the support of friends to keep us sane.

Fall Is Upon Us

Although we had the most amazing summer weather wise in the PNW, it is hard not to feel the least bit bitter that we were hauled out through it all. My heart was heavy on so many days as the warm breeze would kick up, the sparkle of the water shimmering, and the knowledge that I could not be out there sailing. On the other hand, I would tell myself that this is part of the "sacrifice" that goes along with "The Dream." Work finally started on the boat by our workers probably around August or at least part of the work. The bottom started to get glassed over-at first we would see one or two panels applied, then over the weeks a few more. Fast forward to September and the first few coats of barrier coating have been applied. We actually look like we have a bottom and when we are in the boat we no longer can see the light coming through the hull. Progress. John has installed my new Dickenson Mediterranean 3 burner propane stove. I can not wait to use it! Our engine guys (I think we have gone through a few at this point, promise work will start next week. Our electrical guy came back from his vacation and has started his work again albeit slowly. We have been told that the mast and arch should be ready next week....I will not hold my breath.
Our house is still for sale and I have been busy trying to post and sell as much as I can. I am going to gear up for after Christmas to start the major sell off. Again, the ability to logistically pull off this type of dream is quite extensive.
Journey started 7th grade at our local public school and has made the transition well. This gives her the opportunity for a great experience at something different, gives me a little break too as we will embark on boat schooling next year.
Of course I have been reading countless blogs, mostly by moms who boatschool, trying to figure out what to do. I know I will not use a traditional curriculum like Calvert which we did for 4 years. I was pleased with the curriculum boat I know it will not work for us while we travel. I am thinking of doing a bit of "non schooling" which is quite a change for me. Typically, I am a traditionalist, type A sort of person and firmly believe in structure but I am also a realist and our adventure will require flexibility. I value the education of travelling and all the opportunities it will offer Journey so I have faith that she will have an incredible experiential education.

GOOD TIMES AND NOT SO GOOD TIMES

                                                                  In the water

                                                                 Out of the water
We prefer the picture "In the water" vs. "Out of the water". The first picture is in Desolation Sound. The later was at Fort Flagler, Marrowstone Island. We had 40-50 knot winds while on a mooring ball and unfortunately, the ball broke and we landed on the beach. It was an eventful night, luckily the boat was fine. It is not "normal" to see a 40 foot boat on the beach!!!

THRU HULLS

It no longer amazes me how excited we get over small victories such as new thru hulls. Of course we had the debate plastic over bronze. Ground them all together or separate. One decision leads to an algorithm of options-in the end you make a decision and hope for the best. I credit John for the unrelenting amount of research, the painstaking decision making and physical work he did on the boat day in and day out! I busied myself with the tasks of Journey's schedule, social affairs, clearing/selling all out "stuff",  and cheerleader on John's "down" days.
We definitely had some dark times, questioning our decision to "dump" money, time, and energy into this dream but no matter how dark and drained we were, we still came up with a resounding "yes".  So it is official, we are insane because no reasonable person or couple would do this. As Robert Frost once wrote, The road less travelled....

PROGRESS

Summer 2013 is here and we are still hauled out. The hull is dry, work is at a snail's pace. The mast and arch are still down and little word on their progress too. When we ask the folks hired for these tasks the response we get is generally reassuring that all is going to plan. John and I can't quite figure out whose plan are they speaking about because we were to be in the water a few months ago. The level of discouragement has run deep and daily discussions talking John off the preverbial cliff has become a part of daily life. John is working full time at his job, spending hours after work and on weekends doing various boat projects and making as much progress as he can. Our "experts" or "professionals" have been less than desirable to work with. This saddens us because we find it difficult to maintain positive attitudes when progress is not being made. Every week we are told that something will be done and yet every week there is no work that has been done. Recently, there was some signs that work had started on the boat but then it stopped! We have talked and talked to these workers but it is what it is. Many around us at the boat yard have experienced this too so comisurating can feel validating.
We try not dwell on it and maintain the stand that it will get done. We can only hope.

How Long is a Boat Hour?

This question is debatable and dependent on whom are you asking. If one was to query our 12 year old daughter, she would promptly tell you that a boat hour is about 4 hours. Unfortunately on more than one occasion she has been with us when we have said, "We just have to run to the boat real fast. It should only take an hour." Initially, she is not bothered until the hours start to peel away. She is very patient and only after she has picked up much of the debris around the boat and turned into some sort of  art, walked the dog a few times, ate her snack, and played on the smart phone does she begin to protest. As parents whose time is continually being squeezed between work, daily grind and boat preparation, our need to "finish" our "quick" project supersedes her protests. With promises of dinner, we usually can persuade her for another hour, then promises of dessert for another. We know things have hit the fan when we start promising staying up late, junk food or some other contraband that is typically not allowed.
We are appreciative of her patience which reminds us of the sacrifice that we all are making to have this plan come to fruition.