The Party Is Over at Last

So this is my final blog entry, at least for this year. I don't have a clue as to how to conclude my telling you of this exciting adventure. My mind is a mush of a thousand grateful reflections, blended with a hundred ongoing inevitable cost and boat concerns. (I was bound and determined that I damn well wouldn't sink the boat, at least not the first year.) 

As Lynn wrote in her final entry, leaving this life is exceptionally bittersweet. It's hard for me to believe that I have been living aboard Gustie for 5 months. Right now, it certainly seems the most natural thing in the world for me. 

Lynn and I have been challenged along the way. Challenged to learn new things, challenged to try our best (and sometimes--perhaps too often--bluff it) when we sure as hell didn't know what we were doing, challenged to overcome our fears, challenged to deal with occasionally officious officials, challenged to entertain and get along with each other, challenged to come to terms with boat problems, challenged to deal with separation from family and friends that mean so much to us. No report card gets issued here, but I'm kind of proud to reflect that we dealt with most of our challenges with good humor and goodwill 90% of the time. 

So, where does all this lead? I guess it leads, once again to some basic comments and observations. Here goes: 

1. Virgin Islands--Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Burt was right on when he twisted our arms to get down here sooner rather than later. One of the greatest things down here is the yin and the yang. The British BVI's have all the funky beachfront bars and restaurants that you could ever wish for. The US Virgin Islands have pristine beaches with very little, and mostly no, development. We have had some of our best snorkeling in the USVI's. 

2. God--His handiwork is everywhere. Just yesterday, Lynn and I went on our final snorkeling adventure. Within an hour we saw schools of Technicolor fish, flounder, a beautiful sea turtle (so graceful in its underwater environment), blue runners, a fish shaped like an upside down taco, and dozens of other wondrous creatures. The highlight, though, was to see reef squid. Strange and mysterious looking creatures. Iridescent eyes that appeared to show that they we as interested in us as we were in them. All in all, I don't think that anyone could have planned a better finale dive for us. 

3. Cruising Companion--I know I have mentioned this before, but it's so bloody important that I have to mention it again. I really lucked out in the cruising companion category. Most of you know that Lynn set out on this adventure on a wing and a prayer. This was my dream and she had enough love for me that she was able to lay aside her concerns and give it a shot. The flip side of her reluctance has been for me to watch the pride she now takes in her seamanship, in her distance swimming, and in her snorkeling. I think she has become a believer in this lifestyle, and that sure makes this a whole lot more fun for both of us. 

4. People--We've met some amazing people along the way. Kathy and Dave who have been aboard Aeolus for 6 years (Dave teaches school on St. John; Kathy is a park volunteer and Leinster Bay ambassador of good will), Laura and Bill who, with their 2 teenage sons, are close to completing a circumnavigation, and Bonnie and Adrian, a wonderful Dutch couple that are now on their way to Trinidad aboard New Life. Like I said, amazing people have opened their boats and their hearts to us. 

5. Pictures--I don't really know why, but we didn't take many. Maybe when you are gone as long as we have been, some of the novelty of the moment is gone. Next year I'm going to bring my 35mm camera down and take some great shots. Call me a fuddy-duddy, but it doesn't feel like real photography to me if you don't have a Minolta in hand. 

So, where does this all end? Well, hopefully it doesn't. God-willing, we'll be back next year for more adventuring. What this does mean is that we will seeing you soon (we get back June 8). 

It wouldn't be right to end this without a big thank you to Danielle for setting up the blog site, and for editing and maintaining it. This was a wonderful gift, Danielle; you have earned a permanent crew position aboard Gustie. 

Other thank yous are due to all the kids, and their spouses, and our grandbaby, Addy. We like to think that there were times when you may have wished to have us around. Also to thank is Lynn's sister, Gerry, who watered our plants, took in our mail and generally watched over our condo from her nest above us at the Aberdeen. Barb and Pat, also at the Aberdeen, generously did favors for us while we were gone. We know it doesn't work in perfect symmetry like this, but we hope to make it up to you in the next six and a half months.
It's been fun!

Comments

[Mary Jo Y.]

Hey welcome back to "non tropical-storm" land. I've been follownig your blog all winter and that was my "vacation" away from building (house turned out great!) I enjoyed the tale about "Bob" - Wayne has his own Cuda story. Look me up when you stop in at RB. Ray W. said I can "come down to check out his new offices when you get back." OK? Splitting sea and land life may be a conundrum for Lynn; Wallander is a conundrum for me!