We are in our final port of the Mexican leg of our great adventure. The boat is falling apart around us*: port lights leak in the rain; blown gasket on the water heater causing fresh water to hemorrhage when we turn certain faucets on; little sun for power; water maker broken; and we are temporarily out of money. Note: I did not catalog any of the things I have fixed recently.
You know what is awesome about this scenario? We are happier than we have ever been. That’s not to say that we haven’t had moments of greater joy, but week after week our joy exceeds the meek attempts of luck and nature to harsh our mellow.
The only thing that detracts from my joy at the moment is this money thing. Our temporary condition will be put on long term hold sometime next week when we finally get the retirement check that will pay off Convivia and give us cruising kitty for the next 12 months. It remains stressful only because it’s a reminder that a) eventually someone in this family will have to work (thereby putting our adventure on hold) and b) that someone will probably be me.
That stress is balanced though. Today we spent a happy day together on Convivia. We listened to the rain coming down on the cabin trunk while we played games, read books, built Legos, and enjoyed our coffee. Later we ventured out into the rain for $1 tacos and flan at our favorite joint. As we walked the flooded cobblestone streets back to our tender, we were treated to the largest, brightest, most vivid double rainbow I have ever seen. It filled me with the emotions of youth and we—our merry family—rushed down street after street, looking for it’s end. As we pulled the tender out into the anchorage the rainbow faded into a magnificent sunset.
Days like this make it easy to regain perspective. Sure we may not be completely free from the manipulations of economy and politics, but we are MORE free than we could be in any life I can imagine.
* I may indulge in the occasional hyperbole.
7 comments
Comment by Lisa Pelletier Harmon
Lisa Pelletier Harmon February 11, 2012 at 6:22 pm
As I read this, I can picture the breaking faucets, the lack of sun and the smiles as you all share your lives together on the boat, enjoying another day in paradise. The rainbows, the cobblestone streets remind me that I have so much to still see in the world and experience. For now, I live through your adventures as do so many other followers. Someday, I will be sharing my adventures. Smooth sailing 🙂
Comment by Mead Norton via Facebook
Mead Norton via Facebook February 11, 2012 at 7:01 pm
So jealous and happy for you all. The work thing does suck but at least you can keep up the dream for a while longer.
Comment by Edwin Marty via Facebook
Edwin Marty via Facebook February 12, 2012 at 5:27 am
Hey guys, I’m married to a friend of y’alls, Andrea Buchanan. We’ve got a hurricane salvaged Catalina 30 floating over here in Mobile Bay. So inspired by your adventure! I’m freezing my ass off this morning, working on the coolant leak in the water heater. I feel your pain! Can’t wait to hear about the big ‘puddle jump’!
Comment by keith
keith February 12, 2012 at 9:45 am
Oh and by the way that is a good way to spend your retirement! Investing in your kids future, they will never be the same. Here at home my kitchen sink is leaking the toilet in the second bano is running and the list goes on…………..!
Comment by ForgeOver via Facebook
ForgeOver via Facebook February 14, 2012 at 1:05 pm
Edwin, Thanks for commenting! Are you planning to cruise your Catalina?
Comment by Edwin Marty via Facebook
Edwin Marty via Facebook February 15, 2012 at 5:32 am
For sure! Probably not the boat for the kind of stuff y’all are up to but well get to New Orleans and maybe down to Cuba? One day…another boat and we’ll pack up the family! My non profit urban farm doesn’t have a retirement plan do we’ll have to figure out other financing…mind sharing your budget? Just curious and it would help our planning.
Comment by Tucker Bradford
Tucker Bradford February 19, 2012 at 7:38 pm
Sharing the budget is probably not something we’ll do. Not because we have any problem with giving out the information, but rather because it’s quite a bit of work to track and properly categorized. If you have specific questions do email me (tucker at forgeover dot com) and I would be happy to answer what I can!
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