Limbo

Reading and dreaming! It is now February and no post for 2 months. The weather is changing here and all of the blogs we are following are now in the Bahamas and we are still dreaming about being there too. What are we doing to get there? Reading, reading, reading, buying books and magazines, reading some more, following blogs, reading. Melanie bought be me several books for my birthday and I read them every night. But for some reason, I feel like we should be moving forward with some kind of physical action. We are on a 2 1/2 year plan at this point, until I retire from teaching school after 28 years. So what is next? Sell the house, seems to be the big obstacle at this moment. Melanie and I agree it needs to be done but I am reluctant to put it on the market today. I'm not really sure why! We need the money from the equity to be able to start actively looking for a boat. The house might take a year to sell, can we make anything off of it in this economy, we need to make some minor repairs to make it perfect, all excuses in my mind. Not to mention we bought this really perfect house 1 1/2 years ago and are comfortable in it. So we just dream on. Is this progress? I think so!

Name of blog w/o boat?

Note from Melanie:  If I had my way, the boat would be pink and it would be called Barbie's Dreamboat.  But wait...That's Drew!

Why have we named the blog after a boat that we don't have? Great question. Simply, it is more inspiration for us to continue along this path we have chosen. It also feels real if we have a blog or a way to chronicle our adventures while we are in the planning stages. The name of the boat came to us while we were at the Mount Gay Rum distillery in Barbados last spring. The tour was very informative and spirit lifting to say the least at 10am. If you are in the area it is worth the price of admission to tour the facility.

So what is Angel's Share?

Many distilled spirits and wines are virtually undrinkable after their sugar content has fermented into alcohol. In the case of distilled spirits, the alcoholic content of a "fresh" batch may be nearly 190 proof or better, and the flavor of the beverage would not be very appealing. To reduce the percentage of alcohol and to intensify the subtle flavors of the wine or distilled spirit, producers often store their products in oak barrels. In the case of distilled spirits such as whiskey, the staves of the oak barrels are often heavily charred before assembly.
Over time, some of the alcohol seeps through the grain of the oak staves and evaporates into the open air. The evaporating alcohol is called the Angel's Share, alluding to the belief that guardian angels watch over the product as it ages. Barrels of wine or distilled spirits may remain stacked in large warehouses for years, each one rendering its own Angel's Share over time. Needless to say, these warehouses filled with oak barrels and aging spirits can be quite fragrant.

The belief that guardian angels watch over the distilling product gave us the idea of them watching over our boat as we travel along the breeze made by angel's wings. Seemed fitting to name our new to us boat after such a belief.



Cruise spring 2010



One follower!

This weekend we went to see Stephen play his bass in a concert, he was awesome! On the way to Greenville, Melanie and I discussed boat stuff as usual. It seems like there are always real world responsibilities that could prevent such a move onto a boat that creep into our conversation. We have 3 kids, all of which will be in college soon. We have older parents. We have friends here. We have all the worldly items most families have. We have each other!

One wrong event in any combination of the above could prevent us from making the move into a different life style. One topic that hovers around is the opinion: Can we make it or not? Well, We decided that the only thing that could hold us back was us. You can always find a reason not to do anything. Can't get married until you save more money. Can't have kids until we become more mature. ( funny-seems like our kids are mature than us) Can't do whatever until.....

That was a moment in the car that we said, "Lets make our plans and make this happen". I am sure it it wont be the last moment we have along the way.

Our family is very supportive and now we have one follower on our blog! Look out world, here we come!

One Day...........

As winter comes to Myrtle Beach and the temperatures drop, we read about our new best friends that we have met on the Internet that are heading South. We can't help to wonder what we will be doing 2 years from now and where we will be heading. For now we read their blogs hoping to gain insight for our travels. Rebecca and Mike are on the S/V Zero to Cruising which is poised down in Florida preparing to cross the Gulf Stream. They are making last minute adjustments to their boat. It seems like there is always something to do on  a boat, some additions and repairs are necessary and some seem to be because. The other friends that we follow is Brittany and Scott on the S/V Windtraveler. They are just below Charleston today and steadily heading South. Yesterday they had a chilling reminder of how cruising is more than rum drinks. Brittany writes in their blog about a lady that had a severe injury to her hand. The blog "When Tragedy Strikes " tells how safety is a major concern at all times while on the water. Good luck to all as you make the passage to the Bahamas.

Just Thinking...

As Drew and I prepare for this journey, I find that most of our conversations center around a couple of topics these days.  


Topic one:  Why do we want to "sail away"?  Very simply, We share a common dream.  Individually and as a couple, we have always been fearless and restless.  We both know that there is more than the mundane; that life holds a joy and energy that must be discovered.  We share the belief that our life is our design therefore it will be what we want it to be.  We realize that we are very fortunate to live in this place, to live this life together, and fortunate to seek this common dream.   


Topic two:  Question...What have you learned today that will help us to make the most of this experience?  As educators, naturally we are seekers of information.  Drew and I are constantly checking the blogs of fellow cruisers, arranging visits when they sail through our area, and forwarding informational links to each other at work.  We dream and discuss over dinner, while we watch TV, dress, drive,...well, almost every moment except while we sleep.  And then we dream again.  


There is a delicate balance between dreaming and living in the moment. But is this consumption not the essence of planning and growing?  Is it not necessary and warranted to be consumed with leaving this existence for another?  When we met we made plans to be together, we planned a wedding, we planned vacations, birthdays, surprises...sent children off to high school and to college...this is simply on a much larger scale.  


So for now, we continue to center our conversations around what knowledge this journey will reveal, where it will take us as we begin to chart this course without a map except the one we are creating; we wonder which souls will cross our path and ultimately, who will we have become when it is done?  

Dreams

Remember your dreams and fight for them. You must know what you want from life. There is just one thing that makes your dream become impossible: fear of failure. Never forget your personal legend. Never forget your dreams. Your silent heart will guide you. Be silent now. It is the possibility of a dream that makes life interesting. You can choose between being a victim of destiny or an adventurer who is fighting for something important. - Paulo Coelho

Everyday we get closer to following our dream to sail away. Thoughts about what we don't know, are ever present in my mind. I must silence my thoughts.

The Adventure Begins!

Finally an official start to a New Beginning. We do not have a boat but have a dream to live on a boat so here starts the adventure.