March 20, 2012

It has been a long time since I have blogged, but only because every moment that isn’t part of our regular life/routine has been spent on research, purchasing, prepping the boat, making lists, and other planning for our voyage.

There have been many exciting moments in the past few months:

-Chris is now SCUBA certified so he can explore the ocean and use his new spear gun!

-I met with the amazing teachers at the Ho-Ho-Kus School to plan the boatschooling curriculum for next year.

-We have visited boat shows in search of the perfect dinghy and outboard motor.  We pick them up on Long Island next week!

-We have shared news about our voyage with friends and family and love seeing their excitement for us grow.

-We took a how-to course in family acupuncture and first aid.  Each of us learned to give an acupuncture treatment in order to help with common first aid scenarios that might be encountered next year.  The kids loved it and have practiced several times since then. (see more great pics on our gallery page).

-Reese got a new fishing pole from Santa.

-We have gotten many packages from our recently overworked UPS man: special boat “Tupperware”; nesting pots and pans; a brand new, shiny propeller; a collapsible colander; stainless steel flatware; first aid supplies; books; charts; a new VHF radio; a shiny ship’s bell…Sadly for our wallet, the list goes on and on and on….

We are truly in the final stretch at this point.  We leave in less than four months, which is exciting (if you are me) and a cause for total panic (if you are Chris).  We both have a lot left to do on our To Do Lists:

-The boat is due to launch the first week of April, which is when the real fun will start.

-I am collecting and storing a LOT of things for the boat, trying to figure out how I will get it all on the boat.

-We are taking care of all the little half-finished house projects that have been hanging over our heads.  I FINALLY got around to making that window seat cushion!

-We ordered a new dodger and bimini (the collapsible, canvas protective “roof” in the cockpit) and new covers for the dinette cushions.

-I am simplifying life here at home, going through closets, the basement, the attic, and every last drawer to get rid of anything we don’t need.

-I have been working on our website (argh.  So confusing.), reading books about cruising families (Christmas gifts from Carolyn and Aaron), and making lists upon lists of provisions, first aid kit items, equipment, and safety procedures (with help from our doctor friends and a cruising family we met online).

-Last night, Chris and I watched a movie called Ice Blink, which is about a family of five who has lived aboard a 33’ boat (small!) and circumnavigated the world as well as Greenland (yeah, the one surrounded by icebergs).  It made us feel WAY less crazy because those people are insane.

-I am currently working on finalizing the design for the name of the boat so I can order the decals for the side that say “Patronus” and our port of call: Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey.

-Chris is working on the engine, replacing the plumbing fixtures in the heads, replacing the batteries, and finalizing our electronics suite.  We have navigation electronics, safety electronics, and electronics for communications.  And it’s all confusing.

While it may sound overwhelming or even unpleasant to some, I am enjoying every step, every project, and all the details.  I know that the hard work I am putting in now will allow for an easy transition to life onboard.  Some of the boat projects present new challenges to me-things I’ve never done before.  I love to learn new things and figure out the answers to new sets of problems.  So rather than ramble on here, I think I will go tackle that design for the name of our boat….

Check out our theme song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bKwRW0l-Qk