. . . and so the work begins. To recap our life on a sailboat. . .no matter where or what we call home, it is an Adventure. When we found Adventuress, we knew she was meant for us, but did not know if she was ready for us! My advice to anyone buying a boat, plan to stay on board before you take off, get to know the in's and out's, there are noises that you think only Jaques Cousteu could explain, they become second nature.

Picking up your feet as you walk down the dock,(not strutting like you own the Titanic) there are boards that need to be fixed that you aren't necessarily looking for. Tides become your main focus, on a day to day basis, they are not your friend, unless you are secured to a floating dock. Weather, (that is a topic alone) condensation is something you would not even consider, however if you have ever owned a Jeep you know what I am talking about.

Privacy. . .there is none so get used to it. It is so important for you to like the humans you share your living space with. Storage, boats have plenty you just have to learn organization skills. I can tell you, those who live and travel to warm climates have it easy. Clothes can be rolled and stored in multiple places, we live in Maryland so layers and huge coats are not easy to roll and store. We had two huge snow storms, over a ft of snow each time. There were four wind storms with gales over 65 mph. , we hardly left our berths. You still have to eat , learning to prepare food during these conditions is an art.

Pre pairing the boat for a Winter on the hard is a sad time but every so often it needs to happen. Since the boat fared well on the Sassafras River there is  minor cleaning to be done. I popped barnacles off the instant the boat was pulled. Painting and waxing will be done rather quickly, the teak we stripped during the Fall is waiting to be finished, the new scroll work for the bow is being made, and a full Clorox cleaning below is on the list. By May she will be ready to be moved to her new/old home with us back aboard.

I can honestly say, I would not change one thing about our experience. The name of the boat was going to be, Running with Scissors, appropriately so. This is how we handle everything, take off running and learn as we go. Adventuress was and is her name, life is an Adventure and we welcome every obstacle, ( wish we didn't have as many) and share the outcome no mater how big or small.

Now that Spring is in our back yard the work will begin, we know for sure there are new friends awaiting us at every anchorage and we value the friends we have already made living this phenomenal  lifestyle. . . .

Fair Winds To All. .. .