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Published: March 18th 2010
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Ginger gives the Evil Eye
Projects are not her favourite. Friends have been giving nudges, wondering where we are. So it's time to check-in while we can, before we start cruising again.
We're still in Vero Beach, on a mooring ball, quietly working on 'projects', a boater term for 'fixing the boat'. Anyone who has ever had a boat (or car, motorcycle, house or cottage) will understand perfectly. Although the boat may work well, there is always a list of things that need tweeking or upgrading. For cruising boaters, when you find an agreeable spot with mooring balls and machine shops, it's definitely time to do projects. Close to West Marine... bonus!
But no-one can work day and night, so the evenings, starting in the early afternoons, are a good time to socialize with other boaters, share a meal and play a few tunes. It's amazing how many boats contain guitars and people who play them very skillfully. It's incredible how fast people meet and bond and then dash off in all directions. It takes practice to just jump in and mingle, a bit like speed dating. But the result is terrific; a whole new batch of friends and resources that might take ten years to meet on land.
The Amazing Mooring Ball
This yucky looking thing lets cruiser get a full night's sleep. Low price and secure hold are a winning combo. Since we've been in Vero Beach we've been very happy to have visitors from home. We are honoured that folks make the effort to stop by and say hi, for a few hours or a few days. Most realize that cruisers don't have wheels, so they often drive us around town or even out of town, depending on where the marine surplus and music stores are located.
Life on the water, at the dock and in a marina has particular tools, tasks and features that you won't find anywhere else. We're including some of these trivia bits for people who aren't yet cruisers. When we've been cruising longer, these things will become second nature to us and we probably won't appreciate the cultural differences anymore.
Vero Beach has an added bonus for boaters, since it has a free bus which will pick you up right at the City Marina and take you almost anywhere by changing routes on an hour at the depot.
Boaters can get a tourist mentality which causes you to compare to things back home. For example, I can't get finnan haddie or smoked cod at the grocery store. Why not?! What do
Project -Solar
Installing bigger and better panels. you mean you only have smoked whitefish? And I can't buy woodstove cement, because they don't sell woodstoves! On the other side, a FREE bus would be a total godsend to the poor people in the town we come from. And lawn bowling is surely a nice gentle sport for seniors. We have to be careful to keep our little shocks to ourselves. Get over it and get on with it!
Since we've been here we've been to some interesting functions including art shows, talks, music gigs, and cultural events. One of the most surprising was the CLODS, Cruisers Living on Dirt. This 80 member group has a breakfast meeting every Wednesday morning at 7:30, where they discuss their many exploits as former cruisers and help newcomers.
Our larger projects have included a total rework of the main anchoring system, installation of new, larger solar panels and the addition of a second, used wind generator. Other smaller projects have been woven into our schedule. We also go on wood collecting expeditions because the temperature is still in the 40's at night.
Then there's the general business of living: looking at boats and trees, searching for manatee, staring
Red , Right Sock Project
Bob engineered navigational aids to help Frank with chronic dressing issues. Bob is patenting his invention. at clouds and admiring the sunrise. We've been told by experienced cruisers that this part will expand and the projects will diminish. There's a thought to hold onto.
When we're having this much work and play we forget to blog. (We haven't mentioned the morning 'Spite and Malice' card playing and the co-writing project to fight the card playing addiction.) We've found ourselves in a state of 'blogstipation', the cure being a 'blog-binge' like this one. The pictures of vegetation are tacked in here for our readers who want some vicarious travel but aren't into boating. And besides, the trees help the CLODs to stay grounded. : )
Daytime temperatures are in the 60's with lots of gusty wind. This past week brought a tornado type event which reminded us that we don't want to be here when the hurricane season gets into full swing. Some people have already left for the north and others are still heading south to the Bahamas. We have watched hundreds of boats coming and going. Soon it will be our turn to get out of our comfy zone and back on the great blue highway.
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jude
non-member comment
ah que la vie est belle!
Sounds like you have achieved a good balance between work and fun in an environment of adventure. Life is good. thanks for sharing folks.Hugs as always