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Published: April 21st 2023
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When we are off the boat, it seems that the blog gets forgotten. Guess it is because we figure we are doing just “daily life” type things when back at the house and the more interesting things to share are when we are on the boat.
Decided to just do a quick update since the last posting as it also helps us with figuring out “what have we done with all this time?” We actually will be leaving in a couple of days to return to Tsamaya which is waiting for us in Turkey. The plan is to leave the eastern Med and start our travels westward. The plan currently is to travel to Rhodes as there is a lot of history there to absorb, then on to Crete to learn more there. After that we will wander through some of the Greek Islands on our way to Italy (Sicily in particular) and then the plan is somewhat flexible. Depending on the winds we are thinking we’d like to explore Sardinia and Corsica as we missed them on the way through before, then over to the Balearic Islands before ending in Spain. We have already booked the marina in Cartagena,
Spain so that is the end point for this sailing season.
Now, on to what we have been doing. The major project on the house has been replacing the living room floor. Why do this? First off, it has many areas where boards are missing, in bad shape and due to the shape of the flooring (in a square) it would not be very easy to sand (we even checked with a professional and they didn’t want to touch it). The more important to us is that between the thickness of the flooring and the subfloor, the radiant heat that we had installed a couple of years ago, has not been working well at all. After lots of pondering and checking, Bob figured out what he could that would fix this situation and still blend with the kitchen and front room floor (and still be an even level!)
As Bob says, the hardest part of any job is the researching, thinking, pondering and thinking again before starting any job (especially on an old house where nothing is even or square!) The actual first of the old boards came up in February and the last new flooring board went
down in mid-April. The project definitely took longer than we had planned, but… there were some good things that came out of that.
When we pulled up the subfloor, we found that some of the floor beams didn’t look as sturdy as we would like so Bob did a little “fixing” of them. We also found that there were a few spots near the foundation that didn’t have good insulation so were able to add that. Of course, we also found where a squirrel had a very nice entrance so we closed that doorway.
There had been some separation of the oak floor boards in the kitchen due to a “slight rise” going into the living room so Bob came up with a way to improve it (not take care of completely but sure is better than it was). Of course, this solution was a very time consuming one, but in the end, it worked out very well. So glad, Bob is very creative and can figure solutions to these situations.
I helped out when Bob had projects for me – as he said, so much of it was a one-person operation. I felt bad not helping
as much, but as he says I take care of the things he hates to do – paperwork being a big one! He is happy that I take care of the finances (and keep us out of jail as he says), which includes doing the taxes. He is glad that I have been finding some new recipes to try so he can continue to work as long as possible until the meal is done. Usually he helps, but with these types of projects where I can’t do as much, I’m glad to do what I can. Another thing I work on is doing some research on the places we might want to explore on our way to Spain which is enjoyable to do – just so many places to choose, but the winds will have their say in some of our decisions.
Bob took a weekend to help a relative with their “old house”. I didn’t make it up as I wasn’t feeling well, but he really enjoys helping others and it gave him a great opportunity to visit with relatives – a win/win.
During this time home I did get some use out of my sewing room
and actually finished a table runner to give as a gift. Of course, as always with sewing projects I will be leaving for the boat with a few “unfinished projects” but will look forward to getting those done when we get back.
Bob and I had been going to the Y to exercise, but once the floor project started, Bob figured he was getting the exercise through his bending, stretching, hammering, etc. on the floor. I continued to attend classes until I started to have problems with one arm. The Dr sent me to a neurosurgeon, but before I got in, I already started PT. This was definitely getting us a little worried about returning to the boat, as I wasn’t able to do too much without quite a bit of pain. Fortunately, they figured it was a bulged disc and with some medication and continued PT I am doing very well now. It sure is good to have a “regular” PT that was able to get me in quite quickly. I did tell them earlier this week, that I am hoping to not have to see them right away when I return (unless it is just to say
The Before and After Picture
loved the old, but radiant heat didn't work well hi!)
This pretty much sums up our time until now when we have been very busy trying to cross things off our list that need to get done before we leave for the boat. Even though we have done this numerous times, there are some items on the list that can’t be done until the last minute. Fortunately, most of our other “to do” items have been crossed off and as long as we finish our packing, getting our boarding passes and to the airport on time we will be good!
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Home and Away
Bob Carlsen
I am amazed at all the DIY projects Bob accomplishes...
Like you, I need to do some PT so that I can go on our next trip to Eastern Europe.