Crossing Day

Today has been four months in the making and even more in the dreaming. We have loved our ICW, eastern seaboard, South Florida and Keys time even more than we thought we would. A lot of it has been learning--learning the boat, learning each other, learning patience, learning the waters, learning the weather, and learning to think and live differently on the boat and on the water.  We have also met some dear new friends who have made it the more special for their part in it.

Some of us have taken to it more easily and more quickly than others.  It's fair and right that we should all experience the trip in our own way and through our own eyes and hearts and minds and souls.  That won't change and shouldn't because as much as we are a crew, we are ourselves and get to ride this ride however it feels best for each of us.

October seems like so long ago and I was reminded of that first predawn morning leaving Reedville, VA when the "that" feeling came over me...we're doing it...this is really happening.  Now as we are preparing to take our turn crossing the Gulf Stream and find ourselves in the Bahamas, it is really going to be a new day for us. 

Please don't think for one second that we do not know how blessed and downright lucky we are. We do know and we share those feelings with each other often...paying them the respect they are due. We also are grateful for our family and friends who are so supportive and generous with their love and well wishes.  I am especially grateful for Mark, for all he has done as our captain, for all he has given us through this solid boat and his own knowledge and skills, for his fortitude, for the faith and trust I have in him in every role he takes on day to day. I could not be happier for him to have this time of adventure--he has earned it and deserves it. I love him for all of it and thank God, Spirit, Universe (or just my own good sense to have said yes when he asked me to his house seven years ago) that I can be here and share it with him. 

We make our happy or frustrated or silly posts to social media while knowing that the world out there is not the big blue marble of peace and brotherhood we wish it was.  Or that others may not have our opportunities for whatever reasons.  For us, we look at this little trip as our chance to celebrate the gift that life is and look beyond to what it can be--exploring new places, meeting new people, seeing the spirit and wonder in those people and places, taking a good look at ourselves and finding or remembering what means the most to us. Doing onto others and loving our neighbor.  I can tell you that career ladder climbing and keeping up with the Joneses is not what means the most to us. For some of us it never did and for others it's a beautiful new lesson among so many amazing lessons.  Getting away from work or bills or news reports or plain old negativity won't change the world but it will change ours and let us refocus on the good and the promise and the beauty that surrounds us. It's there--we have opened our eyes and hearts to it.  And the best part is that our hearts have endless capacity for all that is good and right and lovely and hopeful.

As always we had some fun sights on the way to our anchorage and were graced with a lovely sunset and the sounds of people having fun and living and loving life. And they played some good music too it all including our own reggae.  We jumped in the water a bit for play and took fun boat showers--shampoo then swim then fresh water rinse from the solar shower. God those are the best!! Then chilled with our beverages on the tramps while the sun set and the world started to wind down as we did as well.  A preview of things to come I hope! I would anchor here again any day!!  Enjoy:

Good night and thank you Miami.

So with butterflies in my tummy and tingling nerves...I will try to sleep for a few hours because 0300 will come very fast I think.  I've already been fussed at--oopsie. See you in the Bahamas! Namaste and XO Suzanne