A New Life

When you spend months and months working toward a goal of "getting away", it's quite the change when you find yourself "there" and the pace slows to an uncharacteristic crawl.  Such was the case with our arrival in Saint Augustine.  After the long preparation and the wild ride down, we weren't in any hurry to get moving yesterday morning.  We puttered around the boat enjoying the sunshine.  Rob surveyed the boat and worked on initial repairs of what "went wrong" on the voyage.  I caught up on the status of the boat interior and, of course, wrote the all important blog.

After a simple lunch we headed to town.  Saint Augustine is never a disappointment.  The cobbled streets, the quaint cafes, the fort - it all draws you in.  We strolled up and down and sideways through town, recalling places (bars?) we went this past spring and looking at those we wanted to try on this go-around.  It was just enough to be here with the sun shining.

Later in the afternoon, we just HAPPENED to find ourselves in front of the neighborhood pub (the one with 70 international beers on tap) and saw it was just the right time to take a break.  A beer break.  The sailor's snack.  HA!  Rob had a pint of Left Handed Milkstout from Colorado and I had an amazing combo of Angry Orchard hard cider with a Framboise Cider.  I'm not normally much inclined toward raspberry beverages, finding them fake tasting but this stuff tasted like fresh raspberries through and through.  The combo was the suggestion of the ever knowledgable barkeep - I think I'll be trusting her judgement from now on!  To add to the moment, the happy hour offering on the menu was a brat with sauerkraut on a toasted roll and a homemade baked pretzel with hot mustard - both which Rob couldn't resist.  I still wasn't ready for anything so heavy so I had a nutritious second cider!  (8oz size this time!!)

We made a quick return to the boat to grab shower items and then I actually convinced Rob to accompany me to a lecture at Flagler College I read about in the local weekly rag.  I mean, why not, right?  Helen Whitney is an internationally acclaimed writer, producer and director who has done major works for Frontline over the years.  She spoke on her 40 year career with an emphasis on Faith and Doubt.  What an amazing woman with an incredible perspective.  The talk was 2 hours and flew by like minutes.  Both Rob and I were captivated and can't wait to attend tonight's finale on her series.  She's definitely one worth finding online if you want a good shot of provocative programming.

After this inspiring interlude, we showered and returned to the boat both feeling honored to be living this unusual new life of ours.  Every moment presents itself as a chance to grab onto opportunity - and I'm ready to take it on!