The New Normal

Just a quick update from the mooring . . .

First, let me say that a day should never pass when we remember how lucky we are to have special people in our lives!  As we made our way out into the wet and the wind yesterday, the reminders of wonderful family and friends were everywhere.  I put on my new warm, cozy and perfect headband knit by our son Jacob (a newly acquired talent of his) and slipped into the boat shoes that were a gift from our other son, Matt.  We braved the wind and waves to pick up the package I had been waiting for.  A dear friend we met on last year's voyage, Penny Lloyd Baldridge, had offered to knit me one of the gorgeous Irish cable knit sweaters I watched her work on last year.  We stayed in touch and I sent her yarn a month or so ago and without a measurement, this amazing woman knit me the most beautiful sweater I now own!  It was even more of a treat to get a package away from "home" and I put it on immediately to show off her amazing workmanship.  You truly are AMAZING, Penny!!!
 We had spent the morning finding all of the ways salt water had made it's way INTO the boat during our voyage.  No, that's not supposed to happen!  Moonshadow is an old girl.  We've done countless changes and have worked nonstop to clean her up and "make her new" again but she's still an old girl.  No matter how many places we plug and seal, somehow sea water still finds its way through stanchions and rails and the like.  This trip actually topped any to date.  We're assuming it was all of the work we did on rigging and rails this year that must have shifted the seals but we had a LOT of water come in.  The rug in the main salon was wet.  The cushions in the v-berth are wet.  And salt is NOT an easy thing to rinse out!  So, yes, we have a few more items to add to the "fix it" list to keep us busy.

Later in the day we returned to the boat to grab some laundry and pack up our shower things as well and head back to town.  Marinas normally have "cruisers lounges" with a TV, internet and laundry facilities.  Yesterday, it was definitely the PLACE TO BE.  Everyone came and went, kids did homework, families ordered in Chinese . . . it was fun and social and different.  Windy and wet outside with the dryers humming and people laughing inside.
We finished our loads and just made it to the final lecture by Helen Whitney that covered Mormonism and finally Forgiveness.  From start to finish, we were reminded of the importance of family, friends and relationship and settled into our floating home feeling warm and blessed.