And So It Begins

     Today, Sharon and I went to the boat.  Although we only went for the day, we did manage to do some work.  First, we had to take a load of "stuff" from our bedroom to the boat.  We had been using our bedroom as a staging area for the past 2 months, and it was getting a little crowded.  So we got to the boat and unloaded the truck.  While we were there I decided to run the bilge pump.  Despite being on the hard ,the bilge does get  water in it from rain, especially when it blows onto the cockpit and the lazarette hatch, which has drains leading to the bilge.  It hadn't been run since our trip in late December.  Well, we did run the  motor, but it didn't pump.  Upon further investigation I discovered the base housing for the diaphragm pump had split open, probably from freezing.  Before we can launch the boat this spring we need to repair/replace the bilge pump.......and so it begins.

T-Minus 8 and Counting

     Because we downsized in 2005, we do not have a lot of "stuff" to liquidate.  But nonetheless, the work  has started.  Our plan is to have a yard sale Memorial Day weekend.  The housing development we live in has a community yard sale every year.  This event has been held for 10 years or more and has a good draw.  Hopefully, we will have a successful sale.
     I don't know if our plans to secure a heated storage room will keep us attached to the dirt, but we will give it a try.  We realize that we can't be full time cruisers the rest of our lives.  We are hoping to be nomadic boaters for at least 10 years.  There are some possessions we are not ready to part with as we may want them for a home later on in our lives or to pass onto the boys. So we had decided to rent a 5' X 5' storage room that is heated.  However, Sharon's sister and brother-in-law offered a corner in their basement at just the right price - free.  Thank you D & L! Hopefully this will help preserve those items while in long term storage.   Most of the items we are keeping have been packed waiting to be placed in storage.
     Our home is starting to look a little barren.  Our art work is packed.  We have started pricing and storing items for the big "moving" sale.  The spare bedroom has turned into a staging area for different transition projects.  The wheels are in motion and they don't have brakes!
     We received our passports (book & card), and what were good photos when taken at the post office did not fair well with the actual fabrication of the pass book and pass card.  Oh well - that won't dampen our spirits when we are "who knows where".

     Boat projects are always on the priority list but sometimes you have to look elsewhere.  That's what happened in February with the 3 major snow storms.

    Hopefully winter will loosen its grip on the east coast, and I can get to the boat and start working.  I've started ordering some parts and materials for some of the smaller projects.  The larger projects need to wait until after the boat has been put over the side.