Home is where the boat is

Today was moving day from the canal on the Atlantic side to Banana Bay Resort on the Gulf of Mexico side.  This requires a jaunt through the canals, through Boot Key Harbor, pass Burdine's, under the Seven Mile Bridge, dodging lobster and stone crab pots ('bobbly bobbers' as Aunt Cora calls them :) all along the way.  Basically, with a stop at Burdine's for lunch (one cannot pass by without stopping!) it's a half day trip.  Cast off time was 11:00am, and we had several other items to stow away to prep the boat for passage.  If the sails are up, nearly anything can become a projectile if it's not properly stowed away.

First order of business, moving a Willis aboard :)

True to Willis form he had a twitchy tail the minute he was
sprung from his cat carrier- time to go explorin'

His nose was in overdrive, too :)

He had to explore every nook and cranny...

and he rediscovered the ladder for a look about outside...

And then he settled in for a Willis flop.  All
was well in the world of Willis until...

Cap'n fired up Bessie, then he started panting :(

By the time we casted off, he assumed his usual traveling
position, hiding behind the pillow on the starboard settee.

Leaving Dave and Diane's- we're off!

We asked the seniors to join us on our jaunt, and Mamaw
assumed her usual position, too- up on the bow :)

Making our way through the canals, past all the mangroves.

Through Boot Key Harbor to Burdine's- world famous for their
burgers and basket of fires with 'fry dust', mmmm.  We saw boats
in Boot Key from all over the world- Sydney, Ontario, England, etc.
Boot Key Harbor is a famous place for world wide cruisers to
spend the winter months.  Check it out on Google.

Me and my honey while we wait on our burger, goodness
are we lilly white...we need to start working on our tan!

Well, this was the deep fried key lime pie, before we all
tore in to it! Suffice it to say it was delicious :)

The seniors hopped on the elevator back
down to ground level, then we all
hopped back on the boat.

Aunt Cora was helping me keep and eye out for the
'bobbly bobbers' (the lobster pot buoys :)

I was just happy to be back at the helm :)

Willis was happy to sleep through the seasickness,
the poor puss hasn't got his sea legs yet :/

Passing under the Seven Mile Bridge

We no sooner got tied down at Banana Bay and hooked up the
shore power and cable, and look who came to greet us, a bull
 manatee!  The pic is not too clear, it was from Donnie's phone.

I say that in the log cabin back home I have a
"one butt kitchen"- room for my butt only.  Well,
on Marquesa, it's about a half-butt galley! And,
just like at home, Willis is underfoot while I'm
trying to work in the galley. Dern cat.

Only those a little OCPD like myself can appreciate the
organization and expert packing in my wee little
refrigerator/freezer- all $146.00 worth :)

 So friends and family continue to ask us why we want to go live on a boat for 4-5 months.  I know there are those that disagree with our decision.  Truth is, our kids are essentially grown; 32, 28, 27, 21, & 20.  While the youngest two are in college, they all have a nice place to stay, where ever we happen to be docked or anchored out.  In fact, our son is on his way down now, to bring in the New Year in Key West with us.  So the question is Why?  I've pondered that alot over the years in planning for the day when we could "one day..." (live on a sailboat).  First of all, with the technological world we live in, we are still just an email, text, FB message away.  I am in as much communication with friends and family when we are gone- some people even more so :)  In that respect, I don't feel as if we are truly leaving, nor do I feel as if I am missing out.  The truth of the matter is if there were truly an emergency, and if I were needed back home (like Mom's heart surgery last year) I'll be on the next plane out of here, no doubt.  So again, Why?  The answer is really simple.  Life on a boat is simple.  I have everything I could ever want or need in the cabin of Marquesa.  Our lives have become cluttered, our homes have become cluttered, we place far too much emphasis on 'stuff'.  I just need a few essentials in my galley to prepare just as good of meals, if not better, with about 1/10 of the dishes, pots, pans and utensials.  It's ridiculous, really, how we buy in to the commercialism these days.  I am just as guilty as the next person when I am on land.  I just orchestrated another over the top Christmas, when I had said that I wanted to cut back.  However, on Marquesa, I am forced to make do with less.  And the truth is, I am happier for it and I am less stressed because of it.  That is why Donnie and I both work so hard, so we can have the privilege of R & R on Marquesa, doing what we love to do; be it soaking up the sun, going fishing, diving, paddleboarding, pedal, pedal, pedaling on our clown bikes, hanging by the pool, or out on the pointe with a cold drink and new friends...home is where the heart is...and for the winter months, home is where the boat is :)

Honestly, you simply can't beat the view :)