Sinking Boat

I saved us!!  Our boat was sinking and I saved us.  Okay, that might be a tad bit dramatic but I did stop water from flowing into the boat.  Daniel was on deck doing "Daniel stuff" and I was down below doing "Carla stuff".  The radio was on and the music was up, but I heard water pouring, like when Daniel washes the boat.  But it made me think, he wasn't washing the boat...where was the water coming from?  I turned off the radio and started listening.  I looked up to make double sure he indeed wasn't out there washing the boat (he washes the boat, a lot) and I heard it.  Pouring water.  I looked in the forward stateroom and water was pouring on the pretty teak floor boards!  I first holler:  "honey, come quick we have water coming in" and then second, I flipped the switch on the electrical panel to turn off the water pressure.  Yup, I thought of that all by myself.  The water stopped flowing.  I saved the day!  Daniel came in and found a hose had come off the water maker.  I was thinking, I really, really saved the boat but alas, the boat only holds 150 gallons and the best I did was save us from a lot of clean up.  Bottom line though, it is nice to know I can think through "in an emergency" and act.  We're going to make it just fine.

Geek Stuff

It's not often I get excited about software, but I ran across a real bargain last week.  By now you probably know that we have a Garmin chartplotter that integrates a GPS, navigation charts, radar, water depth, and wind speed and direction.  To get electronic marine navigation charts for our entire cruising area, we ordered two SD cards with the eastern and western Caribbean charts loaded on them.  There's a small fortune in those two little SD cards, but a ton of valuable information is contained on each of them.  Wouldn't it be nice if you could also use the charts that are on those SD cards on the laptop. 

"Nesting"

I remember when I was pregnant with each of our 3 sons.   There would come a time during each pregnancy that I would basically turn into a crazy person.  There came an overwhelming need, usually about the 8th month, to clean my house and get everything in order for the new baby.  I thought people were nuts when they would say "Oh you're just 'nesting'".  Getting your home ready for the baby to come into the world and live in its new home.

I think Daniel is nesting.  He isn't getting ready for a new baby to come into the world, but he is working like crazy to get our "new home" ready and in order for our future life.  I watch him in amazement.  He moves from project to project.  Never complains (at least not loud enough so I can hear it) and is constantly moving and accomplishing new improvements.  He is nesting.  My heart bubbles over with joy.  He wants our new home to be perfect for our new adventure.  Nothing says "I love you" more than newly created and partially installed bug netting.  When we get to the islands and the bugs are making us miserable, he will be able to pull out the bug netting and keep his first mate happy.

Daniel has spent most of this weekend, so far, sewing new covers for our living quarters cushions.  Did we "need" them before we left.  No.  Do they make us feel like the boat is ours and it's our home?  Absolutely!  They are gorgeous!  13 hours of sewing, stuffing, and ripping seams yesterday and he has 1/3 of the inside cushions done.  When he "sat down for a rest" he would do other stuff like check the water maker to make sure it didn't have any leaks.  He filled the water tanks on the boat (all 150 gallons) so I had water to wash a load of clothes...all this after running 3.1 miles this morning.  He's wearing me out watching him.  I'm glad he is such a happy "nester" and I love all the improvements in my new "home".  Only 4 more months and we're permanent residents!  Thanks, honey!