5/16/16             Monday          Freeport


A break in the blogging action since we're no longer Sailing on Grace this week...and some decisions to be made about if/how to continue this particular blog.

Arrived back in our land-based home yesterday (Sunday). Sharyl and Shannon met us at the yacht club. Wonderful to see them and so appreciative that we have them to return home to. David and Sharyl went to our favorite breakfast cafe. Shannon and I went to pick up Maggie from her flute lesson, get their car then we joined Sharyl and David for a welcome home breakfast. We caught up pretty well w/Mags and will take some more time this week to do the same Sharyl and Shannon.

Coming to our Lavers Pond home....I was scared. So much space. So much stuff. What will I like? What will I not like? How has the house aged in our absence? David and I shivered our shoulders, held hands and walked in. Empty energy in the house...there was no liveliness. A house waiting. Shan and Mags had left a great surprise of flowers and brownie mix on the dining table, as well as milk, bread, TP, cheese and strawberries in the frig. Well, the TP wasn't in the frig but you get the point.

The house is so BIG. No wonder we have so much stuff. You know, nature hates a vacuum. If I have space I need to fill it. Oh NO! However, the luxuries of our queen size bed, hot shower, water as much as I want (oh NO. Ration and conserve!), internet access without overusing telephone data plan...all things we lived without on the boat...oh, and electricity without rationing...are terrific....and excessive...and no longer taken for granted.

I do truly want to downsize. Not move or sell the house but shrink my possession load. But then I love my flower pot from Greece and the "carnival" pot from my parent's home and most of my dance and arts education books ("buzzer sound" - in case I need them in the future). Oh woe. What to do? Well, nothing at the moment. No immediate decision is necessary except to finish and re-distribute the laundry. And take a walk.

Wanting to be disciplined about how/on what I focus my attention and energy. Definitely Maggie's lacrosse game this afternoon and a visit w/Sharyl early this week.

"Live the life you love and love the life you live", perhaps mis-quoted from Chicago but the sentiment is there.

Last trip photos:  

Ocean trash

David and I made a habit of picking up trash along the beaches and waterways when it was safe (in the ocean). We managed to keep 5 balloons out of the stomachs of fishes or seals. This spiderman did not become toxic food for an animal or entangle any with its ribbons.

Pound of Tea from ocean side w/Harraseekett tower

 David's photo of Pound of Tea (below) is from the ocean side. Pound of Tea is at the entrance/exit of the Harraseekett River and our harbor. Notice the castle tower above the tree line on the left.

Empty harbor waiting for warmer weather

We've pretty much outrun spring though there are definite signs of it here. Small leaves on the softwood trees, definitely green/yellow and pink with new growth across the pond. We had a fire in the wood stove last night and even turned the furnace when we arrived. Definitely not FL temperatures and definitely not shorts weather yet. A visit from neighbor Sue caught us up on a bit of Lavers Pond news.

We're happy. We're safe. We're proud of our accomplishing this journey. We're proud of each other and of Amelia who has earned her sailor-cat eye patch. We're pleased to be home. We're grateful, forever, for all the help that has made this particular journey possible.

Blessings abound and our blessings continue to unfold.