Living on a boat, but not boating much…

If you read the last post, you know why we are where we are this summer. All that was mentioned in that post remains true except for the ‘explore the bay’ part. To date, we have only taken Aisling out twice this year. Sometimes it just happens that way. The work, repairs, weather (especially heat) just get in the way…. Comfort, especially cooling was the primary need for several weeks. It feels like that will change, as suggested earlier, once the weather turns and schools open.

Reports from those who have ventured beyond the marina have largely affirmed what we expected our experience to be, though there is usually a rosey portrait painted. What I hear is crowded locations, people not wearing masks, museums closed, restaurants difficult to access (and who would want to given they are a large source of increased infections according to the stat’s I have read) venues being closed due to ignored restrictions, plans changed due to state infection rates…. We made a very good call to not go to Maine. And frankly we made a very good call to avoid Newport, Block Island,…. as well. Perhaps September will be different? I’m not sure though. I expect that while the crowds will thin, but many locations will close earlier than normal, restrictions will increase as infection rates get worse… pessimistic and overly cautious perhaps. Yet it seems right given the circumstances and potential downside.

These last few days have allowed us to be more active on the boat. For weeks we lived in an air conditioned environment, Lyn working, reading, lounging, spending way too much time considering the weird state of the world. But just as the air dried out, and the temps dropped 20 degrees, the outdoor projects sprang to life! ( I have said many times I would never live n FL and the heat of this summer has mightily reinforced that opinion)

As for living on a boat full time. Actually, and I think I speak for Lyn as well, we are loving it! First, it’s our bubble and really very effective as that. We love to cook and have all summer long. Aisling has been most accommodating given the galley, two heads/showers and enough room to get away from each other as needed. The AC’s have struggled at times, but kept us cool. The view/environment in the marina almost rivals our Woodstock home (somedays it better…;-)) The sun rises are spectacular!

We have learned some limitations as well as our preferences and needs. I mentioned the AC’s, we now know to within a flush or two how many flushes and therefore how often our holding tank requires pumping, we know how long it takes to use 160 gallons of water (a week) and how long it takes to fill the tanks (a beer), we know that except for 1/2 hour of Lester Holt and 1/2 hour of some comedy (MASH or Big Bang Theory) while preparing dinner, we have little need for a TV. We also know that we can run both of our smartphone hotspots and a MiFi into the dreaded ‘throttled zone’ in under a month….

Tomorrow evening, given the forecast and our schedules, we will leave the dock and explore an anchorage off Goddard State Park for the night. It’s not far from the marina, but provides two activities we can not address here. Anchoring overnight and cooking on an open flame!