Changes in Attitudes

I know this subject has probably been beaten into the ground, but organization on a boat is an every day issue. We are lucky enough, even though we have a smallish boat, that we have ample amounts of storage. Now, I'm not saying we can fit everything from our barn and house into this boat. But, we do have more storage than many I've seen. My job as first mate is to find what goes where....best. And it's okay if it doesn't work out the first time. I have shifted "stuff" around so many times that I'm dizzy. While the captain does try to give advice on his idea of the best placement, I am the "go get me." So...if I know where items are, the captain can do his job, and we are all one big happy boat! Now, the boat refrigeration I have all but given up on and we just reach in and hope to grab something good. You get what you can.

For us, one of the most troublesome areas of sailing is just motoring up and crossing the harbor to the pump out station. We haven't really been able to even do that these past few months because we have been without a wheel, which we have since replaced, and the Captain moved our shifter and throttle onto a new binnacle he built himself out of teak. However, we finally had things in place and it was time for a pump out. Our cold-natured motor took a little longer than we liked to crank up, but did finally get going. And there we go...in reverse...headed toward the dock. Luckily, our lines held and I was able to move the shifter to what seemed almost to be in forward rather than neutral. Lines were thrown off and thanks to a South wind, we scooted out of our slip. And once out, that is when we realized we actually did NOT have forward gear...only reverse. We continued making circles in the harbor in reverse until the Captain told me to go down below and manually shift the cable into forward. I have to say...I was pretty proud of the fact that I was able to assist him with this. We began moving forward and off to the pump out slip we go! Now, that is another story...

Living at a harbor can be such a great thing. Most sailors are more than willing to literally give you the shirts off their backs to help you. They will give you any part or tool or advice you need. Honestly, some of the best people we have met. Living at a harbor also can slow things down. Don't get me wrong, these sailors work hard and treat their ladies (sailboats) like queens. Jobs are taken seriously...just sometimes it can take all day. Mostly due to the long conversations about said jobs that take place on the piers. This is a great part of #boatlife. Me? I'm still trying to figure out how to get from my boat to the harbor bathroom without stopping to have numerous conversations about the rain, the wind, the leaks, etc. Sometimes I just gotta gooooo! LOL!

It has been raining here at Long Beach Harbor, MS for about three days straight and forecast to continue for another five days. This is the first time since we bought S/V Night Moves (June 2015) that I have been confined to the boat for so long. In addition to the rain coming down outside, it is "raining" inside as well. A few minor leaks in the head and the salon. A major leak that runs the chainplate down to my mattress in the V-birth. I am entertaining myself with borrowed movies and facebook. I need to see some sunshine soon, however...for my sanity. :)