Rather than list one tip on this post, here's a list of miscellaneous tips we've collected along the way. If you are setting up to go cruising, you might consider having these items onboard. If you're already living the life, you might have what you need but we personally benefitted from tips well into our adventure. I hope I'm not repeating myself on any of these. Who can remember all the tips listed previously?

1) Wet suit jacket with fleece lining: great for snorkeling, short dives or swimming in chilly water. The fleece against your skin is wonderful, even after you get out of the water and have a long trip back to the mothership. Although it takes a long time to dry after rinsing, it is a dream wearing one of these. I found mine, short sleeves and zipper in a marine consignment store in Newport, RI several years ago and talked them down from $40 to $15.

2) Plastic water bottle sprayer: we use ours for grill fires and cleaning our dodger and cockpit panels. It's also useful for spot cleaning salt water elsewhere. We keep it filled with fresh water and tucked under one of our sinks for easy access.

3) Baggies, baggies, baggies: We use small baggies (found in places that cater to jewelry- making or other crafts or you can order them online) for lots of things and especially for spices. We also keep snack size, sandwich size, quart and gallon baggies on hand in abundance and use them constantly. The stronger the better and we look for "Freezer" bags when possible. The two gallon baggies are handy for storing all sorts of items.

4) Strong magnifying glass: I can't tell you how many times we reach for this. It is true our eyes are older and not that reliable for small print but we also use it for getting slivers out or looking for minuscule ticks (one time in St. Vincent Luna was covered in because her Frontline flea/tick product stopped working), or getting something out of someone's eye or looking at a small crack somewhere...I could go on but I won't.

5) Small, compact copier. We bought a Canon copier that fits under our Nav station and has been very handy for printing official papers when we needed copies. It saves us from tracking down other boaters with copiers or offices on a new Island. It wasn't that expensive but I can't recall how much we paid.

6) Ice Pick: We use our ice pick, kept with a champagne cork on its end for protection, for breaking up ice but also to aid in defrosting the freezer from time to time. It can be used for a variety of other projects and you won't be sorry to have one onboard.

7) Prescription medicine bottles: Ed has many of these for all his little nuts, bolts, screws, etc. I never throw any bottles out until I check with him.

I guess that's it for now. I have more to share, but it's time to go on to another project. Like a bath for Luna...