Happy New Year
31 December 2006 | Sitka, Alaska
Joan
Happy New Year!
May all the good from 06' follow you into 07' to mingle with new moments of adventure and joy!
I am both dreading and looking forward to the conversation I must have with my boss next week when school resumes. I definitely believe that I am fortunate to have the pleasure of working with this principal. She certainly puts our students ahead of any personal agenda and is quick to support both teachers/staff and parents. She is also a great support for our students with disabilities. So what's the problem? Well, the decision has been made and I promised her that she would be the first to know that I won't be returning next school year. We have decided to commit to our voyage. She has always supported and encouraged me. I will definitely miss her and the rest of the great people I've worked with along with the kids I am honored to work with. I am relieved that the decision is final and beyond the point of no return. I am very excited about the trip, but now a little scared as well. Turning my back on a successful career is no easy thing, but the lure of a life-long dream is too great, like a fish grabbing onto a well tied fly, who knows how this decision will shake out in the future!
We are busy replacing the hot water tank on the boat. A simple job has turned into quite the adventure in patience. The new tank is exactly 1/2" larger than the old one. This means all the brackets have to be rebuilt and new holes drilled so that the tank will fit. I am sure the old connections will also be off and copper tubing replaced as well as the hoses. I wish that manufacturers could stick with the same dimensions on standard items that need replacing! It's turned a simple replacement into quite the project. Unfortunately, this has become so common that I cringe when it comes to replacing gear. The good news though is that we will once again have hot showers on board in the very near future!