Joint Custody!
24 June 2010 | Pier 32 Marina
Sally
One of the most difficult things we had to deal with when planning our trip way back when, was making the decision that our precious little girl should not go with us. At one point I had decided that if Penny couldn't go, then I wouldn't be going either! I researched and researched how having the little fuzz-butt on board would affect our trip. Sadly, the resounding answer was we wouldn't be able to go to some countries, or we would have to pay huge quarantine and inspection fees (as much as $800 per month!). Not only could we not afford it, we couldn't bear to think of Penny being locked up in some strange quarantine facility. The tough decision began to get easier when several offers of "foster homes" came in for the little princess. Thankfully, Andy and Arlene, who had always been Penny's adopted grandma and grandpa, agreed to take her. Penny not only already loved them, but adored their dog Buster, and had spent many of our vacations away from her at Kamp Knodel!
The hand-off was one of the most heart wrenching things I've ever had to do, and weeks later I was still waking up thinking Penny should be curled up behind my legs - it always hurt to remember she wasn't. They say time heals all and in this case, time and the realization that Penny really would have been completely miserable under many of the circumstances she would have encountered, made the separation easier - and that's not even thinking about how her life could have been endangered. We can't even begin to thank Andy and Arlene (and "Auntie" Debbie) enough for making our trip so much better by knowing Penny was safe, sound, and very well loved (not to mention becoming even more spoiled than before!!!).
Seeing Penny on the dock the evening we pulled in was amazing - she looked exactly the same as when we left. Somehow, I was worried that she would have gotten "old" while we were gone, but she is the same sweet, independent little sprite she has always been. She didn't want much to do with us that first night, but when we woke up the next morning (with her curled behind my legs!), it was as if we had never left her. She spent several days with us before we returned her to grandma and grandpa's. Then, we picked her back up and she went with us on our Catalina/San Clemente Island trip. She resumed her role as Princess of the Boat without any difficulty and is still a great little sailor pup! She had a ball running up and down the beach and of course rolling in whatever smelly, disgusting thing she could find in the sand. She did show she is getting a bit older (she turned 10 last October), when her pace slowed to a crawl getting back to the dinghy after a long romp, but all in all, she did great. She especially loved going on fast dinghy rides with the wind whipping in her face - I think she really likes O'Mali (the new, faster outboard!).
It was another tough decision, but with us going to stay living aboard the boat, and seeing how happy Penny is living with grandma and grandpa (and we think they kind of like having her!), it only makes sense to have a joint custody situation. We think it will be a win/win/win for all of us!