Still Waiting
02 December 2011 | La Paz
Karyn, partly cloudy, warm
The batten story continues. The 11' box somehow was lost off the truck between Cabo San Lucas and La Paz. They didn't find it, so another set was ordered and are supposed to arrive Saturday at 2:30. We have almost used up our weather window to go across the sea. Norther's coming again on Saturday PM. We'll see how it goes. We may just start and put them in either on the way or when we arrive in Topo. La Paz is not a bad place to be stuck in, but it costs more than being at anchor away from stores, etc.
I have received some private emails asking me to describe this life-style. For other cruisers it will not be interesting. However, to our friends and relatives, perhaps it will. We had dinner with a family on their boat (at anchor) in La Paz Bay. They have teenagers and there was a lively discussion about what adaptations have to be made for "cruisers". Everybody had quite a list. The 13 year old boy talked about laundry! They have lived aboard for several years (without a washing machine). Mom did the laundry in a 5 gallon bucket with a plunger to create the action. Mom pets her new washer in reverance. the son tells us exactly how much water a load takes and how many they can do in a day without running out of water. The teenage girl talks about choosing clothes. "You don't wash things after 1 wearing and you pick things that are easy to wash and fast drying". Then they talked about "things". What to keep...where to put it...what to discard". Very different decisions from the landbound teen. Mom and I talked about the cooking/provisioning experience. Our fridge/freezers are just holes in the counter with a lid on top. Everything just drops in. When you get something out from the bottom...you get the picture. We think our meals through early and try to get everything we need out at one time so that the cover isn't off for very long, wasting power. Sometimes it can be very frustrating. During the HaHa I was cooking, with everything out of both the refrigerator and the freezer when they had an accidental jibe (quick change of direction - stern through the wind). Everything went everywhere. Even the large pan I had stored in the oven came flying out because I hadn't gimbled (set it to sway with the movement of the boat) the stove. Didn't do that again. We are careful not to waste anything. I was chopping up a tomato. I thought about it, only used half and made sure to use every little bit I could. Multiply that for everything in your galley. Water is precious, provisions are precious, power is precious. To get provisions involves lots of walking (good for us of course). Then, a taxi ride back with the groceries. Often it is trips to little mom and pop stores for individual items. Other cruisers are very helpful in pointing you in the right direction or recommending people and places. I like that part very much. I laughed when the young man said...toilet paper. There is quite a concentration of energy spent keeping heads (toilets) running properly (not clogged) and tanks pumped out. No one likes that repair job. Everyone has to cooperate. Not too much privacy on a boat:-) Laurie, the mom is making angels and bird ornaments for their little Christmas tree out of Puffer fish vertebrae and back bones. I've especially enjoyed the people. You take the time to visit with people. Everyone has a story to tell. Yesterday a couple from Canada flew home. She is a writer and I bought a couple of her books. He was the Chief Medical Officer in Haiti. So much to learn from all of these people. A feisty young woman talked of when her baby was 6 weeks old living aboard. She used cloth diapers and drug them in a goody bag behind the boat to keep them clean. You wouldn't believe how resourceful these people are. They are a wealth of information. We are the beginners. I enjoy living on the boat and my "neatnick" nature has found a home. Only one project at a time. Put it away (carefully so you don't forget where you put it) and then begin another. Communication is a challenge. I have been trying to get Social Security for 2 weeks. Yesterday the phone calls (sitting on hold) added up to over $100 and I hadn't connected yet. A lady in an office finally let me use her phone rather than continue with multiple phone cards and pay her for the minutes after the fact. We always need the help of others. This is community for sure. Whew! We are in the process of learning to roll with the punches. You can't do much else. There is alot to do to keep a boat repaired and maintained. We don't just sit around drinking wine at sunset. But it is a good life, with many possibiities. Our next adventure Copper Canyon. We are healthy and happy most of the time. Frustrated some of the time. Relaxing into it day by day. Learning a lot about this lifestyle and each other. Karyn