Long-term cruising requires a kind of attitude adjustment. The experiences of simple daily chores and routines changes drastically from what one might expect on land. Due to the circumstances (no dishwasher, washer/dryer, living in often damp and tiny quarters with several other people, encountering weather that changes dinner to a can of beans or mechanical failure of almost any sort that will bring a change to what would otherwise be a simple task), one has two choices: jump ship or develop a greater level of patience, tolerance, openness, optimism -- and the ability to coast, simply roll with it as it comes.
The passage from Annapolis to Key West that I so unemotionally described earlier was a rough one -- emotionally. Up to the moment we left the dock, I was in the midst of a major house renovation. I had no time to mentally prepare myself for living aboard again. I held in there fine for the passage, then promptly fell apart upon arriving. That adjustment took a couple weeks. And now I've just returned once again from a month of outfitting our home for rental. And, although we aren't headed out to sea at the moment, I find myself back in that "adjustment" phase (although much more fleeting and nowhere near as extreme) - with a long list to accomplish in the next 4 weeks before heading for Antigua. ...oh Antigua. Sweet. Who would think it would require such effort?!

On a different note, Glenn and Jimmy have worked magic in the Galley - copper backsplash and trim, a new large pullout drawer and shelving in the fridge. We are still at Safe Harbour but running all systems as if we were on the hook. Quick haul out next week... it's all getting there!