Oh my gosh, what a whirlwind! The 2 months or so leading up to our departure has been nothing short of exhausting. Jan and I have both been burning the candle from 3 ends toward the middle. Trying to get the business taken care of (people known as "customers" but truly *family* to me), trying to move out of our home and prepare it for our friends to make it their home, and trying to get the boat ready for a long voyage. Wow! I didn't know that I could work so hard and long. But now the adventure is rolling in full swing.

Monday was the big day - move out of the house, move Eloy and Christine in, and get everything on the boat. It was a late night, but we managed to pull it off in spite of the ongoing storm. Once we got the last box loaded on the boat we collapsed into our favorite bed. But then we were shocked and horrified when we awoke the next morning and found the that cleaning lady had not come and organized the boat!