I received this email today from Lori who is on THIRD DAY with the kids while I was gone for the day working in San Diego. People ask us what it is like to live aboard a sailboat, so this is a good look into the glamorous life of living aboard a boat with a 9 and 10 yr old.


----- Email Message ----
From: Lori
To: Rich
Sent: Wednesday, August 6, 2008 6:45:54 PM
Subject: Lessons Learned

So we will write down today's lessons learned so that they can be recounted and remembered. We all have learned some already with Amy learning an important one today:

Do not let go of the dingy painter go, no matter what you think you have on your hand!!

We were getting ready to go on a home schooling field trip to the San Louis Obispo Mission. Amy was on deck getting the dingy ready and holding the dingy painter. She thought that she saw a krill on her hand and she let go of the painter. Jason and I were in the salon as Amy called for Jason. I could tell by the tone of her voice that something was wrong. The kayak was securely stowed on the deck so it was unavailable and I did not want to try to get the boat back on the mooring, so by the time I got up to the cockpit, put my life vest on, shirt off (I was wearing a sports bra), and my socks off, the dingy was 40 feet away. I jumped in and swam as fast as I could as I did not want to have to swim even farther. I got to the dingy and climbed aboard. Then I could not get the motor started. I was absolutely thrilled. I then realized that Jason had taken off the red "safety cord". He yelled that it was in the bench seat. I got the motor started and got back to the boat. We had tea with breakfast so there still was some warm water in the kettle so the kids poured it over my head to try to warm me up. I got sort of dried off and we went to the beach house for a warm shower. It was nice. We got to lunch with Aunt Bobbie almost on time. She says Hi.

Now I am so tired that I forgot to have the kids take a shower this evening and it is almost time to head to the boat. Humph...spit baths it is...I am too tired.

The mission was fun. The kids liked it. We will all sleep tonight (I hope).

Love you, Lori

Jason also is learning that if he complains about our dingy driving then he will not get to drive because we need more practice.