Did I, or Didn’t I
November 9, 2011

Years ago, needless to say, I learned the importance of checklists. The Military mentioned that importance with subtle reminders, some human and some merely written with such phrases as “Face toward enemy” written on the “safe” side of a Claymore mine, or the verbal checklist the jump master shouted above the engine noise just before we positioned ourselves on the angle step of the plane. Later came other checklists such as preflight which included many more items to confirm before “Slipping the surly bonds of earth”. I had a chance to see a preflight checklist for the Shuttle. Now that is not a list at all but more like a book. Checklists have been part of my life, more or less, since learning how to tie my shoes (which does not seem to work so well anymore). Boating is no less forgiving for those that do not use checklists. Remember the stories of the crew of a weekend runabout suddenly remembering that the drain plug is in the pickup? The older I get, the longer the checklists. Dang, I forgot to open the seawater intake is the reaction when the “overheat” buzzer starts to rattle the instrument panel. Get the point?

I had a checklist when last I visited Why Knot. Some might say it was a “to do” list but it was a bona fide checklist of things to do when leaving WK for her long sleep before our return. Stuff like bug bait and air fresheners are low priorities but stuff like through hull seacocks are not. I know I checked them several times before leaving but after a few weeks absent from her, the alleged mind starts to cast doubt. Absent a real piece of paper with little squares opposite things to check, I have no proof that I did the full list. At 0300 the imagination rumbles about the small drop of water on a fitting that, over time, becomes a small rivulet. Then the bilge starts to fill, slowly at first. A note on my recent survey mentioned that the float switch was restricted a bit by a hose. I wonder if the surveyor moved the hose so the switch is free to move? Now, I will have to call him so that I can sleep at night.

Back before the “cruise”, we did the weekend thing meaning visiting the boat every weekend. More than a few times, when about half way home, I called a friend on the dock and ask them if they would mind confirming if I switched off the dooderflam aboard or closed the sea water valve to the a/c. It worked the other way a few times when I called a neighbor at home and asked them if they would stop by and turn off a sprinkler I drove off and left. I have come to realize that checklists are God’s way of letting us sleep at night. That is why there are now several such lists on my I phone. Should I sync it daily so that said lists do not get lost? So that at 0300 I can confirm I did something or another on the list. Nawh, the purpose of retirement is to keep it simple, stupid. Now where is that I phone? Don’t tell me I left it on the boat.

Bear Report: Improving daily with way less need for the walker. Her impatient scale is red lined since she thinks recovery should be way shorter.