THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR
We've spent the last couple of weeks traveling slowly half way across the country, visiting family along the way. Our family stops have included Rio Rancho and Moriarty in New Mexico, Houston and Beaumont in Texas, and lastly in Starks, Louisiana. Once we leave Starks tomorrow, there will be no other family to visit.
It's been a blessing to take this long to get this far. The first leg of our trip was a little over 1800 miles over in 8 days, with a couple of multi-day layovers. Each leg averaged between 5 and 6 hours, which was acceptable to all passengers, including Sasha.
While driving across New Mexico, we were able to visit my grandparents, aunt and uncle, and cousins. Texas brought us Lisa's aunts and uncles, cousins, parents and brother and his family. We settled in to Starks for 6 days of recovery at Pop and Emma's house (Lisa's parents). We were able to take in a little recreation, including shooting several handguns and rifles, and romping around in the "hoopie" (Pop's 4-wheeler). Some of the southern delicacies we've indulged in include squirrel gumbo, deer roast, deer chimis, and fried fish. Yummy!
It's been a great visit, but time keeps ticking, and we need to find a home. I wanted to have a catamaran in mind to look at before we got to Pensacola, Florida, which will be tomorrow night. Pensacola is sort of the beginning of three possible routes we could take. Our preference would have been to have found one on the Atlantic coast of Florida, near Palm Beach or so. However, I've become very accustomed to being open circumstance, and not trying to force an outcome. Good thing.
Every time someone has asked where we are going to look for a boat, I've told them "most likely Florida, but we're willing to go wherever the right boat is." I felt like I needed to leave our options open, even with the plethora of boats available in east Florida. It appears as though I was right.
We've had a couple of boats in mind for the past couple of weeks, one in Fort Meyers, FL, and one in Hampton, VA. Obviously, neither of these are anywhere near the east coast of Florida. We've prayed continuously and have been able to do a little more research on both boats.
The decision has been difficult, but we have decided which we are going to look at first. These two catamarans are completely different from each other as far as look, layout, and sailing ability. One is light, fast, and a little more modern. The other is a little older, a little better equipped for living aboard, and built like a tank. I like light and fast, and Lisa likes modern, so we're headed to Virginia.
This next leg of our trip will cover about 1400 miles, and we'll be doing it over a period of 4 days. We'll head to Pensacola, FL, for an overnight stay, then to Savannah, GA, for a two night stay. Monday morning, we'll head up to Hampton, VA, where the boat is located. Each of these legs will be in the 7 hour range.
We've booked a place through airbnb for a week in Hampton. Regardless of whether we make an offer on this boat, the area is rich with American history, and sights to see. Last year, while volunteering at the Homeschool Foundation book sale, we picked up quite a bit of American history literature and curriculum. Once I can find it in our ram-packed mini van, we'll put it to good use while in Virginia and get some actual schooling done. Also, if I can make it happen without a mutiny, I'd like to head up to Annapolis, Maryland to see that area as well.
It's funny, but as I write this, I am not at all surprised that we are going so far off course from east central Florida. I think God put it in my mind early on that I needed to be very flexible with the planning of this whole adventure. I wanted to be open to finding the right catamaran, and I still am, even if it's not in Virginia.
I have not yet become accustomed to slowing my life down. Retirement came 3 weeks ago, but this trip, to this point, has felt like vacation, not life. I'm trying to let go of my anxiety of not having something to do, or a career to return home to. My hopes are that this next leg of our trip will allow me the ability to slow down, and enjoy my family. The message is clear: slow down and enjoy your family.
