April 16, 2012 Georgetown

Monday April 16, 2012

This blow has really taken a toll on some of the boaters here.  These 28.7 knot winds have taken dinghy’s for leisurely floats away from their mother boats, turned one dinghy over and put the engine under water and dragged several boats here including s/v “Hippo” although they were okay and no other boats were damaged with dragging collisions.  It is a scary thing to happen especially when it happens while sleeping.  Last night it was rough, Casa Mare’ was actually bouncing.  I am surprised I got any sleep but I did.  I guess there is nothing worse than going to bed and waking up the next morning to feel disoriented because your surroundings are not the same as the night before.  So far, we haven’t had that misfortune, although we have had our share of adventures most would think are misfortunes.  Not me.  I love it!  Sailing is not just hopping on deck and setting sail to an island beyond imagination.  There are responsibilities to go with that, and in most cases, things happen that are not always easy fixes.  If you have a leak, there is no turn off valve.  You better have a spare plug on hand and know where to put it or you will sink if you are not close enough to land to run your vessel aground to avoid sinking.  There are no plumbers out there floating around to wait for someone with a head problem.  You suck it in and start repairing!  If you don’t know, you learn quick, trust me.  Make sure to have a spare bucket on board because you are going to need one unless you are agile enough to hang off the side.  You know what I am talking about!  There are no electric wires to pull electric from.  You work for that too.  Especially if you are fortunate enough to have an inverter.  Then you work at not using electricity in order to avoid running the engine to charge the batteries up.  Candles are a real smart thing to have if you are afraid of the dark.  That electricity is better used to keep the bilge pump running and anchor lights on.  Then there is the propane issue.  Always make sure you fill your propane tank for cooking.  We have a big tank for the stove and a stash of smaller ones for the grill.  We, unfortunately, are using the smaller one for the stove now because we missed the propane truck in Georgetown and Wednesday is the day we can get ours filled.  You just get creative with cooking or eat cold things.  Water...now that’s an important thing to have.  The drinking kind.  With no outboard to take us into town to get water, which is free here by the way, we are now rationing water, taking bird baths and washing dishes once a day, in salt water without rinsing in fresh water.  Yeah, it’s okay, we use soap!  Bathing suits come in real handy, cuts down on the laundry.  Food is not an issue on this boat.  We have plenty of that.  You have never eaten cold beans you say?  Sure you have.  Three bean salad...remember?  Cold tuna, and chicken salad, plenty of canned fruits.  Not to worry, you won’t starve.  Things break, and ya just learn how to put them back together or adjust your lifestyle.  You will certainly find time for that when on a sail boat, especially with no outboard on your dink and one oar.  I love this. I am looking forward to flushing my toilet at home, standing under a hot shower, running my Dyson over my carpet, cold milk, a dishwasher, washer with hot water to wash things in and a dryer.  I am looking forward to calling my friends again and talking to them as well as visiting them more often that I did before.  Somehow that has moved way up on my priority list since I left.  I am not so excited about the TV, I don’t miss that.  I am not excited about all the hustle and bustle of the lifestyle, stress and pressure I know I will be seeing around me.  I know it will be exciting to go into a Wal-Mart or a grocery store but I have learned to say to myself, “do I really need that?”  My Mom taught me that and I have used it more on this trip than I have my entire life.  I find myself smiling when I walk away from something I would have not given it a second thought before it went into my cart.  It’s no wonder people, including myself, was having a hard time financially.  There is too much out there in front of us we ‘think’ we need.  We don’t.  I have seen it over and over again these past few months, sailing from one island to another.  If you think it is a luxury to be there, think a bit further.  The locals live poorly, very poorly.  The difference is, they are happy and they don’t have that option to even work because there is no work to be had.  I will never forget walking by an elderly lady sitting on her front stoop of her home, eating rice out of a bowl with her bare fingers, careful not so spill a single grain on the ground.  She smiled at me and said “Ola”  I smiled back, and thanked God for the opportunity of witnessing such poverty.  I hope I never want again.  I also know would trade places with that elderly lady  but this was her life and she was happy.  Someday we may be neighbors in heaven, if not before.  I am so glad I have had this experience.  I wish everyone I know could have done this.  When we pull into Wilmington, NC, I will certainly step off Casa Mare’ a changed person.  Don't think for one second would forget...I owe it all to God!