This post is somewhat of a letter to my future self. A reminder of those sweet moments during our time off that I can wrap myself in once we are back to our busy lives. I know that I get in a funk and focus on a lot of the things that are not quite as we expected living on a boat. It’s not all like that. A lot of our life is exactly as we had hoped it would be. Yesterday was a day like that.
It’s not that there weren’t boat projects, there are (were?). The shower in the back of the boat developed a leak, keeping the deck perpetually soaked. I couldn’t fix it because I was waiting for parts. The parts were delivered two days ago, but nobody could seem to find them (they eventually emerged in the evening, so I’ll fix it today). Plus, this marina has a “no maintenance” policy that I’m milking to give me a little time off.
Also, Hunter is sick. A bad case of strep put him in the ER a couple of days ago, so we’re taking a breather from activities so he can rest.
So what was so great about yesterday? Well, Jade wanted to make apple cider donuts. Of the recipes that she found, they all needed either cream of tartar or nutmeg, neither of which we had on the boat. So, I walked to the store with Zulu to get some. The store is two miles away, so we were able to get in a nice bit of exercise on a really pleasant (60 degrees) afternoon. When I got back, everybody was just chillin’, so I did the same thing. I grabbed a book, and sat in the cockpit and read for a couple of hours.
At about 5, Meredith and I had some cocktails and watched the tourists boarding the boat behind us for a sunset cruise. Greyson grabbed his scooter and rode up and down the dock while the sky lit up with color. I cuddled with Hunter, who is still recovering and weak.
As the evening closed in, Greyson and Jade started cooking us dinner. They made a warming chicken pot pie for us to all enjoy together while watching a movie as a family.
It was beautiful. But, I haven’t told you the best part. It was a Wednesday. While the rest of the world was scurrying to and from meetings and other appointments, I was taking a long walk and reading a book. Taking time off from our busy lives to just be together as a family has allowed us to bond as a family in ways I never imagined. It also gives us extra moments to just relax and be with ourselves.
If you get the chance, take the time off. Whether it’s a normal vacation, or a drawn out sabbatical, take the time to separate yourself from an agenda. Relax and enjoy the moment.