May 24, 2004
Sarasota, FL
Graduate Candi
It is now official . . . As of Monday, May 17, we’re houseless. Notice I didn’t say “homeless” as Nereus is now our home. We just have to wait to live in it.
Last week was insane. My father, thankfully, flew out and helped us load the contents of our house into what Sidonia called “big tuck.” It was big, a 25 foot diesel from Penske, loaded to the door with our stuff, trailing a tow dolly with our car – loaded with more stuff. Then, Dad and I drove it for three and a half days to our storage space in Sarasota, FL. It was a long 2489 miles. I can report that Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas are still as big as I remembered them. It is interesting to compare the mileage we drove at 70 miles an hour with the mileage we will sail at 7 miles an hour. It will be a very different way to see America – from the water at a slow pace.
Our early Sunday morning departure left Vanessa and Sidonia behind to finish the little things needing finishing like cleaning up, paying final bills, and crying final tears. I was so focused and busy, I didn’t have a chance to consider the enormity of leaving. Vanessa, however, was left standing alone in her empty house to receive the full effect as reality stood up and slapped her in the face. But we would soon switch. Vanessa and Sidonia flew down to Sarasota on Tuesday to get settled in with her Grandmother and await my arrival on Wednesday.
Binga’s first day at the Beach.
Siesta Key, FL.
Then, it was my turn. I hadn’t stopped for weeks, working, packing, fixing the boat. I had to end my long drive standing in the hot sun, sweating, preparing to unload a huge truck. To get the idea of what is was like, pick the smallest room in your house, turn on the heat to max, and try to put everything you have in that one room. If you can close the door, you’re ahead of me. It didn’t help that I was exhausted. I vent my frustrations differently than Vanessa. Sorry Dad.
But it is over, done, finished. Tomorrow, I will return to Las Vegas to prep Nereus for transport. Then we will finally be on our way. For now, we sit here passing the time in the city that will officially mark the end of our little adventure. Friday, we dropped my Dad off at the Tampa airport. I’m sure, after two weeks, he was ready to get home. We then met with a boat friend of mine, Pat. It is great to hang out with Pat, as his almost-cynical sense of humor always brightens my day. We spent time touring his boat and meeting Mike and Susan Beilan, of the Westsail 43 Inifini. I can tell we are going to love it down here. Seeing all the places we will get to sail and meeting the people we’ll hopefully be spending some great boating time, which is very inspiring. We are ready!
Building (and then smashing) sand castles, Siesta Key, FL.
Saturday, an unrelated-but-equally-important mile stone, Vanessa’s sister Candice graduated with high honors from Riverview High School in Sarasota. Quite an accomplishment. We are very proud of her. In a few short weeks, she starts an adventure of her own. This summer, Candi will begin pursuing a Bachelors in Business at the University of Central Florida. We are behind her all the way and wish her the best for her bright future.
Yesterday was another first. Vanessa, Erika (Vanessa’s other sister), and I took Binga to the beach – her first time. She had a blast! Wore me right out – run into the water, splash, run back out. Run in, splash, run back out. Run in – you get the idea. Non-stop. We built sand castles and buried each other in the sand. She loved every minute of it. I think she will adapt to the marine life very well.
So far, the road to “here” is not with out its pot-holes, but everything is working out as it should. Hopefully this trend will continue with the boat hauler and launch. I really hope we can be on our way in a couple of weeks. With a little luck, the next entry will come from Chicago at the launch of Nereus. I can’t wait. I am getting anxious. Too much sitting around – waiting. It is time to go; more obstacles to overcome. Big Blue awaits.
– Steve