From the Editors...

Time to Go

The preparation is driving us over the edge

Knowing that the time is coming soon to depart for parts unknown has put us into high gear for the winter season. We hauled early, hit the boat shows, researched and bought essential gear, and are now preparing for the final surge of getting ready. It's almost (but not totally) overwhelming. Here's the list of what we have to do this winter.

• Finish the upgrades to Aleria: New running rigging including booms, new engine, new windvane, new electronics, new heads, etc.
• Sell the house: First, have to empty out all the gear that's stowed inside everywhere.
• Move into the apartment: Move half the furniture in here and move the other half overseas.
• Move aboard : That will happen in the spring ready or not.
• Plan the route and provision for the journey: Get all the health matters taken care of including vaccinations for us and the cat. Last minute preparations will take place when the time comes.
• Cut the lines: the day I am looking forward to more than any other.

Pretty simple, right? Only five easy steps to the cruising lifestyle. Except that each step has at least 6 million components of its own. We make lists, lots of lists. We wake up worrying about this factor or that one and know that nothing can be done at that moment. We plan for immunizations and worry about getting the cat ready for her own departure with us. At least we know she loves sushi.

Just keeping track of all the gear, throwing away years of accumulated stuff and deciding which item goes where is a logistical nightmare. I'd be willing to say that this is the hardest part of the journey. We don't know exactly when we are going to cut the lines, but I know that when we do, the relief will be complete. And I will never go back to a life full of a myriad things. The less we have, the less we'll have to worry about. Will that day ever arrive? Right now, it could not arrive too soon.

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