Decision Made

Well, after much brain-wracking and many stressful moments, I have come to a decision about what to do next. And the answer is this: I will not be going south to the islands this winter. It breaks my heart but the bottom line is that I just don’t feel I’m ready. Yes, I can do the sailing and managing the boat, but I feel like maybe going after just one year aboard my Further is a bit too soon. I feel I need some more experience at that managing-the-boat bit before I could cruise comfortably and calmly. And doing it wound up like a spring is not how I want to go voyaging.

In the meantime, I will remain here in Annapolis. I will be taking a position with a local company (more on that when things firm up) and I will be moving to a new marina farther down Back Creek — one with plenty of water beneath the keel (and a nicer shower, and even a washer-dryer). I’ll miss it back here in Jones Cove where it is so peaceful and natural, but as evidence of why I need to leave: I’m in the mud once again. I took Further out today (fun times in a booming 20-knot-plus wind) and just barely had enough water to get back into the slip afterwards. So…it’s time.

I look forward to spending more time in this wonderful town and I look forward to getting things aboard Further more shipshape. I’m already compiling a monstrous to-do list that I will dive into ASAP, making sure everything works as it should — and learning how to fix it myself for the inevitable breakage in the future. And finally, I look forward to getting myself more shipshape also so that when the time comes I can head to sea aboard my own vessel with a confidence that lets me smile all the way.