When people find we live on a sailboat, they often say something like “living the dream, eh?” But it ain’t all margaritas and sunsets.
Just ask Honey.
Wet Empathy
While Hurricane Harvey was crushing the gulf coast of the United States, we were anchored in a spot hit by rain and high winds.
It was nothing like a hurricane. But it added a little more poignancy to Honey’s walks.
We couldn’t help but flash to the pictures of boats floating over the streets of Houston.
Hurricane Irma has me tracking the forecasts and thinking of blogging friends on land and sea in Florida and the Caribbean.
Life on a boat or land in lovely Florida or the Caribbean is idyllic at times. But it’s not for sissies.
Good luck, everyone! And here’s hoping we avoid a boat fire to give us even more empathy for people coping with the wildfires in the western United States.
Your Turn: Do you live in an area threatened by recent natural disasters? How are you coping? Or if not, are you inspired to make a disaster plan?
What Wonderful Woman Walked Onto Our Wharf Without Wilson?
We think unless you are on a big yacht, boat life is a tough life and one you have to really love. You all seem to really enjoy it, so it works.
On a big yacht, boat life is easy for the OWNERS. It’s pretty tough for the captain and crew. 🙂
We are just dealing with smoke, so nothing life threatening. My disaster plan is to roll up the RV, and get out of harms way.
The trick is to be vigilant to enough and not wait too long to move.
I am astounded at the number of sailors who wait and wait before taking their sails down or checking that their dock lines are secure. I guess they have good insurance? 🙂
Stay safe out there!
My brother lives in Islamorada, which, as I’m sure you know, is in the Florida Keys. I’m hoping that by now he has his windows boarded-up, and the boat and car as secured as possible. Having just seen the latest details about Irma’s winds, I’m going to get out of email and go call him.
I hope your brother is well prepared. Is he driving up to wait out the storm?
You will probably get some strong winds and rain yourself. Hope it isn’t too soggy.
He’s as prepared as he could be – he brought everything from outside indoors that he could and tied down everything else. And he rented a car, packed it with his stuff, and the dog’s stuff, and was getting ready to take to the road with the dog. He has all his plans set up. I told him just to keep in touch. He’s not planning on coming this far north if he can avoid it.
As for us? We got a downpour the other night and the room downstairs is still drying out. (The water comes in under the back door every time it rains hard.) If we get more, we get more. Not much we can do about it, unfortunately.
Oh my, keep safe out there! We live in the Midwest so no worries about hurricanes, but our rescue organization has been pulling donations of all sorts to donate.
You’ll get your chance the next major snowstorm that comes through. 😉
I can’t even begin to imagine what you guys go through day to day let alone during storms. Sending oodles of poodles pawsitive thoughts to everyone in the newest storm’s path.
Usually I love having a Facebook feed filled with sailors and dog lovers. But I have to admit I’m feeling worn down with all the posts from worried sailors and pictures of destroyed marinas.
I wonder if I can tell Facebook to load my feed up more heavily with dog pics?
I will be thinking of you as whatever becomes of Irma heads up the east coast.
We were headed to Myrtle on Saturday but may move it a bit depending on how it all shakes out. too soon to tell….
Definitely does not look like a good weekend for Myrtle Beach. It may be far enough North that it won’t be hit hard. But I’d expect a weekend of rain and wind. Yuck.
What?! Not all margaritas and sunsets? Thanks for ruining the fantasy for us!
The weather here in Jacksonville has changed dramatically. 24 hours ago is was clear and sunny (and unbearably humid). It’s wet and deary now. We’re watching the news closely. We know we’ll be affected, but how hard is still too far out to predict.
Prayers and happy thoughts are always welcome. Hope you fare well too, though I’m still mad at you for ruining my sailboat fantasies.
Tell you what–we love landing at the free dock on Sister’s Creek in Jacksonville. The next time we come through, you need to stop by for margaritas in the cockpit. Agreed?
Even the Titanic had some problems so we are sending our very best wishes to come through whatever nature challenges you with. We will be thinking of you as we follow the storm.
“Even the Titanic had some problems…” You win the title of Queen of Understatement. 🙂
Thanks for thinking of us. A blogger with the exact same boat as ours is currently in Puerto Rico. If they come through okay, I’ll feel more confident all around.
Hello Miss Pamela & Honey! I hope you stay warm & dry! You are brave to live on a boat. I don’t go near the water unless it’s in a small bowl, c’ause I’m a pussy cat. We are in the area of fires here in O-R-E-gon. The fire smokey has been awful outside & inside. I wish for everypawdy to be safe. Mew Mew!
Hope those fires don’t come too close. But even the smoke is bad. You definitely don’t want it to stain your beautiful clothing. Be safe, Valentine. And thank you for stopping by. Honey LOVES kitties.
Glad to know you all are somewhere safe. My “happy place” now has it’s downside – Charleston looks to get hit hard by Monday. Now that we are downtown, I believe we will have to drive North to stay with the kids. Not looking forward to the ride on the highway with everyone else but I don’t want to stay here and ride it out either. Keep in touch my friend and stay dry!
Isn’t it a good thing you didn’t convince your entire family to join you in Charleston? Now you have a safe place to stay.
Good luck getting the house ready for the storm. Don’t leave anything to chance, my friend.