This week we will cast the lines from the beautiful Elliott May Marina and it will be a big moment…at that point we will no longer have a home base and will be officially “cruising”. The nerves rattle a little as we look towards this transition, but it is super exciting to begin a phase that will rely more on self-sufficiency, weather, tides, and the freedom to decide if we stay put or move on to something new.
People ask us often “Where will you be based?” The answer is actually no where! While we have been in Elliott Bay Marina for that past 5 weeks preparing to start cruising, once we leave here this week, we will not have a “base”. Marinas are comfortable places where we could moor our boat and have the luxury of long, warm showers, laundry facilities, a solid dock to tie to, an office to receive supplies, mail, and ready supply of water, fuel, or pump out. They are akin to how you might think of a hotel—perfect for a trip now and then, for a few nights during a getaway. But you would not stay in one on a regular basis, certainly not every night—it would be cost prohibitive and the special occasion novelty would quickly wear off. That is how marinas are for cruisers—perfect for the occasional stay, the meet up with friends, the offering of protected shelter when away from the boat. But most nights are at anchor and a goal for each day is to find an anchorage that is calm, protected, and with luck, has interesting highlights ashore.
In the time leading up to this moment, we have often read of the sacrifices needed to make the land based to cruising lifestyle change. We tried hard to imagine what that would really mean and how it would feel. We anticipated separation from our family and friends and have focused on ensuring continued communication and the ability to nurture our connections and relationships. Selling our family home, stepping away from successful careers, letting go of a healthy, consistent routine—it has been a time of big decisions and big change.
This week we made the big brutal decision to take our sweet dog, Archie, back to Boise to live with Grandma and Grandpa. We spent the past month giving it a solid try, but he made it clear that living on the boat full-time was a bit much for a 14-year-old beagle. He was a good sport, tried hard to make it work, as did we, but it was not the best choice for Archie. Today was drop off day. The happy smile and spring in his step while rolling in the grass, sniffing the boarders of the spacious yard, and wandering freely around the house collecting up his toys reinforced our decision. Archie’s spirit will always be felt on Beagle Spirit and signs of his presence and our love for him are prominent. This was a tough one, a sacrifice we had hoped we could avoid.
Will it be worth it? We believe it will be—even on this day of sweet sorrows, we are confident that this is the right choice. We have prepped the boat, prepped ourselves, and are ready to cast off on this epic adventure.
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