SitRep: Week #1

We arrived in Nanaimo last Tuesday evening, and hit the boatyard as it opened on Wednesday morning. We’ve been in motion ever since. It’s Tuesday evening again, marking our first week as proto-liveaboards. Deb has been a whirl, while I’ve been zipping like a manic mechanical hummingbird from task to task. Sitting here in the comforts of our AirBnB, it’s time to ask myself the obvious question:

How is it going?

How is what going? The boat?

In that case, “Great! We’re making fine progress.” We removed the winter covers on Wednesday, and did an initial reconnaissance. Remember, we bought the vessel after a casual forty-five minute visit almost a year ago. I’m properly abashed to admit this, but it was the first boat that we looked at for potential purchase. Yes, there was a survey, but the subsequent transaction was all by “remote control.” We needed a full day to really sort out what we had bought. First impressions were very positive. Systems seemed to work. The interior seemed clean and well maintained. No surprises.

The boat went into the water on Thursday afternoon; the engine getting run briefly to reposition her* into the company’s slip. The Anchorage Marina was extremely helpful to us during our winter tenure, and during the subsequent launch. I’m especially appreciative of John Koabel for his patient assistance. The marina will be our home for probably the next several weeks. It’s quiet and friendly, and the view is terrific, but alas, it lacks even basic facilities.

Our greatest good fortune this week was the unexpected appearance of Nathaniel Dieter. His business is understatedly called Good Marine Services. His assistance has already proven invaluable, and we’re excited to be able to work with him in the coming weeks. I’m particularly appreciative that he’s a natural teacher, while, owing to circumstances we’re keen students.

We got a thumbs-up-with-wink yesterday! In the secret code of marina availability, it means that we expect to be moving into a slip at Stone’s Marina, here in Nanaimo. We’re quite excited about the move, as Stone’s has the feel of a marina-village to it, plus all of the facilities that we will likely need as newbie cruisers.

I’ll have a more technical post shortly, but so far, so good.

Then again, How is it going?

How is what going? Life?

Oh, that. I think we’ve been too busy to think about it. For what it’s worth, I think we’re both more enthusiastic about “this boat thing” every day. Nanaimo seems like the perfect place for us right now. The prospects for minimalist living don’t appear too daunting. There is a lot to learn, but I’m happy to report that my anxiety level is lower today than it was last Tuesday. That’s good, right?

* The boat will shortly be properly renamed, “Casper.” Yes, that Casper. He’s a boy bear. I know, I know… I can no longer avoid use of pronouns in lieu of “the boat,” so I shall conform with nautical tradition and refer to our boat as, “she.” Conveniently, that allows us to also refer to Casper, the bear, as, “he.” The potential for tortured syntax boggles the mind.

P.S. Climbing on the hood of the car won’t help. We’re not taking Casper down to the boat until the name has been changed. I’ve seen a pissed off bear before. It’s not pretty…