It's been a while

I opened up the blog today and noticed that it had been a while since I had written anything here.  It's not that I haven't had anything to say, it's just that I've been REAL busy.  Busy trying to stay alive, busy trying to fix up Avalon and get her ready for anchoring out, busy trying to find the money to maintain my accustomed low life style.

With the help of some friends I was able to locate some useful email addys.  I wrote a form letter explaining who I was and where I'd been and..............  Homelessness prevention programs are a joke, food stamps are not for those who are wealthy enough to afford a boat, and slip rental is not the same as brick and mortar rental.  I was informed that if I were to give up the boat and sign into a homeless shelter, then I might be able to get some help; maybe.  NOT!

Without going into all the gory details, I got the food stamps, the VA is now paying attention to what I'm saying and is being quite helpful and all it took was a letter from Gov. Charlie Christ to make it happen.  I guess it's hard to believe that someone who speaks well and takes care of their appearance and health might need a little help.  They should try being an over fifty white guy.  Nothing like being superfluous to make a guy humble.

Alright, enough of that stuff.  On to the real issues.  Avalon is now seaworthy.  I fabricated the parts I needed for the forward hatch, all of her nav lights work, her batteries are in good shape and the head is ready for use, as a camp toilet.  The outboard has been repaired (thank the gods for JB Weld).  No more exhaust leak killing the motor when the cover is on.  The Coil died and I am now waiting for the new one to show up.  Before the coil quit the motor ran smooth and quiet.  All my repairs worked.  Gotta love those old Honda four strokes.  I'll be tackling the fresh water system while I'm at anchor and not spending all that money on slip rental.

The marina is working with me on the back rent and letting me keep the slip at half the cost as a non-liveaboard.  I have a home base to recharge the batteries, fill up the fresh water tanks, do laundry and park my truck.  Looks like it's time to start the adventure of cruising.  I have the NOAA charts for the immediate area and am now plotting my courses for some camping trips to various islands and cays around the Tampa Bay area.  There's plenty here to keep me busy.

No more used or scrap wood is ever going to come on board again!  Every time I bring some scrap wood aboard to make shelves or cabinets it usually comes with bed bugs.  I realy hate those little fuckers! And they just love me.

I've been doing a lot of sailing lately in a 16.6 Catalina.  Fast little boat and lots of fun.  I've learned a lot, most of which is to trust myself and relax into the sensation of balance that is needed to sail with fore and aft sails in heavy and/or random winds.  It's a lot more like wearing the boat than it is getting in and forcing it to your will.  Wind and wave have a way of winning any contests of strength and endurance.  Sail relaxed and easy, think ahead and plan your moves.  It's about harnessing the wind and working with the water.  It's a lot like working with horses.  They are ten times bigger than you and you sure as hell can't force 'em to do anything they really don't want to do.

About 9PM tonight I decided that the wind was just right for a short sail in the dinghy.  It was.  Waxing half moon, five to eight knot winds, calm water, sign me up!  After an hour and a half I was heading back to the marina and noticed that the sky was flashing at me.  A Summer shore effect storm had built up and it turned into a race to get back to Avalon.  A few efficient tacks and a knowledge of the local water and shoals got me back just as the first sprinkles hit the water.  I disassembled the mast and stowed the sail and rigging.  It was a good sail.

I'm beginning to believe that I am a sailor, not just someone who owns a sailboat.  This dream of mine is coming true.  Maybe I'll have what it takes to sail across the Gulf Stream to reach the Bahamas.  I just might be good enough, some day, to head for the Windward Isles and the Caribbean.  I'm beginning to feel real hope.  Would that reality will stand off long enough to allow me at least a short time with my dream.

Now it's time to ready myself for a surgery.  The VA is going to put at least two stents in my heart.  If it calls for more it will be open hear surgery.  I'm hoping for just the stents.  Either way, I get five to ten more good years.  Fucking Agent Orange!  At least the VA admits it and is giving me a disability for it.  Will it be enough to make up for the lost years?  No.  Will it make my last years good?  Maybe.  I guess that part is really up to me.  When life gives you lemons, make batteries!

I may or may not write more here.  If I survive the next week, there will be more.  If not, well, it's been fun and I regret damned little of it.  My life has been full and exciting.  What more could one ask of life?  Old Celtic war cry; Oorah! (today is a good day to die).  It's kind of strange, or not, that the Sioux had the same war cry.  Live without fear, die with no regrets.  It's a big universe and I'm gonna explore it.

No one gets out of here alive, so live it like ya mean it.