Contract Signed / New Build Underway

[N4061]

We are starting to get back into the swing of things. After a few nights aboard and working in SD, Mary is comfortable turning off the circuit breakers and lockingbuo the boat prior to leaving for home. The carpet turned out great and makes the boat look and feel larger. We went a 2" reveal in the salon to show off the wood floors and net fit every where else. The canvas guy stopped by to reconfirm a few items before starting work this week. That's all for today.

[N4061]

We drove down to the boat late yesterday and enjoyed the sunset from aft deck followed by a great view of downtown skyline all lighted up. It was the first time we spent any time up top. Life is good. Today we are off to find a bedspread which will allow Mary to finish off the interior. Everything else arrived and in bags (yes we need a bigger boat for everything she bought). After shopping we are heading to north county to look at a few homes (our goal is to still retire in SD). I plan to post some photos later this evening of the interior. Looking forward to next week the plan is to take the boat north harbor hopping or to Catalina. More to follow later....

[N4061]

First round of photos of the Pilothouse

[Moonstruck]

I really like the Roman shades. The carpet edge binding looks like an excellent job on the radius cuts.

[Jim Cooper]

Elegantly done, John...not sure I would be able to step off her at the end of a weekend visit.

[Art]

Really nice! Do you have 360 degree pictures with shades open?

[Phyrcooler]

Very elegant! That's some great work by your vendors. I may have to hit you up for contact info next year when I replace our blinds and curtains.

Just got home from an incredibly beautiful weekend in San Diego. It was a balmy 75° this evening as I sat in our cockpit eating dinner. There's a reason everyone wants to live there!

[Peter B]

Why buy another house? Just live on that beautiful craft right there, then wherever you go, you're home.

[N4061]

Originally Posted by Peter B

Why buy another house? Just live on that beautiful craft right there, then wherever you go, you're home.

This is something we have talked about many times over the past ten years but not something I can do. As much as we enjoy the boating life style we need a land based home to return to and this is where it gets complicated. We don't need the large house and 1.25 acre yard but Mary struggles with condo's (been there) or Townhome (done that). Anything with a yard requires us to be home which doesn't support spending time cruising the ICW. Yes, we have an issue in front of us. In time we will figure it all out.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by N4061

This is something we have talked about many times over the past ten years but not something I can do. As much as we enjoy the boating life style we need a land based home to return to and this is where it gets complicated. We don't need the large house and 1.25 acre yard but Mary struggles with condo's (been there) or Townhome (done that). Anything with a yard requires us to be home which doesn't support spending time cruising the ICW. Yes, we have an issue in front of us. In time we will figure it all out.

How long are you comfortable being away from your boat at a time and letting others watch it?

How long are you comfortable being away from your home at a time and letting others watch it?

They are really more similar than we think sometimes. You can get someone to take care of the yard and you can set up alarms and cameras so you can keep an eye on your house. Then you just figure out how long before you need a brief house time.

We think of the upkeep of a house vs that of a condo and act like there is much more for a house. There isn't. It's just in a condo you have someone doing it for you, who you're paying quite a bit. For what you pay a condo association to take care of things you can get a lot done on a house.

So, I wouldn't fight myself or her on the house issue, but just figure out how to make it work. You say, "anything with a yard requires us to be home" and it really doesn't. I don't know how much of a yard you have vs. land that is natural or requires less upkeep.

It sounds to me like you both want to cruise and you want to have a house you spend time in. It's a matter of how much of each. I'm not sure you can even know how much of each until you start doing it. We didn't. It turns out that we average 6 weeks cruising and then 3 weeks home, although still boating while home. We leave the boat for those three weeks and fly home, then back to it. Planned ahead a bit those tickets home can be purchased on nice deals. This type system really helps us enjoy each leg or segment of cruising.

[menzies]

Originally Posted by N4061

First round of photos of the Pilothouse

Not sure if it is your camera, but that sure looks...

Very pink?

[Donsan]

In Florida, we have many gated communities where the HOA is responsible for the landscaping including mowing the lawn, trimming the bushes and hedges, applying fertilizer and insecticide, removing yard debris and the like. You don't have similar communities in CA? The communities here cater to snowbirds who spend 1-5 months in FL during the winter. We lived in one in Vero Beach and regularly left of 2-3 months during the summer to go to MI. The flip side is the yards are normally .25 acres or less.

[N4061]

Originally Posted by menzies

Not sure if it is your camera, but that sure looks...

Very pink?

Interesting that the photos looked good on the I-phone but when transferred did turn pinkish. Carpet is tan and brown. Will take new pictures when we do the salon.

John

[tadhana]

John, The ICW is a marvelous cruising ground. It takes years to explore. The times to explore are generally spring and fall. When you get the boat to the est coast, FL is great December through March. The Chesapeake is lovely May and June as well as September and October. How you connect the two is up to you. In our H38, we plan to run 50 NM per day. It takes about 4 weeks from Annapolis to St. Augustine. But that is moving a a pretty good clip. To explore a bit, you might spend 6-8 weeks moving north or south. There are many secure places near good airports, to leave the boat and return to SD.

[N4061]

We drove down to the boat yesterday to enjoy the holiday weekend aboard. A low pressure system will keep us close to San Diego but that is fine. I took a few photos with my phone and hope they post without any red tint. Here is the first one.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by N4061

We drove down to the boat yesterday to enjoy the holiday weekend aboard. A low pressure system will keep us close to San Diego but that is fine. I took a few photos with my phone and hope they post without any red tint. Here is the first one.

Wifey B: Darn, the Pink Palace is gone.

[N4061]

A couple more photos from Mary's phone. The pillows are more a rust color but show up red or pinkish for some reason. Carpet is light tan with light brown trim. Anyway you can get an idea how things turned out.

[CPseudonym]

She's beautiful. Congratulations on the spiffy new boat.

[tadhana]

We are celebrating our 8th Thanksgiving aboard our H38. This year we are in central Florida. We have found that the oven is too small to cook a turkey. It is however, just the right size, to cook a 5 pound standing rib roast. It's just one of the sacrifices we make as live aboards. Best wishes to you and Mary.

[N4061]

Originally Posted by tadhana

We are celebrating our 8th Thanksgiving aboard our H38. This year we are in central Florida. We have found that the oven is too small to cook a turkey. It is however, just the right size, to cook a 5 pound standing rib roast. It's just one of the sacrifices we make as live aboards. Best wishes to you and Mary.

Funny thing as we out cruising on the bay close to shore and i mentioned to Mary this is what it would be like on parts of the intercoastal including Florida. One of great things about boating and holidays is that its fun to break tradition and try different meals. We had planned tamales but couldn't find good quality ones in time so turkey it was.