On the Ball

Friday evening when Jeff got off work, we made the move to the mooring field. We chose ball N-1 for the time being but may pick a closer ball when one becomes available. Right now you can see us on the webcam but it's not a close enough shot to really recognize anything on the boat. We are the first boat in the first row to the right [or west] of the channel just past the new dinghy docks.

There are pluses and minuses to being on a ball. There's no more AC, but fortunately, the weather was cooperative and dropped 20 plus degrees during the night Saturday. There's no more electricity except for what we make with wind, solar, or the generator. So, power management just became very important. Water conservation just became very important as well because we only have so much in the tanks, and then you have to haul it out to the boat 6 gallons at a time. Getting off the boat requires a ride in the dinghy and more careful planning...you don't want to get all the way to shore and realize you forgot the car keys. Likewise, you don't want to get all the back to the boat and realize you are missing a key ingredient to dinner.
Saturday we got halfway in before noticing we'd forgotten the shopping list. We decided to "wing it" instead of turning around.

While it is certainly more work, the pluses outweigh the minuses. Our first night out provided us with a beautiful sunset that we wouldn't have seen from the dock and all the hatches are open now letting fresh air spill into the boat.

The boat gently rocks from side to side out here in the harbor as we shift with the wind around the ball...makes for good sleeping. Things are more peaceful and private. We've spent more time outside enjoying the view. Saturday I saw a turtle swim by and 2 water spouts in the distance. Normally, there's dolphins swimming around out here, but I haven't seen any yet. I'll be keeping an eye out for them.

Now, I don't want you to get the wrong impression and think we're roughing it out here. Right now, I have a pot of chili I just made on the stove, there's banana bread baking in the oven, there's ice in the ice maker, hot water in the tank, and tunes blasting through the stereo. All that, and I am twisting in the breeze with the water gently lapping the side of the boat and a panoramic view of the harbor. Life really is a ball!