Month: November 2018

As Seen On TV

And by that, I mean MY BOOK WAS ON TV!! It was featured in a holiday gift guide on the show Good Day Sacramento. Somebody pinch me!

tv
They are talking about Cloaked! 

Here’s the segment:

https://gooddaysacramento.cbslocal.com/video/3985330-out-of-the-box-gift-ideas/

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll just be here on my boat. Freaking out.

Love,

Taylor (and my greatest supporters, Conor and W)

Proud Fair-weather Sailors

We are fair-weather sailors and not ashamed to admit it. Though one day we aspire to be salty and experienced in all conditions, now is not the time to be reckless. We have a baby on board. Enough said.

I will admit it can be frustrating. In order for us to take the boat out, we have to work around nap schedules, military life, and weather windows. Basically, we have to sail on weekends, with decent temperatures, no storms or high winds in the 12-hour forecast, and be back at the dock in time for baby bedtime routine. This perfection only occurs about once or twice per month, sadly.

Before W came around, “good enough” conditions were just fine. It was a thrill to handle the unexpected, and learn on our toes. Now, it just isn’t worth sacrificing our family happiness to push ourselves to the limit on the boat. Stressed out Mama=stressed out baby, and that means lots of screaming. That is not my idea of quality family time!

So for now we are making the most of our easy sailing days, and focusing on making positive memories with our boat baby. We had an absolutely wonderful, easy sailing day this weekend with some good friends. Sunny, 7 mph winds, and 68 degrees. Conor and I actually got a few pictures together! Can you believe it’s November?

I’m hoping this won’t be our last sail of the season, but I have to accept that it may well be. Last year, temperatures dropped dramatically after Thanksgiving. If we are lucky enough to have good weather for the next few weeks, we will jump on our chance. But if there is any doubt…well, we still have springtime sailing to look forward to!

Love,

Taylor, Conor, and W

Unspoken Rules of Marina Liveaboards

We are SO lucky to be surrounded by conscientious and considerate boaters. Because our facilities at Gottschalk are shared by everyone with a slip, having kind liveaboard neighbors is a must. It is very different from having neighbors in an apartment or house! Here are some of the unspoken ‘rules’ of Gottschalk Marina that everyone seems to abide by. They make for a happy environment and a community that we are proud to be a part of.

  1. If you’re doing laundry, set a timer. We only have one working washer and dryer right now, so it is extra important to free up the machines for the next person to use ASAP! I try to work around W’s nap schedule so I don’t leave clothes for too long while we are stuck on the boat.
  2. Everyone takes their bagged trash all the way out to the dumpster in the parking lot. There is a small trashcan by the bathrooms, but we all go the extra mile to get it off the docks.
  3. Leave the bathroom nicer than when you arrived. Remarkably, there are very few bathroom complications for the amount of people sharing two bathrooms. I know I always close the shower curtain so it can dry, clean my hair out of the drain, replace the toilet paper, etc. All these little things take just a few seconds, but when everyone does them, they stay clean!
  4. Return the dock carts to the front when you are done using them. There are only two, so there needs to be at least one available for people hauling groceries, laundry, supplies, and more. I know I appreciate it because I already have my hands full with a baby!
  5. Rinse the pumpout caddy when you are done using it. Enough said.
  6. Always request permission to come aboard someone’s boat. Even if the part you’re stepping onto is technically outside, you are still basically stepping into someone’s living room uninvited if you don’t ask. As liveaboards, our boat is our home. I wouldn’t open your front door and barge in.

Anything you were surprised by? What are the ‘rules’ of your neighborhood or marina? Post questions or comments below!

Love,

Taylor, Conor, and W

aerial
Just the cutest, cleanest little marina you ever did see!

 

Goodbye Summer, Hello Winter

I’m convinced that North Carolina only has two seasons: blazing hot and freezing cold. There is no in between. We seem to skip over fall and spring, leaving little time to say goodbye to summer before we are swallowed up by winter. To acknowledge this abrupt change, here is a list of some things I’ll miss, and what I’m looking forward to in the months to come.

Adios to:

  • shirtless boat work
  • the smell of sunscreen
  • coolers full of beer
  • long, hot dock walks
  • the sudden crack of lightning
  • cockpit sunsets
  • grilling
  • chirping crickets
  • humidity sticking to skin
  • fair-weather sailing
  • flip flop tan lines
  • a busy marina
  • cold showers

Can’t wait for:

  • comfort food
  • chilly nights wrapped in blankets
  • scented candles
  • holiday decorations
  • wine
  • sweaters and scarves
  • W’s first snow
  • coffee in the cockpit
  • sailing on an empty river
  • 4:00 moon rise
  • Conor’s holiday leave
  • seeing family
  • curling up by the heater with a good book

What are you sad to say goodbye to? What are you excited for?

Love,

Taylor, Conor, and W

bye summer