For the past few weeks Ken and I have been busy with life ... you know, working to pay the bills, putting out fires (not literally, thank goodness), running errands, and fulfilling obligations. We feel like hamsters on a treadmill - always running but not getting anywhere!
Ken has picked up some remodeling jobs recently that have not only kept him busy during the week, but the weekends as well. When he does have that one day off, he's exhausted and his body needs a break from the physical work that he's done for so long. Don't get me wrong, we're thankful for the work! Especially since I haven't been contributing to our income lately. I'm at the real estate office every day but the phone is not ringing! My hopes of supplementing our income with a substitute teacher position have not worked out either. School started over a month ago and I've only been called twice. Looks like I need another plan!
Anyway, I digress. Time is just flying by and we feel like we haven't gotten in as much sailing practice and boat work in as we would have liked to by now. Also, a big obstacle in our cruising plan is our house. We're trying to sell it, but also realize that there are a lot of little projects that need to be done on our house to help it sell. We purchased the house after Hurricane Katrina, with nothing in it but concrete floors and fresh sheetrock. The house, along with every single house in the subdivision, had flooded during the hurricane. We moved into the house with mattresses on the concrete floors and have slowly renovated it. So, as if we haven't had enough on our plate, we not only have a long list of "to-do's" for our sailboat, but we now have a long list for our house. We realize that we need to make the house list a priority if we hope to sell it no later than the Spring of 2011 and keep our plan.
So, the ancticipation leads to frustration! Have I mentioned lately that we can not wait to simplify our lives and start cruising! The thought of how much simpler our lives will be compared to what it is now really makes us antsy. However, it also keeps us motivated and focused. We get a little overwhelmed, but we know this is a stepping stone to our cruising future and we will get through it. As another blogger recently said, we also realize that we need to enjoy today, and not let it pass us by because we're only thinking of the future. So, we are grateful that we already live on the water and have a wonderful family. In fact, on Ken's day off this past weekend we drove 1.5 hours to see our daughter at LSU and tailgate for the football game. I won't comment on the crazy game, but we did win and really enjoyed seeing our daughter. Overall, life is challenging but good. Okay, I've now "vented" and feel a little better. Thanks for listening, or reading I should say! The West Marine "swap meet" is this coming weekend so we're hoping for a good find. Also, the Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival is coming up soon and that's always a great time. We're supposed to meet one of our site followers and fellow sailors at the festival so we're really looking forward to that.
Hasta luego ... until then. Mid-Life Cruising!
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6 comments:
As much as the day to day stuff can get you down, realize that it is worth it! Keep on plugging away and I'm sure you'll make it happen.
Even though you have a goal, remember that trying to attain that goal can just as much fun as achieving it! When someday you look back on the huge amount of work that you put into your boat, those will be your good old days!
BTW, this past weekend we too drove an hour and a half to tailgate at my daughter's soccer game and will be doing it again this weekend! Only it's a lot colder here!
Thanks Mike and Laura! We're going to make it happen, I just wish it was yesterday. Both of you have proven that it's possible.
Laura, have fun at the game this weekend! I used to play soccer as a kid and loved it. I tried to get my daughter to play but she wasn't interested.
Wow, you do have a lot on your plate! I know the feeling well, so know that you're not alone, and that its all good, even the crappy stuff, can be good, if you make it so.
Travis & Maggie ... We know ya'll feel our pain! We'll all look back at these times and know it was worth it 'cause we're floating in the tropics!
Cheryl, you always do such a good job with your posts. You make them very interesting to me, even though I'm not a "cruiser". You are very creative....that's what I like! Also, you have a quiet yet keen sense of humor.
I get so many compliments on the site you designed for me. Your creativity as well as efficiency are quite well displayed in the design of my site. Thanks so much for all you did to get me started in cyberspace as a blogger!!!
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