This Just In: Snowy Winter Predicted

No, I didn't research the truth of this map. I found it on Facebook and that's really all I needed to view to know that this decision of mine is fraught with sloppy planning. I know that moving onto the boat is an adventure. I know that the commute is going to be horrific. I know that I will love my future house's bathroom so much that I just might host dinner parties in it for years to come. I get all that and I am okay with all of that.

However, I teach in a county of Virginia where snow days can be called for just the threat of snow. We get wicked ice storms that no one can drive on, but folks out of the area don't really get that. Even the president has mocked us for our lack of grit. The new schedule rolled out last year allows for 13 snow days with no repercussions. We used all or nearly all of those 13 days last year and we were happy. That was when I lived relatively close to my school. What happens now? From last year and Kurt's explanations, I know that Southern Maryland has it's own microclimate and snow is often chased away by the Bay. That will mean that he'll likely go to work on days when I get to do the snow day dance. But I also know from 20+ years of experience with my county that sometimes snow days aren't called until the teachers actually arrive at school. That means a really long and snowy drive back to the boat. Or dragging out the cot from the back of the car and sleeping in the classroom without tripping the motion sensors...

I'm not complaining. It just occurs to me that I'll need to create a rich folder marked "Snow Day Sub" filled with random and rigorous work for my sixth graders on days that I don't trust the callers of the snow days. Being at this job so long has built me up quite a bank of leave. It also occurs to me that I'll be shopping for some really comfy and stylish boots that will get me carefully on and off the finger pier no matter the weather. Or now that I have the bathroom issue all worked out, I may not have to leave for days! But cozy, new boots are a definite necessity.

Carry on. Panic has subsided.

Meet Miss Kitty

Commute Trial and Brilliant Yoga Solution

My school is about 65 miles away from Kurt's boat via roads. If I was a crow it'd be kind just across the Pax River and then a quick skip across the Potomac. I am not a crow, nor am I a monarch butterfly. So Wednesday just after the last student walked out the door, I walked quickly to my car and took off. Traffic hadn't started building up until I was in the great state of Maryland. Long and short I was to the boat in 2 hours. Urgh. No energy left to grade the math tests, good to know. I actually never had any energy ever to grade math tests at home. But it was good to have dinner with Kurt. We agreed he'll have dinner on the table for me every night starting December 1! With the new appliances going in it shouldn't be trouble. And since it will be dark before I really even leave school the commute won't feel like I am wasting daylight hours. Keep on the sunny side!

Bedtime was early as the alarm goes off at 5:00. Since the electric sockets are all in the main cabin, there is no snoozing. How to get up and out early is going to take serious practice. But I was on the road by 5:30 and the Starbucks in Lusby opens at 5:00! So with my venti Americano and chocolate croissant (food really is love!) I was off in the dark with my new podcast - Tell the Bartender. My usual On Being podcast is far too peaceful to keep me moving.

My big trouble to ponder on this drive what how I am going to keep my body from falling apart with so much driving and early dark. I used to be a great yoga student and still have some muscle memory, so it's my go to when my body really hurts. But where, oh, where does one roll out a mat and move on a 34' sail boat? Ha! One waits till one gets to school and sneaks in some stretching in the back corner before anyone arrives. Brilliant! Maybe someone at school would want to join me if I let out the secret.

So the drive will be dreadful, but after I run through all the 5 seasons of Bartender, there are multiple seasons of The Actors' Grind! Next problem to solve is wardrobe. Professional clothes that don't need to be washed a lot (I not even going there - a laundromat...) and don't take up much room. At least we'll have good food.

Renovations

Kurt says:

With Alison moving to the boat in a month I have to finish a whole lot of projects I started. I just finished pulling all the LP gas appliances from the galley and replacing them with electric alternatives. Gas scares me. My LP system has a leak in it somewhere so I have never used it. With Alison coming aboard it would be nice to be able to cook things other than pasta and soup. Food is love, so says Alison. I added a second 30 amp input and a new distribution panel with three circuits -- one for the convection oven, one for the microwave and another for an outlet. We will use a portable induction stovetop for our boiling and frying needs.

Before

Next on the list is repairing some of the leaks that I have lived with for the past four years. Condensation will be a major problem in the winter and I would like to limit the amount of moisture in teh boat as best I can. After that I will continue to remove the nasty old carpet that lines the hull and replace it with cedar slats. There are a couple of shelves to add and maybe a cabinet or two for good measure ... and extra storage.

I also have to finish replacing the oil pump on the engine so I can get rid of all the engine parts that are scattered about. Once the engine is running our alternative power source will be complete.

Almost Done. Just some trim work.

Paper and Poop: Discoveries on Columbus Day

Paper

No school today, so I had time to purge more! What rule do YOU follow about saving paperwork, especially tax papers? I have always done the 7 year deal, but never in my entire adult life has anyone every asked for saved papers. Now most everything is online, so shredder shredded and all I have to take onto the boat is one accordion folder of most important papers. Kurt will be shocked that I had the fortitude just as he was surprised that I transferred all my addresses from my address book into my phone. Yup, threw away the address book. Who really cares? Just feel a bit lighter now.

Poop

I really don't care that much about stuff. Since I sold the house where I raised my kids, I have moved twice significantly purging each time. I am really down to the most essential furniture and stuff. Tchotkes aren't my thing and I really have no grand art or wine collection. So don't listen to Kurt when he says I love my stuff.  Most of it will be just fine in storage without me. 

The biggest worry of mine has everything to do with where I will poop when the air temps freeze the water lines. Since I have known Kurt, this has  been a serious issue even without freezing temps. The bed sits on top of the poop tank and it can get mighty stinky. Plus I'm a girl who prefers her privacy before, during and after doing my duty. We call it the "shy sphincter" and this makes me extraordinarily grateful to return to my house with four walls and a toilet that flushes with city water. Kurt's personal solution is to use the portable toilet just a short walk from the boat. No thanks. Seriously, so stop asking. My solution has been to use the bath house provided by the marina. And since I'm really only there on the weekends, it hasn't been that much of a problem. Not so much when there's ice on the dock or it's late at night/early in the morning. Oh, and the marina closes the nearby bath house, which extends this leisurely walk by at least 15 minutes, my rough estimate.

The internet has a solution! It's called GO Anywhere Toilet Kit, formerly known as WAG bag. Why have I never heard of this? I grew up camping and camped with kids for years. Never once do I remember having such a convenient solution to far away bath houses or emergency potty needs. The product is sold all over the internet, but the cheapest so far is here.  You are very welcome. So as soon as my first order arrives, I may just move up the move in date. Yes, I will probably set up a 5 gallon bucket in the "head" and grab the bag in the morning as I shuffle out to work. I hope all my other worries get solved this easily!

The Purge Begins

Alison says:

In order for me to do this live on a boat thing, I need to decide what comes with me and what goes into storage. Yesterday I shred all my tax documents from before 2008. Yay! The rest goes into storage.  All my summer clothes are in three boxes in order of importance for collecting them out of storage once it gets hot again. Good clothes that fit now, box #1, great clothes that are too snug, box #2. Surely I'll lose weight between now and then.  Now I need to clear out my desk. Will I need stationery? a stapler? Oh, I'll need to go through the under bed boxes. Surely I won't need to bring wrapping paper, but is it worth hauling to storage? Which leads to my jewelry and make up. What if I have an audition that requires me to be fully camera ready? Definitely all the make up. And only a few bulky necklaces. No more than 5. The rest I'll purge? Maybe store.

Time for a nap.

Kurt says:

I too must purge stuff in order to make room for Alison. I went through a major purge when I first moved aboard almost a decade ago. For the most part it was not difficult as I am not attached to stuff, it is just stuff. I was, however, very attached to my library. I had collected almost 2500 titles on all subjects that were of interest to me --  philosophy, literature, science, nature. I had to give them all away. That was hard. I now have a kindle which takes up much less space and will, no doubt, eventually be as comprehensive as my old book library was.

My purge now will be simple. Mostly there is stuff that is associated with the boat itself that must be removed.