Winter time dreamin'

Here I sit by the water with a nice breeze and 75 degree temperatures. I suppose that calling this blog, "Winter time dreamin'" could be called into question by some up North, but it is winter here in Florida which means that I am anchored to home and school. While I am happy to have a job doing something that I am very good at doing, I cannot help but dream about the long, hot days of summer where there is nothing but endless adventure.

Don't get me wrong, life here in Punta Gorda is quite lovely with bike rides to see friends, endless waterfront restaurants, sunset sails and dockside fires on a chilly evening, but here is also work responsibilities, a house to keep clean, bills to pay, running hither tither and yon and basically living on caffeine and a prayer to get me through long work days. Our rigging business is in full swing which means Ray is gone from early morning until way after the sun has begun to set. We try to pack in as much as humanly possible on Saturday and Sunday, but two days are just never enough.

When I met Ray back in 2003, I did not really know what adventure and fun was all about. My life seemed like an endless, snowy winter. Other than the two bright days when my little girls were born, a dreary sunless sky filled the years of my life.

All of that changed when I met Ray. I started kayaking almost daily, became an assistant kayak instructor, hiked numerous mountain trails, discovered ruins on islands, learned to backcounty camp, helped run a successful outfitter business, kayaked around the Keys, moved with Ray and our girls to Florida and basically found my endless summer!!    

So here I sit on this warm winter day, dreaming!! Not of quitting my job, selling everything and going...... but keeping my job, keeping my home and going!! For now, I will look forward to our weekend bike rides, art shows, dinghy rides around the harbor, restaurant hopping, visiting with friends, flying on a weekend get-a-way and taking in each and every moment that we are given. Ray and I love to sit by the water and plan our summer sails too.


We have been so blessed to have family and friends fly down to the Exumas to sail along with us and look forward to that again this year. In 2013 and 2016, my sister, Angie and brother-in-law Andy joined in our crazy adventures. My friend Robin, who I am pretty sure is part vampire, part snowman, came down in 2015 to join us even though it is way up in the 90s most of the days! She survived and got to snorkel and explore some pretty amazing places. Dean, my brother and Amy, my sister-in-law flew into Staniel Cay this past summer. We snorkeled, swam with sharks, (not by choice) and made so many wonderful memories. Our kids, Keegan, Lauren, Rachel and Hannah were able to come in 2013 and Tanner made it in 2010. He and Kelsey are due for a trip. Maybe next year when our little Primrose turns 1... :)

After all, as Jimmy Buffet said so eloquently, any blessing becomes a curse, if you keep it to yourself!  I have, since 2003, felt so very blessed. I know that it was me who had to finally say, "ENOUGH!" to the dark night and let the sunshine come through, but it also helped that I found Ray. He shares my passion for adventure, exploring, traveling and finding happiness in the little everyday things as well as the extravagant.

This coming June, we will throw off the dock lines and head NuTrix back to the Bahamas. I cannot wait to provision, clean, pack, plan and gooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!! We always have such an amazing time, meet new friends, reconnect with old friends, get into harrowing danger, somehow survive and come back for more. We plan to sail for the Keys, then jump across to Bimini. From there, we make the long journey to our beloved Exuma islands. The water is clear, the people are friendly and there is always something wonderful with the dawn of the new day.
From snorkeling caves, to celebrating Independence with the Bahamians on July 10th, we live each day cherishing each other and holding on to the memories that travel with us. Soon come, Mon, soon come!!

 Life happens whether you are enjoying it or not. You can hold onto the darkness, doubt, fear and anxiety, or you can let all of that go and find your happy place in this world. I am not waiting until I can afford to quit my job and go. I am not waiting until I am an experienced sailor. I am not waiting until I can fit into a size 6 bathing suit. I am not waiting for anything, because life does not wait. It keeps on going and before you know it, you are out of time. I quit waiting and started enjoying. Each day, I wake up to the man I love and I am thankful. I go to my job and do my best there and then share my evenings with Ray, making memories. I plan weekends away to visit my children and grandchildren, I make lunch dates with my friends, We take out our boat just to watch the sunset. And yes, we go on a long summer sail. Life is all about adventure and making as many memories as we can, before we have to say good-bye. I hope that we have many more years to fill up our passport, but I am not taking any chances. If you want to see us, you best call first, because there is so much to do and Ray and I are planning to do it all for as long as we can.