What It Means to Be a Grandparent

To be a grandparent is to love all over again. But softer this time. Slower. Wiser. With eyes that know how fast it all goes.

It’s holding tiny hands with fingers that once zipped coats and wiped tears from the faces of their parents.

It’s retelling the same story for the fiftieth time because the way their eyes light up is worth every word.

It’s snacks in your purse, just in case.

It’s showing up early to sit in the front row of a game you still don’t understand, but you know how to clap the loudest.

It’s saying yes to one more cookie, one more book, one more minute before bed because now you know how precious one more truly is.

It’s watching your child become a parent and silently praying over them the way you once did at 2 am when their fever wouldn’t break.

It’s a second chance at the slow mornings you once rushed through. At the giggles you were too tired to chase. At the magic you now refuse to miss.

To be a grandparent is to carry history in your hands and plant wonder in theirs. It’s a bridge between where they come from and where they’re going.

It’s not just love, it’s legacy wrapped in lullabies. And it’s the greatest honor of all.

The Older I Get

The older I get

The more I think

You only get a minute, better live while you're in it

'Cause it's gone in a blink

And the older I get

The truer it is

It's the people you love, not the money and stuff

That makes you rich.

And if they found a fountain of youth

I wouldn't drink a drop and that's the truth

Funny how it feels I'm just getting to my best years yet.

The older I get

The fewer friends I have

But you don't need a lot when the ones that you got

Have always got your back

And the older I get

The better I am

At knowing when to give

And when to just not give a damn.

And if they found a fountain of youth

I wouldn't drink a drop and that's the truth

Funny how it feels I'm just getting to my best years yet.

The older I get

And I don't mind all the lines

From all the times I've laughed and cried

Souvenirs and little signs of the life I've lived.

The older I get

The longer I pray

I don't know why, I guess that I've

Got more to say

And the older I get

The more thankful I feel

For the life I've had and all the life I'm living still.

by Alan Jackson

Travel

I read this online and it hit me as being so true that I just had to share it. I find it's easy to tell when visiting with people who have traveled and who haven't. It was written by Gio Evan, an Italian poet and songwriter.

Try to travel, otherwise you may become racist, and you may end up believing that your skin is the only one to be right, that your language is the most romantic and that you were the first to be the first.

Travel, because if you don't travel then your thoughts won’t be strengthened or filled with ideas. Your dreams will be born with fragile legs and then you end up believing in tv-shows, and in those who invent enemies that fit perfectly with your nightmares to make you live in terror.

Travel, because travel teaches us to say good morning to everyone regardless of which sun we come from. Travel, because travel teaches us to say goodnight to everyone regardless of the darkness that we carry inside

Travel, because traveling teaches us to resist, not to depend, to accept others, not just for who they are but also for what they can never be. To know what we are capable of and to feel part of a family beyond borders, beyond traditions and culture. Traveling teaches us to go beyond.

Travel, otherwise you end up believing that you are made only to live with a single thought and instead within you there are wonderful landscapes yet to visit.

It's a Way of Life Not a Vacation

"It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own, but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude" -Ralph Waldo Emerson

We love the life we're living and many think it's a perpetual vacation. I'll let you in on a little secret...living on our boat isn't like being on vacation. We live on our own boat, not a cruise ship with a full staff. We still have to do maintenance on our home(s), pay bills, get prescriptions filled and make doctor appointments. Just to name a few of the normal life things that have to get done. Everything we do is done in a very small space...less than 600 square feet, which includes our outside space. We have no washer and dryer, no dishwasher, our refrigerator is dorm size with little space for frozen food, our shower is 3'x2' and we have no comfortable furniture to relax on. Are you ready to join our crew yet?

To cook we have to go up to the flybridge and turn the propane on and off (rain or shine), the AC won't keep up if we use the oven or even the stove in the galley on hot days, so a lot of cooking during the summer is done completely on the grill. Some of our favorite things can't be fixed during the summer.

Storage space is limited. We don't have a shop or garage for tools, spare parts or oil for the boat. All that shares space with food, dishes, pots and pans, towels and office supplies...four seasons of clothing for the two of us is kept in one hanging locker and eight drawers. We have to move the boat every 2-3 weeks for a pump out, we have to fill our water tanks each week and we have to carry groceries and everything else we have from our car to the boat, which is about a block away. Taking the trash out also means walking a block to the dumpster and a block back. Do I have any volunteers to join our vacation yet?

But hey we really can't complain, while we are in New York we live in a State Park. The view is wonderful and the temperature is amazing. Plus there are tons of things to do close by, so we don't have to stay in our small space all day.

Allen H. Treman State Marine Park...our summer home. (Photo by Julie Duffy)

Rockport Harbor...our winter home. (Photo by John Martell)

Fun Facts about the 4th of July/Independence Day

• Congress made Independence Day an official unpaid holiday for federal employees in 1870. In 1938, Congress changed Independence Day to a paid federal holiday.
• Only John Hancock actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. All the others signed later.
• The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 men from 13 colonies.
• The average age of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence was 45. The youngest was Thomas Lynch, Jr. (27) of South Carolina. The oldest was Benjamin Franklin (70) of Pennsylvania. The lead author of The Declaration, Thomas Jefferson, was 33.
• One out of eight signers of the Declaration of Independence were educated at Harvard (7 total).
• The only two signers of the Declaration of Independence who later served as President of the United States were John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
• The stars on the original American flag were in a circle so all the Colonies would appear equal.
• The first Independence Day celebration took place in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776. This was also the day that the Declaration of Independence was first read in public after people were summoned by the ringing of the Liberty Bell.
• The White House held its first 4th July party in 1801.
• President John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe all died on the Fourth. Adams and Jefferson died on the same day within hours of each other in 1826.
• Benjamin Franklin proposed the turkey as the national bird but was overruled by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who recommended the bald eagle.
• In 1776, there were 2.5 million people living in the new nation. Today the population of the U.S.A. is 328 million.
• Fifty-nine places in the U.S. contain the word “liberty” in their name. Pennsylvania, with 11, has more of these places than any other state.  
• The most common patriotic-sounding word used within place names is “union” with 136. Pennsylvania, with 33, has more of these places than any other state. Other words most commonly used in place names are Washington (127), Franklin (118), Jackson (96) and Lincoln (95).
• Fireworks are part of the tradition of celebrating this national holiday. The U.S. imported $227.3 million worth of fireworks from China in 2012.
• Barbecue is also big on Independence Day. Approximately 150 million hot dogs and 700 million pounds of chicken are consumed on this day.
• Every 4th of July the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is tapped (not actually rung) thirteen times in honor of the original thirteen colonies.
• The tune of the National Anthem was originally used as an English drinking song called “to Anacreon in Heaven.” The words have nothing to do with consumption of alcohol but the “melody that Francis Key had in mind when he wrote those words did originate decades earlier as the melody for a song that praised of wine."

 Liberty Bell

Why Living on a Boat is Better than Living in a House

Boat Nut: If you are one, there is no explanation necessary. If you aren’t one, there is no explanation possible.

Here are just a few benefits to living aboard full time instead of living in a house. 

1. You Can Move Your Boat & Live Anywhere.

If and when you want to move there's no getting the house ready to sell, listing it, showing it and looking for a new house…you simply untie the lines and move your home to a new location.

2. People Around You Pay Millions For Your View.

In a marina you have waterfront property for a fraction of the cost that homeowners in the same area are paying. In many cases, the view from the marina is even better.

3. The Cost Of Living On A Boat In A Marina Can Be Much Lower.

Boat owners in a marina pay a monthly rent for the boat slip. Most marina's will offer a large discount for taking out a long-term contract (6 months or more). Other costs can include electricity, insurance and a liveaboard fee...no property tax.

4. There Is Often A Wonderful Liveaboard Community.

The proximity of the boats and the need to walk the docks to get out of the marina gives you time to chat with your neighbors. If someone has an issue, everyone helps out and they keep an eye out for everyone else. The community is close knit and enjoy getting together for a chat and drink along the dock or aboard a boat in the evenings. It's easy to make friends in a marina.

5. Full-time Liveaboards Have Common Values.

Liveaboards all have a love for the water, most are interested in conservation, green technology and taking care of the planet. They value strong friendships and work very hard to make others feel welcomed and wanted. Conversations are more apt to be about boat projects, cruising destinations and fishing than current news topics.

6. Easy To Meet New Friends.

Marinas have the usual liveaboards and long-term tenants but they also have transients that come and go. One week you might meet an interesting couple who are migrating south for the winter and next week you could meet a sailor who has circumnavigated the world. Meeting these people is easy while you help them with their lines or share information on the area. Boaters become friends quickly and you can feel like you've known them forever, even after just a few days.

7. Keeping Up With The Jones Isn’t A Thing.

Due to the lifestyle, the typical person that lives on a boat is not interested in material possessions. They would celebrate with a neighbor who bought a new tender, rather than be jealous.

8. Less Space = Less Crap.

A reduction in space means a reduction in stuff that's a reward in its own right. On a boat, you only keep what you need. When something is no longer useful you pass it on.

9. Boaters Are Okay In A Flood.

You never have to worry about flooding, your house just rises with the tide. You can also move your home in the case of a hurricane...not true of a house.

10. Can’t Beat The Wildlife.

Besides the normal pets that people have, your neighborhood may also have dolphins, pelicans, sea birds, alligators, otters, seals and a variety of other beautiful creatures that you don’t find on land.

11. Cleaning Is Drastically Reduced.

Cleaning the whole boat takes a lot less time than cleaning a house and there’s no lawn to mow.

12. Time To Sell – Huge Marketplace Available.

When you want to sell your boat you’re not limited to selling it in your local area. Your target market can include the whole world.

Nomads

“A man practices the art of adventure when he breaks the chain of routine and renews his life through reading new books, traveling to new places, making new friends, taking up new hobbies and adopting new viewpoints.” – Wilfred Peterson

We consider ourselves cruisers, well maybe more as explorers and adventurers now that we have been in Ithaca so long. Nomads at heart. A nomad is defined as a member of a community that has no permanent home, one that moves about from place to place, usually seasonally and often following a traditional route according to the state of the pasturage or food supply. That definition seems to fit the cruising community and our way of life. We move from place to place…not for the food supply though, but for the quest to stay in the 70-80º temperature range.

Most people feel at home when they are near their residence. Explorers feel most at home when they are someplace they've never been before. Nomads feel more at home along the path they follow…returning to places year after year. Each of these places begins to feel like home to them. This is true for us. The coast of Texas will always be home to us. It’s where we grew up, it’s where we met, it’s where we began our love for boating, it’s where a lot of our family is and it’s the place that holds wonderful memories of the past. We have sold our home and feel more like the nomads that call many places their home or the explorers who long to discover new places. The yearning for new adventure is strong in both of us and we enjoy answering its call. 

The Pearl's travels since 2011

The places we have gone since we have been in Ithaca.

May 13 - Summer Updates

“Home should be an anchor, a port in a storm, a refuge, a happy place in which to dwell, a place where we are loved and where we can love.” –Marvin J. Ashton

This is the first May in ten years that we’re still in Texas. It starts to get hot in Texas around Mother's Day...the temperature rises and the humidity becomes almost unbearable. That’s why we’re usually gone by now, but Covid 19 has changed the world and we’re on hold. We aren’t sure if we’ll even be able to return to The Pearl this season. 

Our marina is a New York State Park and they’re opening the marina on May 15, but so far they aren’t letting anyone spend the night on their vessels. It really doesn’t make sense...we can be there during the day, social distancing from others of course, but we can’t sleep on our boats. I’m sure they’re just following the guidelines for camping at other state parks...no camping...no sleeping on your boats. If the policy doesn’t change early in June...we won’t return this summer.

We have a few other options...none of them are ideal, so we’re still looking, planning and waiting. The boat is stuck on the lake, because the Erie Canal probably won't open in its entirety this season. I’m beginning to miss the open sea and the freedom that it brings.

We have been staying in mostly, since March 14...no dining out, no meals brought in, no shopping, no haircuts and no interaction with other people...except from afar or online. Not hard for us, we have plenty to do at our home. Stan has finished lots of projects that we have put off for years. Me on the other hand...not as energetic. The last few weeks we've visited our Texas grands, no hugs, but playing on the driveway and taking walks. This past weekend we actually acted like the world had returned to normal and had a wonderful Mother’s Day with them.

I saw this somewhere online and wanted to share it with my readers. I really like the last line.

The Day the World Went Crazy 
We fell asleep in one world, and woke up in another. Suddenly Disney is out of magic, Paris is no longer romantic, New York doesn't stand up anymore, the Chinese wall is no longer a fortress, and Mecca is empty. Hugs & kisses suddenly become weapons, and not visiting parents & friends becomes an act of love. Suddenly you realize that power, beauty & money are worthless, and can't get you the oxygen you're fighting for.

The world continues its life and it is beautiful. It only puts humans in cages. I think it's sending us a message: "You are not necessary. The air, earth, water and sky without you are fine. When you come back, remember that you are my guests. Not my masters."

We have a lot of good friends in New York and they're keeping an eye on our Pearl as she patiently awaits our return.

We really wouldn't want to be in Ithaca right now...the weather hasn't been very nice. Snowstorms and lots of rain. I sure hope June brings us better news and better weather for all our New York friends.

A friend sent me this picture last night (5/12) still snowing in upstate NY.

Our marina...almost under water.

Clearing Customs with CBP ROAM App

“Go, fly, roam, travel, voyage, explore, journey, discover, adventure.”

I didn’t take the time to report on the process of our check in when we returned to the U.S. after our visit to the Thousand Islands and Canada. Years ago while we were in Florida we went through the process and interview to acquire our Small Vessel Reporting System numbers. For years this was the quickest process for return to the U.S. from a foreign port, but the U.S. Customs and Border Protection has made it even easier now with their new CBP ROAM (Reporting Offsite Arrival-Mobile) app. As soon as we anchored in U.S. waters and had data on our phones, I reported our return through the app...no need to go ashore and no inspection. If you're docking at a marina, you can either use the app on your phone or check in via one of the CBP computers located at the marina. I believe most phones have been removed and there are now signs telling boaters to use the ROAM app.

The app is free and can be downloaded on iOS or Android. Follow the prompts to set it up your account. You’ll need your login.gov credentials or you can make a new account (a free login.gov account is required). 

Once you’re in the app, input the information for your boat under “Modes of Travel” 

and the info for the people who are traveling with you under “Travelers”. The app can scan a passport or NEXUS card and populate the appropriate fields automatically. You’ll also be required to upload a picture of your travel document. 

The process of putting in our info took a little time, so I suggest you download the app and fill out the info before you leave.

When you’ve crossed the border into the U.S. click on “Report Arrival”...don’t try to report early, the app makes use of your smartphone’s GPS. Select the boat, select the passengers and answer a few questions. You’ll either be approved for entry and notified by email/text/push notification or a CBP officer will request to begin a video chat. Our data was a little spotty when we checked in and I didn't notice till later that they had tried to do a video chat...not a problem, they sent me an email approving our arrival. From reports that I've read, if they do a video chat they can see you, but you can not see them and they may ask to look around your vessel. There’s no guarantee that you’ll be granted entrance solely from the app, they may direct you to a designated Port of Entry for an inspection. The app worked great for us and made our check in process quick and painless.

Mar. 7 - Seventh Anniversary

“To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, to gain all while you give; to roam the roads of lands remote; to travel is to live.” ―Hans Christian Andersen

Seven years ago today we pulled out of Port Lavaca on the adventure that has changed our life. We've definitely seen a lot, learned a lot, met a lot of wonderful people and enjoyed "almost" every minute of this great new life. In the past seven years we've traveled over 18,000 miles, visited over 300 towns, three countries, 22 states and provinces, stayed at over 100 different marinas and anchored in 157 different anchorages and we look forward to all the years of new adventures to come. Here's the post I made to this blog on day one of our new life. (March 7, 2011) Here's a link to our travel map. 

Mar. 7 – Matagorda, TX
Day 1 – Departure Day
Matagorda Harbor Marina

We chose this day to leave because we like the numbers….3/7/11.  Three for the three decades we have been married and the holy trinity, seven eleven…the date of our wedding, add the numbers together and you get twenty one. A very lucky number. Add those numbers together and you have the holy trinity again. So…it had to be a good day to start our new adventure.

We left Nautical Landings at seven so we could get across Matagorda Bay before the winds picked up.  Earline, Janell, Mike, Kelley and some pretty sleepy looking kids were there to see us off. It was nice to have them come to say bye and take pictures.  

We had a nice day on the water. The wind did pick up around 10:00, by then we were almost across the bay and into the protective waters of the ICW. The only new site for us today was our first lock.  Which only operates if there is a hurricane or flooding in the area…so we just drove right through.

Emma, Kaylen, Jenna and Hayden (these little guys have grown SO much)

Thanks for coming out. We really appreciated it.

Getting things ready to leave

These old Craig's List bikes were replaced in Florida, with bikes that were much better...we've been using them every day since.

Sunrise over Matagorda Bay 

The sea gulls thought we might have something for them

One of the five barges we passed today

Our first lock...we've been through 155 now

What is Traveling

“To travel is to release all the fears and doubts you pointlessly carry around with you.” —Kiana Azizian

Traveling is life. It’s experiencing the world to its fullest and putting yourself in new situations you’ve never dreamed of before. To travel is to breathe in the air of unimaginable places, taking in all the beauty the world has to offer. 

Traveling is unpredictable. It’s ending up in places you’ve never expected and meeting people you’ve never dreamt of knowing. It’s conquering your fears…trying new things. It’s limitless…infinite. Traveling is realizing the true size of this earth. It'll shrink the importance of your problems and will help you realize how insignificant your troubles truly are.  

Traveling equals freedom. Doing whatever you want entirely for yourself. It’s being disconnected from the world and completely present in the moment. It’s learning to appreciate the present, while forgiving the past and forgetting about the future. Traveling will destroy the person you used to be and help create the person you were meant to become. It’s letting go of your past and moving on.  

Traveling is like a drug, forming an addiction that controls your entire being. It'll rob you of your past life and control your future one. You'll become high off of life; causing you to crave that state of mind once you’re back at home.

Traveling is wanting to runaway…to explore new places. To travel is to wander aimlessly. It’s spontaneous trips to unforeseen destinations. It’s never being able to look at the world the same and believing everything and anything is possible. It’s taking life for everything it has to offer…breathtaking moments and unforgettable memories. It’s meeting unforgettable people who will forever change your life. It’s countless hellos and heartbreaking goodbyes.

Traveling is anything you want it to be. You create your own rules, because traveling has no rules. No time limits. No expiration dates. No commitments. It’s the act of embracing change and letting go of expectations. It’s accepting things for what they actually are…it’s chasing dreams. To travel is to live.

This Boat

This song is by Howard Livingston & Mile Marker 24, a local group we heard about while in the Keys one winter. Some people have no idea how true these lyrics are...but if you're a cruiser, liveaboard, lover of boats or someone that enjoys the simpler way of life, you'll be able to relate to this song. Stan and I truly do and it's something that's hard to explain to land based friends. "Once those sails catch the wind, you can’t turn and go back again. It’s going to set you free and you can’t go back to who you use to be."

This Boat

I knew it would happen sooner or later.

I circled the number in the Sunday paper

For that old sailboat I’d been thinking about.

Chicago winters had worn be thin.

I needed some sunshine on my skin,

So I caught the next flight heading south.

The old man handed me the keys from his weathered hand,

But he said there’s something you need to understand.

Son this boat is going to change your life,

I’m not saying it’s wrong, I’m not saying it’s right

You just need to know where you’re about to go.

Once those sails catch the wind

You can’t turn and go back again.

It’s going to set you free

And you can’t go back to who you use to be.

I slept out on the boat that night.

Sunrise never seemed so bright.

The words the old man said,

I just couldn’t get out of my head.

Son this boat is going to change your life.

I’m not saying it’s wrong, I’m not saying it’s right

You just need to know where you’re about to go.

Once those sails catch the wind

You can’t turn and go back again.

It’s going to set you free

And you can’t go back to who you use to be.

That was when I was a young man.

Now you’ll find me on an island.

I’ve got a different point of view,

And some how the old man knew.

That once those sails catch the wind.

You can’t turn and go back again.

It’s going to set you free,

And you can’t go back to who you use to be.

Texas Pearl

 The Pearl

 Wild Wind

 Straw Boss

Video of the song "This Boat" by Howard Livingston