Though October brought little progress on getting the LiveMore ready for our March departure, much progress was made in getting our hearts and minds in the right place for the adventure ahead. Many of the expectations we had for our year of preparations did not pan out. Some things we thought were settled have had to be reworked, we have not yet mastered all the skills we thought we would have mastered by now (mostly me), and the LiveMore remains on the hard as we reprioritize maintenance and repairs. At the same time, our marriage has been strengthened as we have built improved skills of patience, listening, negotiation and compromise. And we have not even left yet! These things are more important than the other stuff.
Our perceptions of needs have changed as we begin to feel the freedom of less. It’s compounding and I feel like it has become much easier to let go of possessions. We are rethinking the things we put on the LiveMore for America’s Great Loop. The advice from fellow Loopers is that once you decide which clothes to take on the Loop, cut the pile in half. Then half it again. I see why that is valuable advice. I have always packed too much. In fact, some have said that when I arrive, it looks like a hurricane just blew through. I have laughed off those comments all my life. Then I spend half of my time distracted from my visit looking for things because I brought too much. I’ve usually forgotten something too. A light bulb has finally gone off, and I see now how surrounding myself with so much stuff detracts from my joy and it detracts from the joy the people around me can have. I’ve integrated this philosophy into visits with my grandchildren also. Instead of running off to the craft store to find a project or taking them somewhere, we are spending more time at home and making crafts from the supplies already here or from things we can find in the yard. They did not rebel, in fact, they were very happy to express their creativity in ideas of what to make and our time together is enriched.
Though we had winds from Hurricane Isaias, it has been a calm hurricane season in the southeast this year and for that we are grateful. The LiveMore was hauled out to refresh a couple spots of bottom paint and install new zincs. The mast was repaired, repainted and is back on the flybridge! The Dinghy Butler Davit system has been ordered, which we will pick up in Maine while visiting family in New York. This will be our last time in Maine before the big adventure begins! Work is planned to get the Dinghy Butler installed, the bow thruster and anchor windlass system replaced, and the new mattress in the coming months. I am still confident in our targeted departure date.
Though we had winds from Hurricane Isaias, it has been a calm hurricane season in the southeast this year and for that we are grateful. The LiveMore was hauled out to refresh a couple spots of bottom paint and install new zincs. The mast was repaired, repainted and is back on the flybridge! The Dinghy Butler Davit system has been ordered, which we will pick up in Maine while visiting family in New York. This will be our last time in Maine before the big adventure begins! Work is planned to get the Dinghy Butler installed, the bow thruster and anchor windlass system replaced, and the new mattress in the coming months. I am still confident in our targeted departure date.
We caught up with good friends for fun visits and spent time with Dad and our grandchildren. We found the trolls in Raleigh. The weather this month was phenomenal except we need more rain. We breathed a sigh of relief after the biopsies came back clear following Larry’s surgery. We made some big decisions to shed some assets after revisiting our financial plans and priorities. Taking time to be very intentional is giving us a lot of peace about the journey ahead. Our youngest children made big moves this month. One to a new apartment in Rochester, NY and one moving from North Carolina to Maine! We found time for early voting. It was a busy month at work, but we made good progress on critical projects and setting the stage for Larry’s retirement next year and my plan to reduce my hours to allow time for getting underway and docking each day. The next month will continue to be busy for our work, but I look forward to a little downtime for my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving!
Until next time,
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