Janice aboard Seaweed,
living the good life afloat...

So you're wondering how a woman past the half-century mark has become an Admiral, are you? Well, it all started because of my Daddy. He and Mother were at a yard sale and he found a brass plaque that said "Captain" so he promptly bought it, brought it home and bolted it to the front of his chair. Mother said nothing however she went shopping and found a brass plate, similar in design with the title "Admiral" on it. Without comment she installed hers on the chair she sat in in the deck house of our boat. Mother was smart that way.
 

And perhaps you're curious as to where the salty blood came from? Well, take a gander at one of the prettiest 40' steel sedan cruisers ever built. She was the family home for nearly 50 years and, the last I heard is awaiting a new owner. There are a lot of wonderful experiences aboard her and perhaps that is why I'm out here: recreating the good times and making more memories.
 

Anyway, it was only natural after doing the wife thing, being the mom, taking care of Mother as she sank into Alzheimer's induced dementia that eventually it would be my turn. And when my turn came and the ability to get out here and relax into life afloat, well, here I am. I truly am blessed!
 

I bought a boat that suited me fine excluding the monster gas engine, and that's being remedied ASAP. Well, five years after purchase but then again, hull speed is five knots so speed isn't a real strong suit. Besides, I like to see/enjoy and savor life not watch it whirl by at break-neck speeds. In any event, I've bought a small Volvo diesel, transmission and it even comes with a hand crank though of course I'll have to buy a regular starter. I just hope the installation doesn't kill me financially.
 

click picture to enlarge (all photos, except the one up there ↑, on the site work the same way)

 

Skipper is my companion and we cruise the waterways together. Generally speaking, when the engine cooperates, etc. the usual pattern is to travel along for between two and five hours, then anchor. A day or three later, do it again, and when a particularly lovely spot is discovered, snug in for a couple or three weeks.
 

While relaxing Skipper and I go for dinghy rides. The trolling motor is so quiet we can often get very close to pelicans and birds in the trees. It is fun and there's nothing like a walk along the beach... then, hop in the dinghy, open parasol and head for Seaweed. Life's good afloat.
 

The final week before heading for new waters is usually spent provisioning and waiting for a weather window. I'm the most patient person on the planet when it comes to timing departure. That so-called final week might take 20+ days, as I'm no fearless buckaroo, instead preferring to only travel when the forecast says "smooth" or "light chop" in protected waters ... anything worse than that and I sit tight, read a book, play games on the computer, fix stuff, or simply think.
 

And, I'm one of those old fashioned sorts who writes letters, calls friends and too, there are my suduko puzzles, reading classic sci-fi (the old stuff is great) and then again there are DVDs to watch. Honestly, I don't know how I did it when the children were small.
 

I'm always busy, except now it's mostly doing things I like. I am incredibly fortunate.
 

I am also an Amazon Affiliate.