Seaweed just isn't any boat that can be replaced. She's one of a kind and you've put so much of yourself into making her your home. I can imagine your frustration and feeling of helplessness at not being able to returned promptly to see how she faired during the storm. I'm glad you're back on board again and can start getting back to normal.

Getting back to normal has taken longer than expected. The exhaustion I have experienced thus far surprised me. I suppose I should have realized I am not as young as I once was!

Thanks for your note Pam. You are exactly correct regarding my Seaweed. All of us who have lived aboard for any length of time feel the same way. We put a lot of ourselves into our homes. Gosh I love Seaweed so much. I truly am grateful for the happiness she brings me. Life is wonderful aboard Seaweed. J.

Is Buddy still around? Did he make it through the storm OK?

Hi Janice, I enjoyed your articles. I can emphasise with the police officials who had to carry out orders, but also with you having been promised that they would allow you to return. Thanks for the tips on how to prepare, and what to look out for. It is true that you would probably have been safe if you had stayed on board, but at the same time things might have been worse. At the end you have to take your won decisions and responsibilities. I just recently again learnt: Trust yourself, nobody else. Looking forward to reading about your next voyage.

I am looking at Gus right now. He has nearly driven off Buddy... It is an older male dominance thing. Last night I fed my Buddy along with Gus. I sat between the two boys.

Buddy is a much neater eater. He leaves no scraps. I clean up after Gus throwing the bits of hotdog I to the water for the catfish.

J, whose training is progressing well. Thanks for your note Pam.

You are correct of course. And getting ready to take off entails for me a massive buy of the items I best enjoy. One thing I have missed at anchor is rabbit food. In the next week or two I intend to grow and discover what types of sprouts and Microgreens I prefer. So far only peas are a definite nope. Then again I don't care for them cooked so that's not surprising.

The favorites are being purchased for my ship stores. There is a certain feeling of peace I get in knowing my supplies are topped off. There is not much room in a 23' boat so my "full up" may well be a larger boat owner's weekend stores! That's okay too. I love my Seaweed just the way she is.

Thank you for reading Corn, and being a part of the website. I do appreciate your comment too. J.

Coen not Corn. Autocorrect fixed what was not broken. J.

Hello Janice, Glad you're safe. And Seaweed also. I'm a faithful land lubber follower. I've often thought about living on a boat but don't have the sea legs for it. Instead I'm a fulltime flatland RVer. http://leonardsteward.blogspot.com/ If you can't find your "More Coffee Please" magnet, let me know. I have a workshop in the rear of my bus and can print you one and mail it to you (free of course). I try to read all your post. RVing is just a dryer form of boating. Stay safe and keep enjoying life. Leonard

I was living in a mobile home in Clearwater before Irma hit and we were the first to be evacuated...big mistake. I found out later that some in the park had stayed and that you don't HAVE to leave, you're just encouraged to. The morning after it hit when it was still raining and the winds still strong, my son and I along with some others "busted out" of the shelter even though a guard at the door was telling us to stay. He couldn't stop us all and just watched us leave. We were without power for 3 days, not long considering the length of time others had to wait. I'm glad we all came through it okay but learned many hard lessons in the process. Never again!

Smart move Beverly. I'm glad you and your son were able to return to your home. Seaweed for me is my happy spot.

Isn't it crazy though that grown adults cannot leave a shelter?!? What kind of a world is it? Like you, NEVER AGAIN is my motto.

What still irritates me is that this same thing (being refused "permission" to return home for my own good) happened in 1998. I thought this time would be different. It wasn't. When retired gents who fought for this country were forced to stand in the hot sun waiting to cross a bridge...well, neither they nor I were impressed. As you can tell, I'm still riled up about the whole situation.

On the bright side, you escaped. I returned to my Seaweed, and we've learned a lesson. It's definitely time to live a good life. Enjoy yours, and thank you for your comment. I do appreciate it when folks take the time to write.

P.S. - Please pardon me for my mini-rant. Real life boating is not all sitting at anchor, sipping a cool glass of used tea while relaxing. The good so far outweighs the bad, that even the Irma fiasco is but a blip on my happiness quotient. Best wishes to you and your son as well. J.