No boat. I guess that's the punchline I have to offer for this week. No boat. I was warned not to get my hopes up or mentally start moving onto a boat too soon. It seemed too good to be true. Too easy. Everything was lining up so nicely. And then it wasn't. I'll back it up a few days... Earlier last week, Jason, in his daily pursuit and consistent drive to find us our next home, found a great boat for sale by owner through a Facebook advertisement. Big enough for our family of five, small enough to sail with a one- or two-man crew, had the amenities we're looking for (solar power, water maker, 4 cabins, etc), and it was in our price range. Jason jumped on it, and immediately messaged the owner. The owner sent more pictures to Jason and they began to conversate back and forth about the boat. Jason went so
far as to let the owner know we're ready to buy at the price they were asking! Seller responded in agreement to the price. Jason sent further inquiries and asked for a video walk through of the boat - then started shopping for plane tickets down to Panama where the boat was. Then, radio silence. All communication halted like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Jason never received the video he requested, and 24 hours later, the boat was marked sold. That was it. The momentum gone, the discussion about what to do with the RV, our pets, our stuff in storage back home needing to come to us all came to a grinding standstill. No boat. There was a super frustrated exhale from the pit of our stomachs, and we were back to the starting line in the pursuit of our sailing catamaran. This is definitely an ultra marathon, not a sprint.
Silver lining within that disappointment though was a half-day sailing adventure that Jason found for the family during our week's stay at Carrabelle, FL Beach Resort. We were scheduled to go out last Thursday at 11am. Finally, our boys will get on a boat and be able to see what it means to sail. Jason and I would ask and, hopefully, be able to help with the lines and be a part of the crew. Brush off the dust on our sailing skills and get them back in action after not using them since our week-long sailing school over a year ago.
The boys got up early to knock out their school work beforehand. We were all geared up and ready to head out. Swimming attire on, towels, lunches and sunscreen packed. The anchorage we needed to get to was about 45 minutes away from our RV park, so we needed to leave by 10am to be there within the recommended window. At 9:50am, the captain that was going to take us out on the water messaged Jason. As it does in coastal towns, the weather changed and some unfavorable skies blew in over the bay where we'd be sailing. The captain recommended we reschedule or cancel because of our boys and it would "not be pleasant" on the water for them. We attempted to reschedule, but the Captain said that the weather would be bad through the weekend, and check-out for us was Saturday morning. Trip cancelled. Moods plummeted. Still no boat. I'll take "Second Major Disappointment for $1000, Alex!"
The Captain was right - the weather was horrible the next couple days. Jason found a great lunch and ice cream shop to lift our moods on Thursday. The rain never stopped on Friday, so that was deemed "Laundry and Board Games" day. And Saturday was departure day. Thank goodness we were heading out because we woke up to a very wet 45 degrees and I am not prepared for that. Before we moved into our RV, I ditched most of our winter gear in anticipation of sailing in the sunshine-filled skies of the Caribbean. I was neither physically nor mentally prepared for goosebumps on my goosebumps. It was time to leave Carrabelle, head further south, and get to warmer weather.
That's where we are now - further south (and warmer) in Bushnell, FL. Supposed to be 80 degrees for the next few days, and I am here for it. We'll be here for a full week. I think we're slowing our momentum down now that we're in the heart of boat country. Jason booked this place after an extensive search of available RV parks that are within our parameters (let's not forget we have a 200lb English Mastiff rolling with us). Then, after booking, Jason read the fine print and it stated this place is a "55 and older" park. Clearly, that rules us out. But after making a call to cancel our reservation due to the age requirement, staff allowed our stay because we're only booked for a week. After a dismal display of weather and major let downs with the boat and sailing adventure in Carrabelle, this place is pretty awesome.
After registration was done and we settled into our slot, Jason and I took a stroll around campus to get the lay of the place. On our walk, we met another family from Oregon! The family has been on the same journey we've been on the last couple of months. They sold their home in western Oregon, packed up their RV, and traveled this way. They have four kids and are also homeschooling. It was reassuring and satisfying to talk with another family that's on the same path as us. No jobs, no destination, just a desire to take their kids and see the world.
As Jason and I walked through the Rec Hall and the Clubhouse, I found their monthly event calendar and immediately felt like I was home. Remembering that this place is for 55 and older only, I smiled even more as I perused through the daily happenings they had to offer: Karaoke, Group Walks, Nickels Card Games, Sewing with Happy Hearts, etc. And Bingo! I'm very excited for Thursday Night's Bingo that's coming up. I may need to find a Troll doll or a lucky penny between now and then. Our second night here, they even had an ice cream social! Whoever this Joan gal that's listed at the bottom of the calendar as "Events Coordinator" gets a gold star and tip of the hat from me. This place is my jam, and I may have just found my final stomping grounds when we retire.
Boys are pretty happy here, too. They haven't complained once about being the only kids here. Maybe because they're too busy eating ice cream or swimming in the pool. Also, there's a billiards table and outdoor shuffleboard that have kept their competitive spirits in play. While Jason showed the boys the ropes to billiards with a few games of 8-Ball, I took a self-guided tour of the Rec Hall.
That's when I found the Holy Grail of this place. They have two rooms adjacent to the main room in the Rec Hall. There's an impressively organized library full of books that are "Take One, Leave One". I have two new books in my personal stash now.
Then there's the second room. The mother of all rooms as far as I'm concerned. The end all, be all. The bee's knees. The cat's meow. The room that all the other rooms talk about. It's a puzzle room. A
PUZZLE ROOM!!! There's hundreds of puzzles in there. Tables fill the room topped with partially completed boxes of happiness. I have found my Zen. My Happy Place. My center. If the weather wasn't so brilliantly perfect, I would never emerge from that room. Attention all RV resorts every where, please establish a puzzle room at your location immediately. Dare I say I hope for rain?!
We shove off again on Sunday. No destination yet, but I'm certain it will come with it's own awesomeness. Jason and I are mulling over the idea of hitting the tourist stuff in the next couple of weeks. We're in the thick of it here in Florida: Disney World, Universal Studios, waterparks, tours, museums, and more. Maybe our next locale will be in the midst of all it where we can be overstimulated and have vacation destination spots everywhere around us at our finger tips, or maybe we'll set up shop in another quaint, 55-plus community and enjoy the calm. Although let's be real, it's going to be difficult to top Joan's Events and Activities calendar where ever we end up dropping anchor.
So here's to ice cream's healing powers, finding the puzzle mecca of Florida, and deciding between pandemonium or tranquility.
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