A list...For Those Who Love Numbers

Our cart is full and running over...

Logistically speaking our current inventory of supplies is quite comical, especially since it's spread out among every room in our boat. It seems no matter the size of the ship - if your under construction -  your swimming in products! We've stockpiled like we are preparing for a refit apocalypse. For those who like numbers here's a quick list of what our receipts have looked like lately!


5 Fiberglass Mat Sheets 38 x 90
3 Roving Fiberglass Sheets 50 x 24
9 Gallons of Lacquer Thinner
3 Gallons of Denatured Alcohol
4 Quarts of Matterhorn White Awl-grip Paint
1 Quart of Moon Dust Awl-grip Paint
31 Mixing Buckets (1, 2.5, 5 and 10 Quart)
28 Paint Brushes
160 pairs of Disposable Gloves
10 Tack Cloths
3 Pallets of Balsa Core
Innumerable amounts of sanding discs, sand paper and grinding discs
Copious amounts of foam rollers, paint trays, duct tape, plastic covering...


This is bare essentials. This is also just what got us through the fly-bridge paint job and down to the point where we started purchasing gallons upon gallons of West System Epoxy. Now that the deck work is done, we have resumed painting. Hopefully we have enough to get 'er done!!

Pardon Our Mess.

The Florida Promise

 

Image here.

It must be the blinding sunshine. Maybe it's the sensational beaches with endless bikini clad bodies emitting the scent of tanning oil. Could it be the laid back lifestyle or the lure of fishing just a few minutes offshore? Whatever IT is...IT SUCKS!

IT, is the Florida Promise and it's been happening for a LONG time. It began when droves of Northerners began the exodus from the chilly weather to the incredible, natural "Disneyland" the is the Sunshine State. Basically, contractors (local or not) make you a promise by saying they will show up and then never do! OR when they do they are either drunk, hungover or have a wicked tan from their day out surfing instead of working for you!

I've changed the names to protect the innocent or not-so-innocent in one such scenario we've experienced. Let's say, "Tom", the painter tells you he will show up Tuesday to look at the boat and give you a price. Well, he never shows up and he doesn't even call. Being the good communicator you are, you call him and say, "Hey Tom, Don't worry about coming by today, it's a bit late now. Thank you". "Tom" replies with some excuse about how busy he was and he will come by tomorrow. BUT he never comes!!

This seems to continue until you've called about 6 different people until you finally get a "good" one. Someone who shows up when they say the will, performs the job with little to no errors, charges on or below the estimated amount and gives the results you were after. Unfortunately, that's just the way it is. There are an amazing amount of boats (mega-yachts mostly) here and these contractors know how in-demand they are. It's as if they don't really give a sh*t about their name or reputation. WHY? Because they know they can charge insane amounts of money and people will pay it(not us but some people don't know about the "working man's price") -  and they know that there will always be those folks that are in a rush to get cruising that just want the job done and pay because they can't wait any longer.

My advice to you:

• Don't Be in a Rush  - Contractors can smell your fear and your money. If you are pushy, hurried and riding them they will charge you for it!

• Be Proactive/Handy - Doing the work yourself not only helps you understand systems better it allows you the freedom of knowing how to fix things when your "out there" where it can be exponentially expensive! If you really can't do the work yourself it's not the end of the world but it may cost you more in time and money. Two things we rarely have at the same time. So if you have time - SAVE MONEY & Vice Versa!

• Get Several Quotes - Get as many contractor names & company's as you can, ask everyone you know, use forum and prepare yourself to be confused. You will get opinions and ideas from different ends of the spectrum by stick with what you know and keep it simple!

I'm sure several yachting and boating town's have similar issues with handymen and such but here in Florida we refer to the issue as "The Florida Promise." The best weapon is awareness! I hope you found these tips useful. Best of Luck!

Namaste!

Kids4Sail - Where Cruising Kids Come First!

Site is actually now, Kids4Sail.ning.com

Raising kids on a boat is something I had absolutely no idea about until I had to do it! Even now, that I have done it, I consider myself no expert!
Plenty of people email and ask me questions like:

How did I plan?
What was it like homeschooling?
How did the kids respond to cruising?

My answer is this; with all the rum punches in between the whirlwind of cruising over 13 different countries, 3 different boats, 2 adopted cats and 4 school grades I don't know how it went but she turned out awesome so... I'd say it went pretty dang well!! My blogging has morphed quite a bit since we began this journey and unfortunately I have no old blogs to refer to our child rearing experiences aboard; only my memory holds the little tricks I learned along the way.

BUT if you are planning to raise your kids aboard someday have I got the website for YOU!! Kids4Sail is an incredible way to meet other cruising families. The website is a host for blogs, read their blog, photos, videos and even has a forum for kid related topics such as homeschooling and activities aboard! I "met" Erika Lelievre, the administrator/organizer of this site online through a mutual friend, a cruising mom, and joined the site as a way to keep in touch with the many children we've met while cruising. The best tool we've found is the "Member Map", it's been great for planning to arrive in an anchorage with some kids and scheduling play dates or home school dates! For you, it can be a veritable gold mine of information to help push you into (or out of) a pending decision.

Our little site has grown in leaps and bounds and we are hoping to gain at least 100 MORE cruising kids to our list so please, please, PLEASE JOIN or PASS the website onto a cruising family you know! Be sure to check out their Facebook page too!

**Seriously, though if you have specific questions about raising kids aboard or any topics for that matter, feel free to ask. I'll do my best to dust off the cobwebs from my memory!;)

Random Collections

A random collection.

There comes a time in every home (boat) when you have open the "junk" drawer enough times to say, " Self, you have got to clean out this drawer!" Well, after saying that every day for the past month I finally took action. As I began pulling lighter after lighter and a ziploc bag full of assorted keys from the drawer, I giggled aloud. How many swirly straws do we really need? As far as all these little keys, I just can't understand what we are saving them for. Did I say to myself at some point, "Oh, let's make a craft out of these!" as I occasionally do save things like that. And how about all these methods of fire creation, grill lighters and a seemingly lifetime supply of matches? An outsider might think we were pyromaniacs!! Although I'm sure I can justify the grill lighters, we've all been there, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK...nothing. And everybody knows they are usually sold in a two pack. (scoff)

I definitely didn't plan on collecting all this stuff, it sort of just happens.

Regardless, this clutter purge was highly necessary and also helps me to remember during the holidays not to buy for the sake of buying. We have plenty of funny magnets on the fridge, we have plenty of batteries and yes, we even have plenty of swirly straws. You just never know when you might have a swarm of kids come over demanding your swirliest of straws or ELSE!!

                                                               
That's a little better. ;)                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Give a Little Bit

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With the holiday season *rapidly* approaching many people are in search of the perfect gift. What better than a gift that gives back?! Our favorite non profit, Casa Guatemala, just released their new 2013 Wall Calendar now available for purchase on Ebay! Check it out! If your into photos, travel, smiling children or Guatemala this calendar will bring a smile to your face AND theirs! The calendar is priced right and benefits the beautiful children you see pictured throughout the pages.

Along with their everyday needs, our contact Heather let me know that the Casa needs a new (to them) VHF radio. The VHF radio is used to communicate to over 800+ boats along the Rio Dulce and without one they are unable to promote themselves. Announcements like the Especial De Dia from Hotel Backpackers Restaurant (Casa Guatemala's main financial support) and  also letting cruisers know when the delivery boat will be passing by selling fresh, baked breads and the fresh meats and cheeses that Casa Guatemala makes! If you are able to help in some way to provide Casa Guatemala with a new VHF radio, please be in touch! You see, although Casa Guatemala seeks support from people like you and me they also support themselves from within by growing fresh fruits and vegetables, teaching farming techniques and running the Hotel Backpackers Hotel & Restaurant!

If you are able to contribute in some way or are preparing a trip to Guatemala's Rio Dulce please consider practicing some "Karma Yoga" and give a little bit of yourself to them. You won't regret it!

Update: Workbench Project

After an awesome night of tricking & treating, I'm catching up on some house, er...boat-keeping. So, here is a little collage of the work we've been doing in the engine room above the water heater we installed a couple weeks ago. This is one project that seems to have come together rather quickly! Turning misused space into a great use of space complete with a drawer for organization and a workbench that can help us finish more projects! Every time, I turn around another piece is coming together, maybe it's because we've been lucky to have the use of our neighbor's table saw this week and making cuts has been a whole lot easier! Check out the design of the drawer, there is NO HARDWARE!! Nothing to rust or corrode or break! *BONUS* Of course, an engineer would think of that, right!?

Cruisers Laundry Etiquette 101

Laundry has always been one of the necessary evils of cruising. I don't know about you but I have found that the best way to do laundry is to go to the laundry room on a Thursday night with an *alcoholic beverage* of choice; load the machine and plop down with a good gossip mag! But, as we all know sometime life gets in the way and it just doesn't happen like that. WARNING: This may not be pretty and I may make some  people mad but, "Hey, the truth hurts sometimes." Also, while we should all really know this already; we could all use a kind reminder. I have come to the conclusion that there are two kinds of people in the laundry room. Inconsiderate *or* Considerate. Here is a list of things that will help keep you in the good graces of the laundering Gods (and your neighbors). 

1. Handling Other People's Stuff - While I am one who will absolutely NOT touch other people's laundry there comes a time when you need the machine that someone has long forgotten about and you just have to move it. If you have waited a reasonable amount of time, at least 10 or more (use your own parameters) minutes since the machine stopped, it's time to decide your plan of action. When removing people's laundry remember this - SH*T happens and sometimes people get hung up, the timer doesn't go off, kids get sick, whatever the reason people do not intentionally leave their laundry to piss you off, so be courteous. Put the laundry in a basket if it's dry or the dryer if it is wet. But DO NOT start the dryer. You are not doing them any favors as some people like to line dry. If you are there when the person arrives be nice, smile, introduce yourself and mention that you are sorry you touched their stuff and you hope they don't mind but you needed the next machine. Generally speaking, that person (if it is you, listen up!) will be thankful and remorseful. The most important thing to remember here is to "treat others as you would like to be treated!" 

2. Don't Be That Guy! - Okay so as you read above, no one wants to touch your stuff, so please be timely about your laundering. Set a timer, bring a book, join the club, we have other things to do too! If you don't want people touching your skivvies then get your butt back to the laundry room on time, or don't even leave. Focus solely on the task at hand and GET 'er DONE! 

3. Clean the Lint Trap - Nothing worse than checking the lint trap and finding animal hair, pieces of crumpled up paper and who knows what in the screen. The unwritten rule is clean it immediately after you remove your dry clothing. While I don't mind finding $money$ in the machine I do mind that fact that I have to touch (eww) whatever it is that you wanted to wash OUT of your stuff. Thanks, but no thanks.

4. NO SMOKING. Seriously, I was in shock when I saw people crowded around the door of the washroom puffing away on those things! While I'm trying to make things smell clean they are right at the doorway stinking it up again. Geesh! Besides, my health I am interested in keeping my clean laundry smelling like the Tide I walked in here with, thanks.

5. Be Organized -Nothing worse than waiting for a machine with a person standing in front of it sorting the whites from the colors. Get your laundry in order. Get your quarters or tokens in advance. Have all the supplies you need before you occupy the machine. You may have walked into an empty room but don't take that as your que to spread out and call it home.

 6. Remember You Are a Guest - This is not your washing machine. This is not your boat or your house and you will have to "share" this space. Be kind, be courteous and be clean. Thankfully, this space was here so you could go have clean clothes. Treat this space as you would better than your own. Wipe down any spills immediately, put garbage in proper location and remember to check and re-check that you have all of your materials and clothing before you leave.

Laundry can be a very touchy subject and hopefully, I haven't offended anyone but this does need to be said. I am no angel I have been "that guy" - believe me. That being said, I totally had a good reason for showing up late and thankfully the person who waited patiently for me to return to my work was super nice. Hence, my affinity for treating people the way you wish to be treated. In any case, I think you will find that you'll have a great laundry experience if you remember this advice. Happy Washing!!!

Wishing you your own felicity.

Recycled Blog Posts! For the girls...

So I got to thinking (trouble, right?!) with this whole "Green" revolution going on that maybe I should "do my  part!" Only instead of recycling plastics, I'm recycling blog posts. Since this is a "new" blog,  many of our readers haven't read some of our stories from S/V San San, our last boat. AND since I'm short on time this saves me, yet keeps you all entertained!;) BONUS!

The cool thing is that even though this post originated from our sailboat days, it still applies to any boat/home and has even been enhanced a bit...

Thanks to Pinterest, I have been able to categorize all my favorite ideas in one place, like a virtual cork board! Therefore, whenever I want to show my handyman an idea I have for storage or in the galley, I just log on a VOILA! Check out my profile and see if there's anything you like, and if you would like to have a Pinterest account of your own, email me and I'll send you an invite. Oh yea, it's like that!;)

My girl friend came to visit and was totally impressed with this idea. It’s a great space saver! I bought this canvas shoe rack from Bed, Bath & Beyond, way back when. I wish I could claim this idea as my own but I gathered it from The Best Tips From Women Aboard. The book is packed with tons of helpful ideas for living aboard and I refer to it often!

Inside the canvas pockets I keep all kinds of girlie goodies, like lotions and creams. There are pumice stones, hair oils, patchouli, lavender, and almond oils, a sleep mask, ear plugs, tweezers, toe nail clippers, combs, hair clips and bands, aloe, nail polish, cotton balls and q-tips. Just because we come out here and live in swamp country or sandy land, does NOT mean we have to give up the once and a good while treats like a facial, polish, scrub or rub down.

There is plenty of time to apply and remove polish, plenty of time to pluck those stray hairs and plenty of time to twist your hair into a braid. One of the things I express to my friends that are new to cruising is the ability to still let yourself feel feminine. This is a tough environment, you will be sun burned, scratched, bitten and contorted in all kinds of ways while working and living on your boat.  So take time to make yourself feel pretty once in a while. And if your like me with a daughter, this makes for good Mommy/Daughter bonding time.

 You have worked hard to get to this dream of cruising and although the nuts and bolts are important, keep some things for yourself. Enjoy it because after all, Girls Rule and Boys WILL Drool! What things to you have on board to pamper yourself with?

Check out these other cool ways to store stuff onboard.

This would work well on a wall in the head.

Got a hanging locker? Maximize space like this!

Last one, I promise...

Reuse those egg cartons for delicate items like Holiday ornaments! GREEN!!!

Wishing you your own felicity.

Donations Sent to The Casa!!

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.  ~Margaret Meade

For those of you who have been following along for a while you know that we are all about Guatemala! And at every chance we get, we talk about our favorite non profit, Casa Guatemala! Our karma yoga is to promote and support them in any way we can. For those of you who'd lie more information, check out these posts; Casa Guatemala & Hotel Backpackers.

About a month ago we received 3 boxes totaling about 42lbs from some *great people* who collected donations through their office. We had hoped to hand deliver them but instead ended up storing them until a volunteer appeared! Since they are school supplies and the best thing to do is to get them to the kids as soon as possible; we are happy to know they are well on their way! The beautiful kids of the orphanage oat Casa Guatemala will soon be receiving crayons, pencils, notebooks, markers, band-aids and tooth brushes & toothpaste! We can't think of a better way for them to start off the new school year!

So the first group of people collected the goodies, then we stored them. Then I found a volunteer heading to Guatemala to work with Casa Guatemala in Florida He went ahead and paid the extra charge to carry a whole suitcase full of stuff. Then I bummed a ride (since we don't drive or own a car) from a friend who took me and all the supplies to the nearest Fed Ex and we shipped it to the Volunteer who leaves Monday morning for Guatemala City! PHEW! I tell ya, it really does take a village. But again, thanks to just a handful of committed people we made it happen!

It makes us so happy to know that "Together Everyone Achieves More" and we worked together as a T.E.A.M. and got the supplies to the kids with very little expense and within very little time!! Want to help? Email us @ MVFelicity (@) Gmail.com .

Don't forget to support Casa Guatemala by checking out their Facebook page.

-Or-

Make a donation by clicking here.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

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Being Resourceful

Resourceful: adj.

Able to act effectively or imaginatively, especially in difficult situations.

Able to use the means at one's disposal to meet situations effectively.

Ingenious, inventive, creative, no matter what word you use to describe it there are times when you just have to think outside the box! When we moved from one boat to another we didn't have the convenience of taking our belongings by car from one marina to another. We sold our boat in Central America and moved to Eastern US by plane. With the cost of baggage these days we felt it unnecessary to pay for things twice. Books, art supplies, tools, cruising charts and games can be heavy and really add weight to your 50 pound limit. We figured we could probably just buy those things again, in good time.

Fast forward 3 months( my how time flies) and my how we are accumulating things left and right! Some friends donated a ton of paint brushes to Gia and me. We were so thankful that they also donated a huge coffee tin, bread ties and a sprouting tupperware (for growing sprouts)! When we put our needs "out there" (into the cosmic universe by prayer or meditation) I knew that the universe would provide for us.

Since we are on a budget, as many people are, I took matters into my own hands when the new year came around. I felt we really needed a calendar, what with all of Gia's school functions, my work schedule and our now various bills to pay. (ick) But instead of going out and spending almost $15 on a wall calendar I decided to be resourceful! Using one of our old shopping bags I created 4 months worth of calendars using the front and back sides of a brown paper bag.

If you have a collection of things around the house or boat, think about new ways to use them! We now save all our bread ties and use them in the school garden to help hold up those delicious tomatoes and green pepper stalks. We use binder clips and rubber bands to close cereal and chip bags. Part of what makes cruising fun is the ability to leave "land life" behind and sometimes that means there is not a Target or a Wal*Mart nearby. Learning to do without can have tons of benefits, just one of the many is being resourceful!

In what ways have you become more resourceful? We'd love to hear your comments!

Hotel Backpackers

If you ever take a trip to Guatemala, go to Hotel Backpackers. Some of our readers are sailors, cruisers or just plain world travelers. So when I say if you ever get to Guatemala, I really mean when you get there!

Located on the Rio Dulce in El Relleno, Guatemala Hotel Backpackers is along the "Mayan Route" allowing visitors making their way through the popular spots to catch a glimpse of life on the river. This photo is taken at night just off the pier of the Hotel and captures the Restaurant lit up at night! Hotel Backpackers is the organization Casa Guatemala's way of supporting themselves by operating a beautiful restaurant with fantastic food at great prices and a hotel for, you guessed it, backpackers. Those are mainly people travelling through the country on a budget. Most times volunteers of Casa Guatemala stay at the hotel as well and ride in a launcha to the orphanage every morning. (Oh, how I miss the river.)

Heather @  Hotel Backpackers is a great voice on the river hosting the Cruiser's Net once a week. She has the most enthusiastic broadcast and announces specials & events the go on at the restaurant every day, even Sundays. My favorite was the Thai food, and Gia's was the Tortizza (mini pizza on a tortilla). The Casa also goes around to every marina on a launcha offering goods for sale, every Tuesday and Saturday. Now, this was a special treat! The boat would be filled with coolers carrying, delicious meats, cheeses and freshly baked breads! Boaters didn't even have to venture off the deck of their boat and you couldn't miss them because they would shout out, " Casa Guatemala" as they passed every boat at a slow drift!

Hotel Backpackers and Casa Guatemala are on Facebook, Like them!!

Casa Guatemala is a self funded organization so they get NO help from the government. Hotel Backpackers is solely run to support Casa Guatemala and often times the children that grow up at the Orphanage begin working at the Hotel and Restaurant as they come of age! Besides that only the help of supporters like you and me, and an extensive Canadian population as the founders of the Casa were originally from Canada.

I wrote last Sunday about Casa Guatemala and the good work that they do providing shelter, medical care and education for the desperately needy families in the surrounding areas. Several of you had more questions about Casa Guatemala and wanted more information. For more information email us @ MVFelicity at Gmail. Make a donation directly by clicking HERE.

Slideshow of the Hotel here.

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Casa Guatemala

Many of us have never known hunger, poverty or disease. Many of the children that come to Casa Guatemala know nothing else. Please take a minute to envision how much your little effort could offer to a precious, innocent child.

If you have been following us for any length of time you know full well that our hearts belong to Guatemala. When we will return we do not know, but while we are here we have some fundraising to do! During our stay in Guatemala's Rio Dulce (05-11/10-11) I had the opportunity to perform selfless service or "karma yoga" with an organization known as Casa Guatemala. Casa Guatemala is an orphanage, that provides a loving, nurturing atmosphere for impoverished children to receive education, health care, nutrition and life skills.

It all started through the Cruiser's Net, I heard a call for someone to host yoga classes.Then I saw the  opportunity to raise money for the organization by holding yoga classes. It was then that I met Heather, she is the Director of Communications & Fund Development. Now HERE is a woman that has dedicated her life to the beautiful children that call Casa Guatemala home. After becoming friends with Heather, I learned more about the needs of the organization and felt more compelled than ever to help.

When we left Guatemala we had to give away many of our personal belongings. Even Gia had to say goodbye to her toys, stuffed animals, clothes books and movies. She was a good sport because she knew these items would bring joy to the kids of CG. Casa Guatemala donated to us two empty large suitcases in exchange for two FULL large suitcases to be returned to them. Full of what, you may ask. They need items like shampoo, toothpaste, soap, swimming equipment, books in English or Spanish and many other things. Click here to see the list of the items needed!

You know how to get in touch with us. Starting today we will be accepting donations through our blog, email and through our home address. If you would like to help us fill these suitcases up with supplies, please send us a short email and let us know how you'd like to help.

To make a monetary DONATION direct to Casa Guatemala Click HERE.

 

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Three Organizational Must Haves!

Another one of my favorite past times is keeping things organized. This is so not my nature but somehow boating has changed me from a terribly messy, unorganized slob (ha ha ha) into a slightly-more-together detail-oriented person. Basically the first day we hit a Wal*Mart I purchased a few notebooks, a few binders and an expandable Rolodex file. With these tools I can keep track of our expenditures and the paperwork that accompany them. 

Office Depot carries this version made from recycled materials!

Expandable File – The expanding file is perfect for keeping receipts in order because really you just never know when you might need to return something or refer back to the receipt for a part number. I keep them separated by month; once a month is over I place the bundle in a legal size letter envelope and label it. Typically I don’t have to go too far back into the records but seriously, you just never know.

Notebooks – The notebooks are spread among us; The Captain takes care of the Maintenance Logs and has a personal To-Do book. Here he has lists on various pages, on page is West Marine, next page is Home Depot etc, etc. Then whenever we need to go shopping he has all his lists in one book and we can try to kill all the birds at once. Our daughter has her own notebook for whatever she likes and usually it’s a multi-media adventure book. She draws, writes and pastes photos and clippings from her travels into the book. She's already filled a whole book from our past travels through the Eastern & Western Caribbean. I take care of the Cruising Log and since we have yet to go anywhere, that one is still on the shelf. ;)

Binders – The boat came with the original Owner’s Manual that includes tons of really important information including all the schematics, overviews, and part numbers we could need. I have placed the manuals and information for various systems and electronics like the heads, the generator, the oven and the navigation equipment in one binder. We will continue to add to them as we continue to outfit and re-fit.

There is so much to keep track of when you are involved in a new boat and living on board. I’d love to hear some fresh ideas, am I missing anything? What ways do you stay organized on board? Do tell!