rudderless

Today

Today, John sat at anchor and read a book.
Just a month ago I remember him saying something like, “When, WHEN am I finally going to be able to just sit at anchor and read a book??” This, probably while drilling yet another hole through a thick steel hull for yet another hose or wire that needed installing.

Today it finally happened. We still have a to-do list, but nothing on the list keeps us from the here and now. The blissful breeze that comes down our hatches and keeps us up in the cockpit in the evenings, while the girls tie ropes around our legs and say things like, “It’s booful (beautiful) Mama. So booful.” Nothing that keeps us from preparing to go offshore, weather-permitting (go away, ugly storm!).

The first night we were at anchor we walked out on deck and could see not only the stars, but the Milky Way streaming over the Keys. I hadn’t seen it since the night before our wedding, on the coast of Maine. There are few things more spectacular in the natural world, from our perspective. It was like the universe lined itself up to say, “Welcome back. Welcome back to where you’ve always wanted to be.” This was the life we chose to live together and finally, we are here once again, with no intention of looking back.

As John said last night, standing in the cockpit in this lovely anchorage, “Why would anyone NOT want to live this life?”

Truly. We are thankful, Universe.