Moving from land to boat created interesting challenges and observations, even on the second time around:

• You have to become flexible. Having a large engine room is great, but you still have to bend yourself like a pretzel to get in there.  Then perform miracles to unscrew, twist, replace . . .
• The top of the mast (68 ft high) moves a lot when you’re clinging to it, even on anchor.
• Bruises accumulate. The vice in the workshop bit me every time I went passed!
• Finding free WiFi on anchor is incredibly exciting.
• It’s possible to live cheaply on board (buy Cruisers’ AA to find out what I am talking about).
• There is an amazing amount of work involved in getting the boat ready for doing miles. (We rode our bicycles 60-70 miles a week, carrying the equivalent of a small truck load on our backs.)
• The laptop and camera are cherished items. I have to type everything as I can’t even read my own handwriting anymore and my camera captures all those memories which disappear with wine, oops I mean time.
• It’s so peaceful swinging on anchor.
• Just a few more knots of wind at night makes the difference between a peaceful sleep and a fitful sleep.
• Resourcefulness becomes your middle name. (Okay I’m gonna say it again . . . Cruisers’ AA will show you how.)
• It is blessedly stress-free NOT having a mobile phone!
• You never have enough rags on board.
• Life on board is fantastic. Hard work, but deeply satisfying.