I can’t find the exact quote, but somewhere along the way, on Bumfuzzle #1, I said that one thing I was certain of was that we would never own another boat.
Another quote, “There is no certainty; there is only adventure.” Roberto Assagioli
Which, I suppose, is how we find ourselves here today on boat number four, nearly twenty years after spending our first night aboard. I’m writing this while sitting at the kitchen table, staring out through the cockpit at the sun rising alongside the mountains in Puerto Vallarta. This is a place that has become a home to us, and it feels great to be back.
But, it’s been a ridiculously busy couple of weeks to get us here.
The kids returned from camp, and things started off fun enough.
Aunt Katy trashed talked Lowe.
I trashed talked Grandpa.
Got to spend some time with my nephew.
Pull the kids around the lake with our tiny little electric motor pontoon.
We had a fun few days together before I got knocked down with Covid. This was a first for our family, and not much fun at all. I spent a couple of days sweating and sleeping, sequestered in my room, with food and water delivered at regular intervals by Ali. The rest of them went about life while I slept, and slept some more.
Meanwhile, I was supposed to be going to Arizona to spend a few days with my mom, then fly with her up to Portland and spend a couple more days up there with her. Covid pushed that timeline back, and I had to delay my flight to Arizona. By the time I was feeling better and it was safe to fly, I had just twelve hours or so to spend with her at her house before we flew up to Portland. I did manage to install a new thermostat for her, though. I couldn’t go there and not check at least one thing off her list.
In Portland I laid low for a few more days while my mom got caught up with her sister and neighborhood friends. My old friends Nick and Megan swung through to see me on their way to the airport. Nick and I wrote Live on the Margin together and used to spend a ton of time in Portland, but we’ve both been mostly far away from the PNW the last few years, so it was funny that we managed to cross paths, even if it was only half an hour.
I love my family, but a guy can only spend so much time with 75ish year-old women, so I managed to sneak away to a couple of my favorite Portland haunts.
Ali was busy back in Minnesota running around, getting the kids booster shots, buying stuff we needed for the boat, spending time with her family, and packing, packing, packing. Six plastic bins made the trip to Bumfuzzle #4 with her. Not too shabby. It definitely feels like a fresh start around here.
The gray bins go to Mexico, the white bins stay behind. Five of the white ones are souvenirs from our travels, one is miscellaneous pictures, yearbooks, and the like. I figure if we add up all our ages, and divide by seven, we come up with one bin per 17 years. Our scale would be (per storage bin): Hoarders 0-14 years, Minimalist Wannabes 15-24 years, and True Minimalists 25 years+.
Lowe kickin’ it old school. Unfortunately, covid killed the last two remaining roller-skating rinks by where we grew up.
On my last day in Portland we had a family reunion. Uncles I hadn’t seen in 20 years. A cousin or two at 30 years. And a whole bunch of people I wish I could see more often.
The next day I flew to Mexico. I had two days before Ali and the kids arrived.
Knowing I had six flights coming up I decided it was finally time to make an appointment and spend an afternoon driving across town to submit myself to an interrogation by my least favorite (that’s not true, there is actually one other that I like even less) government agency, the TSA. Think of the time and hassle TSA precheck would save me. Never mind that our airline security is run by a system that rewards you for being rich, and submits you to misery for being poor. I was going to get sucked in and join the upper class, leave my shoes on, leave my computers in my bag, and flip the bird at the long line of miserly poor in the general boarding security lines.
Wait. What? How many weeks has it been? I haven’t heard a peep from the fine folks at TSA? I swear I’m on a list somewhere. My family goes through the security lines and pretend they don’t know me. While they are lounging around at the gate I’m getting frisked and having my bags sniffed by seven dogs.
So off I go, six flights in one week, and all of it spent in Gen Pop.
Man, I hate flying.
At the other end of a long day, however, I get the privilege of asking to stay in Mexico for 180 days, and promptly get a stamp welcoming me in. I’m home.
Getting settled in the new boat. We’ll have more pics soon.
20 Comments on “All Aboard Number Four”
Way to go I love the adventures and ur kids are getting a special world wide education.
It wad a good visit ♥️
What a whirlwind summer! Excited to see pics of #4!
Thank you, Pat.
Great photos and story. Glad you got back to Portland to see your mom! I will always remember how we met you guys! The parrot! I love following your adventuress and seeing your kids grow up. Maybe we will meet in person someday.
Cheers!
Hi Kristi, we would so enjoy meeting up in person. What a weird (but ohhh so cool) meet up connection story we share. Do you still have the (not your lost) parrot you came and got from us?
https://www.bumfuzzle.com/boat-gods-smile/
The funny thing is, those clear storage bins aren’t even jam packed.
I wasn’t done yet — but they still had room in them when I was done. I did clean out some stuff that was just stuffed in there from other trips back home. Not sure why I’m keeping the beer crates after all these years. I thought they would be cool storage crates on a shelf in our future home…someday. Not pictured – the Carrom board from Sri Lanka, 2 street signs from who knows where, a huge wooden bowl (again no idea), and a painting from New Zealand. After looking through it all — I said I need to write where all future souvenirs are from and the date. 🙂
Love the boat pix-cleaning spray & tacos. 🙂 Welcome home!
Been following you since your first trip around the world, even bought you a pizza in Portland once when Ouest was a wee one. Looking forward to the new boat and new adventures.
I think it was in December 2010 (Ouest turned 1 that month). You still up in Portland (area)? Pat said it had changed a lot in the 4 years since his mom moved south.
Thanks again, Jim, it’s good to have you as a friend all these years.
“I couldn’t go there and not check at least one thing off her list.” Sounds just like my visits to see my Mom in Eugene. What would they do without us? Of course, we wouldn’t even be here without them, so….
OMG OMG OMG Lowe skating no helmet no knee pads no elbow pads OMG OMG OMG /sarcasm off
The hot air balloon in the back ground is just beautiful.
Fair winds and following seas for your next adventure.
You guys were the inspiration (and our guidebook) behind our 8 year life changing adjustment to our first catamaran back in 2013. We only kept it for 3 years and only 2 seasons – and when I sold her, I said the same thing: I’ll never buy another boat. But back in 2018, we bought our second catamaran that we still own today. We’ve never been as focused and organized as you guys, but we have a good time, and we continue to enjoy our time in the Caribbean every season. Its good to see you back in a sailing catamaran again….in my head, its the way I’ve always seen Bumfuzzle. Congrats guys.
Awww thanks, Kevin.
http://www.catchinrays.net/2013/10/from-dream-to-reality-how-we-plan-to.html
Awesome. You almost made me miss Stumptown, ALMOST!
That is an awesome vessel, Bumfuzzle’s. I did a double take when I read 4. What an incredible journey.
Posts without lots of pics of the horny new boat kinda suck, but, glad to hear you all made it 😉
Counting the minutes until your next boat pic heavy post.
Happy for your new adventure! Can’t wait to read and see the photos. Bienvenido de nuevo a la tierra de los tacos!!
Goodonyas! Looking forward to the tour!
Pat, when you fly, you are one of the rich ones. You may not think of yourself like that, but you are.
When you take off in the coming year what role do you see the kids having as shipmates? Will they stand watches, day or night so you and Ali get some rest? I sure hope that you’ll do some man overboard drills, before you hit the Blue water. With your speed you can cover a lot of distance before you can turn it around and pick up someone from the water. Robbie
Wow you all accomplished so much in a short time shortened further by a Covid knock out.
Can’t wait to see more pix of and hear more about the new boat.