Dinghy Captain.
I love listening to their laughter as they swing together in this contraption.
Some serious banking going on here. Not sure what the reason behind it was, though.
There’s a little island, Protestant Cay, about a hundred yards off the town of Christiansted. The only thing out there is a 3-star hotel that I’m not even sure is open, and a beach bar with great barbecue. It seems like a private island because they charge tourists $5 a head to take the boat out there, but if you have a dinghy you’re welcome to pull up, drop anchor, and enjoy the beach and the food. It’s never all that busy or crowded, so we go over there, sit on the beach and eat pork ribs. Not a bad afternoon at all.
She’s attempted this a few times now. The look on her face tells me all I need to know about this latest attempt.
Ali is a pro at putting away toys for a few months, then making them appear again one day as if by magic. Suddenly they get all the attention a new toy gets.
Every day there is a new patch of Sargasso floating around somewhere nearby. When I was a kid we had the construction dump to go find treasures in, these two have seaweed patches. They almost always find something interesting (I use this term very loosely).
This beach is about a one mile dinghy ride away, and during the week is totally empty.
Some days it feels like they do this just to show off. Not sure why they don’t use the channel very often, but with how much time we spend in the water I’m not all that thrilled with these little fly-by takeoffs.
It’s been one of those months. A couple weeks back Ali’s computer finally became intolerable and we ordered her a new one. This was quickly followed by my computer having a heart attack and dying. A few days after that the phone I use for work went for a swim. And just to round out the crazy expensive month this was the last picture the GoPro would ever take, as it somehow ingested a gulp of water. Not one of the replacement electronics we needed were available on island. I wrote a short article recently for my Wanderer Financial group detailing our January expenses. I shudder to think what all these electronics (and subsequent shipping costs) have done to March.
12 Comments on “One of Those Months”
Are you sure that the hermit crab didn’t give the GoPro a pinch?
Loved the link to your expenses. Once again I had the thought about how much closer your life has come to that of typical land living US families because of the pandemic ( or more accurately theirs to yours) . “Malls and Big Box stores”? Not anymore. I know you unschool, not homeschool, but remote schooling has looked a lot closer to your experience for many families. Many families whose lives were pretty distant from your in 2019 ( lots of sports, activities, birthday parties, planned play dates) have spent the past year on outdoor activities and simple at home activities, puzzles, baking etc….) . It’s really quite remarkable.
Yes, a lot of good came out of the pandemic for some families. We will see how this off-season hurricane season changes from last years lockdown. We are hoping for a bit more travel, which I think is what land living US families are hoping too.
Love the hermit crab picture!
The best takeoff of an airplane is into the wind, especially if it’s off water. Probably why they don’t always use the channel.
Thing is, the trade winds blow the same way 99% of the time, and that’s straight down the channel.
Thanks for sharing your expenses! Your conclusion:
“this lifestyle does tend to focus more on necessities and experiences than it does on wants and things. And I think that alone is something worth striving for.”
Absolutely right on the money! Reminds me of a saying we saw posted in Slab City CA:
“We buy stuff we don’t need
With money we don’t have
To impress people we don’t even like”
Hilarious! But then as my hubby says, the economy is based on conspicuous consumerism….we are not the “norm”-YAY!
Love it. My big talk to the kids is to buy what you need and what you love, not what you think you should. The really stupid squishies that are so popular, the kids would pick them up each time and ask, “should I buy one?” – I always let them decide and ask them what they would do with them. I love the google search on them: “why are squishies so popular?” “what are squishies used for?” Exactly. Garbage.
Every time I see a shot of your son alone in the dingy without a life vest on I get nervous. I know he’s mature for his age, but he’s still a kid. I know he is a fish in the water, but if he’s knocked out he can’t swim. Sorry, but it’s just the old man in me talking.
Thank you for caring, but I just don’t understand what he would get knocked out from? I feel like we are truly in the safest place–being in a car accident, where I was knocked out, after 6 days of being in the States in 2020–I cannot imagine any danger my kids could be in circling our boat in an anchorage. And the best thing is, Lowe drives me everywhere, he is seriously good and knows how to handle waves, slow down in anchorages, and to even keep us from getting splashed. We (adults) don’t wear life vests, why would it be different?
Ali, I agree with your perspective and parental decisions completely. I’ll guaranty you there’s a lot more people dying prematurely and or with multiple complications from being locked up in their living room, sitting in a easy-boy recliner watching TV, than there are people dying from a fatal head wound while ridding around in dingy. Just engaging in life is for more healthier than fearing it. Ride on Bums.
I remember being Lowes age and teaching adults how to sail. Part of the lesson was tipping the sailboat over to show the person how to right it. Never wore a life jacket. There are so many nanny safety rules now. I’m glad Lowe is responsible and trusted by his family. That shows he’s mature well beyond his years.