"A Year Barefoot"

September 18th Godspeed slipped into the slings and out she came. After a barnacle scrape and pressure wash she was set on her keel and stands for a long winters nap. It took us several days to winterize and put her to bed. Then we waived goodbye, vowed to return, and flew back to our home in Wyoming.
The renters did not tear the house up and the weather was great for a few weeks as we settled back into a completely different lifestyle.
In "a year barefoot" we learned so many things. First we went from idiots to mariners, traveling well over 4000 miles and spending a 8 month stretch without being hooked to shore electricity or tied to a dock. Navigation, sail trim, anchoring etc. etc. etc...
In "a year Barefoot" we learned many other things about ourselves and the world we live in. Living at anchor and going to shore daily is much like looking in at the world from the outside of a window. Each place is so different from the last and we would go to shore and interact with people just living a life in which we were in no way involved in but were there as observers. Some were in a country way, some in a great hurry, soccer moms in beautiful homes, different industries ( if any) and how that affected the locals lives. It seemed at times that we would watch from the window until we weighed anchor, sail on, and then go to the next window and look in for a completely different show.
Our shopping only consisted of groceries. maybe a movie to rent, and maybe a needed part for Godspeed. We had no place to keep any souvenirs or collectibles and learned there is no need for such things aboard. Our small budget did not have a dining and entertaining allowance, so we cooked on the boat and did not have to worry about what to do with extra money, because we had none, just one less thing to worry about! We went without TV, hair driers, curling irons, utility bills and many of the things we all take as necesary. During this time we have learned how little it takes to enjoy life and be comfortable doing it. Sure it was nice to get our big bed set back up and take a long hot shower, or a soak in the jacuzzi instead of a very short water saver's special. We carried about 85 gallons of fresh water which would last us over two weeks without even trying. Sure we bathed, washed dishes, even drank water just like anyone else but we learned to do it using very little. I think it is called conservation or something like that.
"A year barefoot" taught us to be very in tune with mother nature. Mother nature made all decisions on when and where to move, when to hunker down, where to anchor, and which anchor to use among many other day to day factors that we just don't have to deal with on land or in a marina. Mother nature also told us when it was fine to leave Godspeed and enjoy exploring an island or go bike riding for the day, Or have a wonderful meal in the cockpit while having dolphins or other sea life for dinner guest and splash, play and feed, in a mirror flat sea.
"A year barefoot" also gave us many new friends. Cruisers come from many walks of life. Some seem to have an unlimited budget and some have almost no budget at all, but we are all out there doing it and that seems to bring a common bond that is the great equalizer. Sure there are those that are too good to mingle but that is there loss and the rest of us are enjoying new friends constantly from all walks and instantly forgiving differences in each other because we are "real cruisers" and are a part of a very small community. "Real Cruisers" have a strange bond that maybe comes from traveling many of the same miles, living like most would not understand, and seeing and experiencing life in a way that is only possible from a boat. We visited cruisers well over a thousand miles from where we met them several times, some pre-arranged some just bumping into each other and instantly resume our friendship, watching each others back, and will do whatever it takes to keep all in the anchorage safe. The cruisers were probably our biggest surprise!
Lorrie, Dylan and I, hopped on our snowmobiles and left from the house to cut our Christmas tree yesterday. We rode from the house for ten minutes and arrived at mother nature's tree lot. As we cruised on our "snow yachts" through the forest looking for the perfect tree, we were able to experience a different side of God's great creation. There is beauty everywhere and we have much to be thankful for!
The "cruising kitty" is being replenished and we plan to wet Godspeed again this spring and head north to Nova Scotia and just take it all in!
Merry Christmas and a Happy new year from the crew and we wish you all "Godspeed"!