 |
| Poinsettia Fusion 2017 Tanya Cass |
The Ballad of the SW Casstaway 2017
Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale..
In December of last year we finalized the sale of hearth and home, packed our suitcases with shorts, swimsuits, sunscreen and sandals, and in January 2017 moved aboard our gorgeous Catalina 385 (38 ft.) sailboat, Casstaway. We are currently docked at Regatta Pointe Marina in Palmetto, Florida, while Todd works remotely on architectural projects for Gibraltar Design, and I work on my tan.
The first mate and her Skipper too, will do their very best.
The first mate and her Skipper too, will do their very best.
Figuring out how to dig ourselves out of the mounds of “essentials” we brought aboard and stow it all within our approximately 250 square feet of interior living space was our first challenge. The head (bathroom) looks particularly lovely, though small e9nough that if desired we could simultaneously brush our teeth and shower while doing business on the toilet.
A twelve year tour, a twelve year tour.
At 12 years young, our sweet Weimaraner, Gracie, passed in April of a sudden stroke. She had become a precocious boat dog and was well-loved by all in the marina. We think the anticipation of learning to pee and poop on a piece of Astro-Turf may have hastened her demise. She is greatly missed. We haven’t the heart yet to take down her blog – you can read her last post at www.graciecass.blogspot.com.
A tale of a fateful trip that started from this tropic port, aboard this tiny ship.
Todd is an extremely competent sailor. I, not so much. However, I have become fairly good at making a clean exit and have also managed to back our butt (stern) into the slip several times with only a handful of grimaces and gasps from marina bystanders.
Not a single luxury. Like Robinson Crusoe it’s primitive as can be..
Todd manages to park a laptop, dual monitor, cell phone, numerous pens and paper clips, and his butt, at a tiny navigation station for frequent 8-hour work days. I have learned to cook with virtually one pot, two burners, and an easy-bake oven. Wash and wear equals a weekly trip to the laundry mat. And a marine toilet requires me to order doggie poop bags in limitless supply for disposing of used paper in our lavender scented trash can.
The weather started getting rough, the tiny ship was tossed. If not for the courage of the fearless crew the Casstaway would be lost.
Hurricane Irma had her eye on us in September. Thankfully she used a ladies’ prerogative to change her mind and veered path without causing any damage to Casstaway. Friends and family did not fare as well and are still suffering trauma from the worry we caused them.
Hurricane Irma had her eye on us in September. Thankfully she used a ladies’ prerogative to change her mind and veered path without causing any damage to Casstaway. Friends and family did not fare as well and are still suffering trauma from the worry we caused them.
To make each other comfortable in their tropic island nest.
My boat purchase? An Instant Pot. Todd? AIS, radar, solar panels, wind generator…the list of boy toys goes on. And on. OK, so I benefit too. But I’m jealous that he gets all the retail therapy.
So, join us here each week my friends, you’re sure to get a smile..
We’ve had several friends stop by to visit, including a few who sneaked aboard in our absence to inappropriately decorate the boat in honor of my 60th birthday. Judy Cass and Tom Tobey proved that four people on a teeny tiny boat could live “cheek-to-cheek” for five days. And we’ve continued to make frequent visits back to Indiana to see Howie and Jake, Brynlee, and our precious twin grandbabies, Knox and Mila, who will celebrate their first birthday on December 17.
So, this is the tale of our casstaways., they’re here for a long, long time… They love to make the best of things – it’s (sometimes) an uphill climb.
Through all the mishaps and merriment, we love our new boat life! We look forward to the time when we can untie our lines and sail away to get “lost” among the tropical isles – we hope to be writing next year’s Christmas verse from somewhere in the Caribbean. In the meantime, you can stay current on our adventures at www.casstawaytnt.blogspot.com and www.mermaidchannel.blogspot.com.
Merry Christmas from our cast and crew.
May the sun shine bright on your new year.
TnT (Tanya and Todd)
THE SECRETS OF THE MUSIC WORLD?
Attribution: All song lyrics unabashedly plagiarized from
The Ballad of Gilligan’s Island.