We had a four-day stay at the hotel. It was supposed to be three, but the boat wasn’t quite ready. Greg and Matt saw some sights. I worked. We ate Chicago-style pizza. I have to say, I’m not a fan.

Then, we hopped in our rented car and drove to Seneca to see live in our boat.

Spring Brook Marina

The plan was to live on the boat for a week while final repairs were being made. Then, we would travel back to Chicago for some one-on-one training. After that, we would start our journey south.

I had to work four of the five weekdays we were on the boat. The first day was a bit of a challenge as there was work being done and engines were running. After that, it quieted down. When I used Greg’s Verizon hotspot, my connection was good.

Something I knew but that really hit home during our week in Seneca was the friendliness of the people in the boating community. I have to remind myself not to act city. I can actually make eye contact, smile, and greet people.

Fellow boaters would just walk up to us and start talking. They didn’t always introduce themselves, so I would introduce myself and try to remember to ask them questions about themselves — just the niceties that people do as a matter of course but that I’ve gotten out of the habit of doing over the years.

One of the people on the boat a few docks down asked if we liked fishing.

Yes we do.

So he loaned Matt a very nice rod and a set of lures. I found that quite astonishing.

The Boating Life

I think small towns might be like this. The only problem is that in a small town, you’re generally an outsider for the first 5 or 10 years after you move there. In the boating world, though, you’re instantly part of the community.

I always knew I liked boats and the boating community. I didn’t have a chance to experience it a lot in my life, though.

Before I had my cancer diagnosis, I decided I was going to learn to sail and I started looking at yacht clubs. I found one, signed up for lessons and got my diagnosis the next week. I managed to complete training before my treatment started.

I didn’t have a chance to join the club, though. Then Covid hit. Sailing was off the table for a while. Greg is a boater too, but not a sailor. His dream was to own a boat we could live on and he achieved that dream this year. I get the community and atmosphere that I love. It’s just a little noisier when we’re underway.

What we know about boats

Greg had taken a course pre-Covid to learn how to drive big boats. He has driven smaller boats (18′) for decades. When we were learning to sail, I picked up some knowledge about markers and tides. And that’s it.

Needless to say, we are off for the journey off a lifetime with very limited experience.

Shoutout to Jimmy and Paula, the previous owners of our boat. They are a lovely couple and so helpful to the newbies that we are.