Life in our little dock village has all the wonderful components that a small town in America could have. We got a couple great restaurants,
a marina village general store with bait and fuel..
(thank god they're wide fairways---more forgiving for amateurs with new boats).
....and there's the rentable floating wedding chapel.
Our dock rental fees include a bag of ice a day, free coffee and gossip at the store....and the best part is donuts on Saturdays---a delicacy saved for only special times....gotta draw the fat line somewhere, cause it ain't gonna be the beer/wine. We also have a fitness center, boaters lounge, swimming pool and Tim's evening favorite.....the hot tub.
But some of my personal favorite things about our little village is the "locals". There's about 100 live-aboard boaters....some here for 10 years and others new and transient like us....but all with great character....just like their boats.
Lyn and Chris heading out for the holidays with the family....Abbey and Kate the parrot. Chris is the local canvas seamstress...and she's in demand too. Lyn, is the local chatty-friendly guy---he likes to watch others work.
We've been here for 2 1/2 weeks so far and everyday we complete some task to bring us closer to casting off the dock lines....still looks like end of January sometime.
We have studied, listened, consulted and researched so many different aspects about our boat....Tim says our brains have many new wrinkles.....nothing a dock side sundowner can't cure :)
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| Growin' mangroves on a boat called "Noah Genda". Tom is the local diver that scrapes barnacles off of hulls...a constant dirty job...no time for his own home |
Lyn and Chris heading out for the holidays with the family....Abbey and Kate the parrot. Chris is the local canvas seamstress...and she's in demand too. Lyn, is the local chatty-friendly guy---he likes to watch others work.
Our across the dock neighbors---
Steve and Cheryl, the best happy hour boat and Robert the hilarious bachelor that rants everyday at the birds on his "poop" deck
We've been here for 2 1/2 weeks so far and everyday we complete some task to bring us closer to casting off the dock lines....still looks like end of January sometime.
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| Old stain on the "sole" in the cabin |
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| Sand, paint & varnish....done. |
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| Organizing storage |
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| ...oh boy... |
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| Yep, upgrade on plumbing |
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| Kevin---the Yanmar engine guru...he walks on water |
All in all, this new life has brought us life....we feel alive, happy and healthy.
A lighted boat parade up the Manatee River something new for us.....  |
| Pink reindeer-flamingos? |
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| Our Christmas boat-tree in blue lights----Fiesta |
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| Festive and fun---our "C" Dock at Christmas |
Merry Christmas and a Healthy Happy New Year to all!!!!
Arrrgh! Merry Christmas and shiver me timbers! Have a ration of rum on me!
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