Weather Helmed

I haven’t gone into too many details about WHO will be going on the sailing trip with us other than me and Matt because, honestly, that question brings up so many complicated issues and we didn’t really know and we still sort of don’t know who the crew will be for the majority of the trip.  Matt and I can handle the boat ourselves but it would be a lot easier if we had some help!  For the last 6 months, the only people 100% committed to the trip have been Matt and me, so we’ve acted on the assumption that we would be the crew.  (and, yes, this is how I’d rather have it 🙂 )  

See, the crew was originally going to be the three guys (the owners), then it became the three guys and me, then it was going to be two guys and me, and then just Matt and me, and well, who knows now.  The social dynamics of the sailing gig kind of exploded this summer and if you see a suspiciously familiar storyline show up soon on Days of Our Lives or All My Children, don’t be too surprised because this crap would make for an awesome soap opera.  It’s been such a drama these past six months, but we think things are finally beginning to work themselves out…..???

 Anyway, because Matt and I weren’t sure what was going to happen and we would just feel so much more comfortable if we had help when first starting out, we asked our friends P & R to join us.  P & R, are some of the friendliest, kindest people you could ever know, but Lord have mercy the plans they make are not exactly reliable.  They live their lives so they have few obligations and nothing really to tie them down.  They go where they want to when they want to and are creative and determined enough to find jobs wherever they are and somehow make it all work out.  For example, last year, they decided to move to the Bay Area for 6 months “just to try it out.”  R was also thinking about grad school programs.  With no plan whatsoever other than to live with some friends for a month or so, they showed up in San Francisco last January.  The friend’s house ended up being sold and they were kicked out, so they found a house-sitting gig in Oakland, worked three or four jobs each, lived here for three months, then turned around and went back east to get married and work on a farm.  It’s not so much that they can’t be depended on – they can! – but one never knows what they’ll be doing at any given time.  So, when we first asked them to start the trip with us, they seemed very enthusiastic, but we weren’t all that hopeful.

 A few months later, they still seemed enthusiastic and were asking us for details, but even so, knowing how they can change plans at a moment’s notice, we had our doubts.  

 At our wedding in October, P & R said they were going to come with us but could probably only afford to sail for about a month.  Matt told them to plan on coming out around the 3^rd week of January because we should be ready to leave by then and we could probably make it down to Mexico where they could catch a return flight.  Even still, Matt and I were secretly preparing for them to back out…         

 Last night, Matt got an email from P – with their flight information.  The reality immediately sunk in.  They’re flying out for the sole purpose of sailing with us.   

 They’ll be here January 14, all ready to leave the dock and head out.

 But will WE be ready!??!?!!?      Oy! 🙂