A sense of accomplishment.

It's not often we get this opportunity.  While Brigadoon is a "well found" boat, we have quite a large list of items, some large, some small, that we are focusing on to make her "safe and strong."  Safe and strong, in the words of Capt'n Fatty Goodlander, equals seaworthy.  Seaworthy makes Brigadoon a better boat.  It makes her better able to take care of us.

So we have this list, a prioritized list, of things that Must Be Done, things that We'd Like to Do, and things that we Will Do After All the Others Are Done.   You can call it, Must, Should and Maybe lists.

As of today or tomorrow, we will have crossed off three Must Be Done things off our list.  They are pretty big things.  The details are unimportant for this post but, what is important is we did them.  That's right. We can have all the lists we want, all the wishes we care to plan on but, if we don't execute those plans we will fail.  The most important thing, our goal, our path, is to make Brigadoon as solid, secure, maintainable, and up to date as we can.  It means spending our dollars very carefully, in a clear priority, with a clear goal in mind.

That means work -- hard work.

The thing is, after each job is checked off, no matter how large or how small, it's an accomplishment.  That means, for me, that it's now Something I Don't Have to Do!  It's Done!

And that is worth the work.

More to come on Brigadoon Upgrades soon...

Hunkered Down and Making Plans

We've been quiet of late, having immersed ourselves on plans within plans, plotting, calculating.

There are conflicting forces at work here.

Get out of debt.  Upgrade Brigadoon.  Build Savings.  Simplify.

There is also the desire to cast off the damn dock and the weather keeping us here.  It's been miserable, cold, with little wind when the weather is nice.  We aren't complaining.  It's just something we note; the engine hasn't started, the lines haven't been case of, and we have not taken Brigadoon out, for months.  We've had a few overnight possibilities shut down by miserable conditions.  Why motor to Andrews Bay to sit there in a pouring rain and cold (even though we can heat with the Dickensen) when we can sit at the dock and do that?  So we have not been out.

It has, however, been interesting weather, like when the sun rises behind intense fog.

That's the sun hitting the high rises in Seattle, not an ICBM taking off from Westlake Park.

But we have been busy.

The boat was measured for sails in December.  Carol Hasse spent three hours with us, measuring every aspect of Brigadoon's rig, talking running rigging, ensuring they are making the right sails.  With that, Port Townsend Sails has started our sail order.  We have made the choice not to put this on credit.  The deposit was cash, and the payments for the balance on delivery will be cash.  It makes it harder but it's the best decision.  The Mainsail comes in February, the Yankee in April and the Stays'l in June. We will be fully rigged with brand new custom sails by the start of summer.  I can't wait.

Kerry purchased some great storage bins to organize our pantry.  She is very proud of them.

Lock n Lock bins.  A girls organizational dream.

There's a new punch list of maintenance items I need to address while I'm buried in the boat by the weather.  There are electricals that need upgrading, water systems to tweak, hose clamps on the stuffing box to replace (the boat can sink in very short order if the stuffing box opens up).  There are also various ideas to make some rigging upgrades before the sails are in place.  Then we can spend a good spring and summer sailing Brigadoon.

The Boat Show is coming up.  Lots of plans there shopping for deals, attending seminars, and just browsing.

There's also our Showball (the debt reduction method and philosophy Kerry has implemented) plan to become debt free.  That's one ticket that doesn't come cheaply but, it opens up some interesting horizons for us.

The good news is, boat-wise, there are few surprises from the last year.  While some upgrades are needed, the boat systems are in good shape.  We've really gotten into the day to day habits of living on the water.  We are warm and comfy in our floating home.

Now to continue with the plans within plans, plotting, calculating and the realization of The Freedom Project.

and the Freedom Project isn't just about a boat

It's about the overall idea of downsizing, both in the amount of stuff we own and how much we owe.

So, to that end, we went from this:

to this...

Smarty (yes, that is what Kerry named her) has a screaming 70hp, ABS, traction control and, get this...paddle shifters.  I kid you not.  It has paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

At least they are both German.

So, why the change?

Well, the BMW Z4 is a stupendous car -- really.  Driving it around the potholed roads of Seattle - not so much.  When we get the boat, it will move from a secure, private garage to a parking spot near the marina.  I just can't do that to this car.

Also, we are saving *hundreds* of dollars a month doing this (combination of car payment, insurance and such), which means that money can go towards paying down other debt or going into savings. 

After driving it a couple days in Seattle traffic, I have decided that

1) this thing is a breeze to park,

2) is actually easier to drive on crowded Seattle roads than the Z4 thoroughbred and,

2) I am going to install two (2) of these:

http://www.aerostich.com/ear-cannon-air-horn.html

Yes, 139dB each.  The next ^%$#%^#@ that changes lanes into Smarty will be seeing his audiologist for permanent hearing loss and a hearing aid.