Run to the sun!?!?

[Lucky's]

You mean wait until the furnace gets turned on???:grin:

Sorry for reviving the old thread, but it's a slow day at the office and I was just reminiscing about our move and decided to revisit. As we near our the end of our first summer I just wanna say the furnace never got too bad for us. Everyone said it will be like being in the north in the winter; you'll be trapped inside with the a/c because it will be too hot to do anything outside. Well we never let the heat stop us and it honestly never bothered us. We take walks or bike rides nearly every night and short of the 2 weekends we we're visiting Michigan, we have been at the boat EVERY weekend since we got here in March. It's warm, yes. But it's no furnace. Anyone that has considered this move but is scared of the heat, I wouldn't let it stop you. And by the way, after re-reading this...THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you who followed, subscribed and commented. As I've had a bit of time to get settled in and reflect, the encouragement from this forum played a huge role in us having the confidence to follow our dream. I didn't realize how much so until going back and re-reading. So again, THANKS!!! :thumbsup:

 

[Mike Blake]

Im in central fl on the gulf side. Lo key here and I like it. Been here 24 years. heres what I tell people, Come down and spend 2-3 weeks here and try all side's of the state. Then decide for yourself.


Mike

 

[mwph]

No need to apologize. It was a great thread that had a lot of members following it. It's great to be reminded that good things still happen to good people.

 

[Lucky's]

The Atlantic Ocean is larger than the whole damn continent and it is the ocean that decides what's going on that day, not the land. There will be days that you will be able to canoe to the Bahamas and likewise, days that have two square black & red flags flying straight out (little homework for you to have local knowledge.)

Mother, Mother Ocean (as the Reverend James Buffett calls her) is a living identity and deity. Traveling on her requires you respect her at all times and appreciate the days she allows you to return home unscathed. There is nothing more exciting than being out on that body of water knowing there is a whole other world right below you and no land to see...ahhhhh! Watching Florida disappear behind us and in a short time begin seeing the Caribbean Islands appears before us. But just like the movies and history, Jason and the Aquanauts were real, King Neptune is real, Sirens’ in the Sea are damn sure real (I’ve partied with those chicks before and am counting my lucky stars to be alive today). Ahab had it coming no different than Custer simply because he was out captained by a big ass fish and there are days that I don’t see land all day and start thinking Ariel is going to surface and wave me over….just scared as all heck of her Dad……why? Cause he does Mothers dirty work and at times when I am coming off the backside of an 10 footer, I start apologizing to her like a thief in church, thinking I did something to upset her that day….oh, and all that data is in addition to gathering the days NOAA, USCG, Notice to Mariners Report info. That stuff is kind of relevant too.

Let some of the other ocean guys see if I am on the right track here…… NOTICE- Because of the job I hold, I will be real serious with you and say that ALL kidding aside, I beg folks to be actively engaged in learning as much as you can about boating and safety. Safety to me is having the right plan for the day and knowing exactly what to do at any given time. Becoming a captain of your own vessel is paramount; I am talking about vessel knowledge and operations. Being a Steward of the sea is my daily mission (this includes looking out for everyone else on the water and protecting the waterways itself from disrespectful humans.) You may be the best driver in the world but after it turns dark with no land insight and the waves growing to eight feet coming over the hardtop, I am going to reach over and turn off all the electronics and ask if you are familiar with lighthouses and range lights or can you read a paper chart?

Being a captain to me means having the knowledge, skills and experience to keep myself out of situations that require me to use knowledge, skills and experience.

Life is good Billy-Ray and is only going to get better now that you’re going to live the "where lands ends, life begins" lifestyle.

Very good question for a Sunday morning read Shaun and smart that you recognize a potential difference in boating. A year from now when you and Heather are sun burnt Floridians, you will re-read your posting here and get a smile from what you knew at that time as compared to what you know now.

DISCLAIMER- Might sound like I am bragging about how good one has to be to boat on the ocean. I am here to tell you my most vinyl induction due to pucker factor boating, was in the Great Lake’s. Damn you had better be on your toes in those ponds. Went out is 2ft w/ 10 second intervals, came back in 6ft’s w/ a fricking 2 second spread. All the so-called myths I mentioned above, the Edmund Fitzgerald was as real as it comes………know what I mean.

Have a great day guys!

Capt.Rrrrrrrrr

Sorry to bring up the old thread, but it's 6:30am and I can't sleep, so was looking at CSR and, after seeing a few Florida posts, decided to to read through this one again and re-read all of your helpful and encouraging posts. Then I just came across this one, which I honestly didn't remember. Might be a little more than a year later, but exactly as stated by Rusty in this quote, I am reading it again with a huge smile on my face comparing things to what we've done, where we've been and what I know now. Slightly delayed, our best friends are finally moving down from Michigan as well. I am receiving and docking their boat for them from the hauler this Monday and they will be here a week from today. My friends......life is good! (Except for that sunburn peeling on my forehead

 

[DaFish]

Thanks for reposting Captain Rusty's well written epistle. His disclaimer is still oh so true!

 

[Boat Guy]

Great to see it's working out for you Shaun.

 

[AMFM3]

You and Heather are inspirations to us all Shaun. I'm happy it's all working out for you.

 

[BubbaFrsh]

Thanks for reviving this thread! It put a smile on my face as well. Truer words were never been spoken, thanks Capt. Rusty! I have said it takes more than a smooth landing to be a good pilot. I love how those of us here on CSR really take the safety and fun of boating seriously. Very thankful to be a part of this community.

Matt