We got home late Saturday night, October 6. As expected it was bittersweet coming off the boat but temperatures were steadily dropping and our 2018 boating season was coming to a close. We emptied and defrosted the refrigerators, cleaned cupboards, and looked through our cubbyholes and closets for cool weather clothes we might need in the “off season”. We ended up with a packed to the gills car - how did we accumulate/ bring this much stuff? We visited with the Shook’s in the Detroit area - always a good time and a belly full of laughs - and then hammered home with a blueberry pie drop in Chattanooga for the Stone’s.

It was nice to get home and sleep in our bed and to flush toilets without keeping an eye on the holding tank monitor. Since we’ve been home all we seem to be doing is working! I’ve replaced the garbage disposal, had the house pressure washed, got the car worked on including a new set of tires, installed a foundation vent screen, planted the fall flowers, opened a zillion envelopes from 6 months of collection, had the HVAC units checked for the winter, had my annual physical, called our contractor to check on some apparent rotten wood, and got the Caddy out and running (started easily and running like a champ). Oh yes, and we resumed our daily Bataan Death March walk through Vinings with Admiral (Commandant) Barbara leading the way. And the temperatures have been warm, even hot!

We’ve found it’s better to get an early start and stay focused on tackling one project a day, not too dissimilar from life on the boat. Difference is these projects can pile up when you’re away for an extended period! We probably should have stayed on the boat - too much work at home! But everything is good.

Several of our boating buddies have asked about our winter traveling plans. It’s too early to say. But prior to deciding to keep the boat in Michigan we had talked about taking the boat to Panama City Beach after the first of the year. We had enjoyed ourselves at Bay Pointe Marina and thought would be a good place to head until winter broke and then return to Chattanooga. However, Hurricane Michael’s landfall in the panhandle destroyed the marina. Our decision to stay north was prophetic.

BTW - I don’t think that I will change the location because it would draw a line to Atlanta from Harbor Springs and misrepresent our travel by boat.

I’ll be posting photos from our trip and life at home during our hiatus. Stay tuned!