Outside of this storm that's battering the west coast, there's not a lot going on. Pretty much just working on the boat and waiting for another weather window so I can make my way past the next two stops (Fort Bragg, CA, and Bodega Bay) into San Francisco.
The main thing I've discovered since arriving in Eureka last Sunday night is that the "cruising lifestyle" isn't just a dream anymore. Having never been the "neighborly" type when I had a real neighborhood, I didn't know what to expect as far as the "boat neighborhood" thing goes. Suffice to say, I'm a polar opposite on the water. In the suburbs I always felt like I wanted to associate with neighbors, but not necessarily be friends with them; say "hi" on the walk to the mailbox, set up the occasional play date for the kids, keep an eye out for any weirdness when you know they're on vacation. But keep them distant ("good fences make good neighbors"). But when cruising, I find that I love the interaction, the dock-side talk about engines, water systems, weather, which places to anchor, which marinas to visit.... It's a much different sort of neighborhood. Here, everyone is generally living the same life. Everyone is still interesting, of course, but everyone here has in one way or another, to some degree, come to a similar conclusion: that they wanted to see different things and live a different life than they can live on land.
