Twas the day before Christmas

At 69, the holidays are different.  Gone are the expectations of what may be, thrills at opening presents, experiments in riding, doing, constructing, playing all ending in exhaustion for children and parents at the end of the day with the Christmas meal.  Now my grandchildren are young adults, my daughter and son-in-law are well into their 40's, landing unexpectedly in middle age, amazed to remember when they thought that age to be that of the ancients.  

My holidays are now about memories of past times, like joining my sisters and mother, ensuring her holidays were full of fun, especially, I remember, the year, they all chipped in to give me my first yellow foul weather suit with its large brimmed hat that tied under my chin with a blue cord; like constructing my daughter's first bicycle with her dad at midnight laughing at the instructions that started out "Assemble before riding"; like stomping  through the snow in New York City with John to celebrate mid-night mass with caroling and the Christmas story, every year a different but sparkling experience.

My memories do not make me wish for the past, rather they warm me, fill me like a satisfying meal.  Each memory is special, some more exciting or ordinary than others, but all add up to what they are -- a history not to be shed. Presents are no longer necessary as we are lucky, we can buy exactly what we want, when we want it.  Our love and friendship satisfies us.  However, we continue to fill "orders" to deliver what our grandchildren specify and attempt to surprise our children and their spouses with presents, hoping to hit the targets of their desires.


As you can see from the photo and I am sure you are experiencing it for yourself, the weather this holiday season is gray, wet, warm and humid so our focus beyond a modest set of decorations in the apartment is on spending what is becoming "buckets of money" on preparations for next year -- repairing, outfitting, customizing, and enhancing Dolce Vento for our sailing adventure that starts in late summer 2016.  The work is like a HGTV episode, except we know that in the end the cost will not be recovered when we"list it", but we need to do it to "love it" because it will be home for quite a long time in the not to distant future.

We'll spend the summer on the Chesapeake Bay testing Dolce Vento's systems, new and old equipment, learning her quirks and strengthening our skills with this 46' recreational vehicle without wheels, but rather a 5'5" keel that slices the water while her 60'1" mast and sails fly through the air above.  In late August, our belongings will go into storage when we abandon all that is land based.  We are headed to the Keys first using a combination of coastal sailing and the Inter-coastal Waterway (ICW), then sail over to the Caribbean Islands in early 2017, if all goes reasonably well.  

Our lives are growing shorter, our skin is wrinkling and our muscles are demanding more exercise than ever before, so we decided to spend this last set of years doing something we are passionate about.  Life is an adventure and this holiday season is the opening to a new chapter.  What is in store for us we do not know, but we look forward to it.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!