Settling In

In 2 days we will have been living on the boat for 2 weeks. I know this doesn't sound like much...we've taken longer vacations. We spent most of the first week getting the boat organized and putting away the rest of what we brought from the house. The boat now has a 2 degree list to starboard, we're going to have to work on that!! It hasn't been all work and no play. The temps here have been in the 90's since we've been here so we get most of our work done before lunch and cool down in the afternoon at the pool or a dinghy ride. We did get the boat out for a few hours last Monday to give her a shake down and all was well. We found the Kentucky State Prison. Seems they have a nice view if nothing else. If you click on the Locate Us link on the right you can see the track of our round trip.

Do not pick up swimmers in this area!!

Later that evening we were sitting on the front deck and got to see a baby hummingbird take it's first flight from a nest down the dock. It made it as far as the front of our boat and plopped down to rest for about an hour. He didn't seem to know what to do next. Mama kept coming with a bit of nourishment and encouragement. This past week the 2 baby's seem to be getting bigger each day and are definitely better flyers.

Now What?

Dinner!!

This past Saturday Pier 5 had its first dock party of the year. Man do they know how to throw a party around here! The grill had to be floated in by barge after being hauled here behind a car.

Russell and Jerry man the mangrill

Since we had cleaned out our bars at home when we left we felt it was only fitting that the McMullen's do what we do best, serve drinks! I think our bar was a hit but a few folks were eyeing our blender a bit too fondly!!

Jill chats with Capt. Bill

There were over 70 people here with everyone bringing a dish. I doubt anyone left hungry (or thirsty)

The party went well into the night. The live entertainment and dancing had to end at 11:00 to respect the neighbors but the last I remember looking at my watch it was 1:30...not bad for old folks.

Tomorrow we will be heading out for our first overnight road trip. We are only going about 45 miles up Kentucky Lake to Paris Landing State Park but you can follow along on the tracker if you have nothing better to do. 

We'll be heading back to Cincinnati next Sunday for a couple of days for Dr's appointments and to meet with the fire department to set an exit date. July is already looking busy with family coming down for visits and a trip up the Cumberland to Nashville with some friends at the end of the month. 

We'll keep posting, you keep in touch!

Dawn of a new Day!!

OR  OMG-WHAT HAVE WE DONE?!?!?!

If you've been following our blog from the beginning or at least went back and read the first post you know that Jill and I have had a bit of a plan as far as this boating thing goes. Buy a boat big enough to live on (check) sell everything we own in order to live on said boat (check) retire and start traveling (pending).

We have spent the past few weeks getting the house sold, giving away or selling most of what we own and moving onto the boat here in Grand Rivers, KY. Last year the house was on the market for 6 months without much of a nibble...this year we had an offer in 6 days!! Needless to say we were caught a bit off guard and spent the last month rushing around to get everything done. Well, yesterday at noon we took our last trip down the driveway headed toward the future. I'm glad we were in separate cars because, to be honest, I had a tear in my eye for a few moments. We had a great 15 years there on Thompson Rd. but I'm sure that will be nothing compared to the next 15!!.

Last Party at TRCC

 Next stop was at our good friends house where Mike took possession of my beloved Avalanche leaving Jill and I to travel the next 4 hours in a heavily overloaded Mini Cooper, our only car now.

Rolling Entrapment

Sooooo after all the chaos and rushing around we are now truly homeless, at least in the dirt sense. I will also have to admit that after the 4 hour drive I had a huge grin on my face as we came into the marina. I think (hope!) we are really going to enjoy this next chapter of our lives. Everything we now own is on the boat, in the parking lot or in a 5 x 10 storage unit in Cincinnati. We call that our starter kit for the next house wherever that may be. 

Room to spare

Today was that dawn of the new day. We woke up on the boat without having to think about "when do we have to go home". We still worked our butts off today like we only have a few days here. We will have to get better at that for sure! We still have to make some trips back home to tie up some loose ends (like retirement) but the reality of it is we are full time boaters now and for the foreseeable future. I'm OK with that. We will miss our friends and family for sure but hope they follow along and plan a visit or two. We have had several volunteers for any excursion to the Bahamas, go figure.

One last shot as the sun goes down over Green Turtle Bay. You should really plan a visit. Just call first, we may be out boating ;)

Wish us luck!!!!!!