Six days and counting, and I had my first true ‘it’s time to get out of this tundra’ moment this week. Pumping gas in what seemed to be a high velocity wind tunnel/torture chamber sans gloves or hat one recent morning, I shed any feelings of winter-regret or sadness that I may have once had. I’m ready for warmth.
I’ve met with Lily’s teachers and have our plans in place, our med kit is assembled and organized, our Chart Kits arrived, I finished all sewing projects (which included throw pillows, mending of warm-weather clothing, and the gastrointestinal suturing of one stuffed tiger), and now we’re trying to figure out how to fit it all into the car. Which. Might. Not. Work.
To increase both the car load AND excitement level for all of us, I happened upon one of these, that led to the purchase of a second the next day:
Just weeks before, I had gone into TJ Maxx to find some home-ware trinket and thought to myself as I look at their display window “Who on earth would buy a kayak at TJ’s?!”. It’s the place for sheets and cheap clothing deals and sometimes shoes, but definitely not sporting goods. But, in the end, it turns out, it’s me who buys kayaks at TJ’s. Twice.
So. Now we add two kayaks to the ‘coffin’ already sitting on top of the car filled with lots and lots of stuff, and boom! The Squatlys go to Florida. My father is proud just picturing it.
Another set of goodies that arrived were the decals for the new name and hail port. See? 
Our next item ‘to do’ is to research the re-christening ceremony. I’m sure there’s rum involved, and I’m not sure if any of the other details are as important, so I’m guessing we’ll fare well for that oh-so-necessary task.
To leave you with some more visuals, here are some shots of the interior so that you can picture us bumping into each other all day long with more specificity.
Lily and Violet are two of the luckiest little girls we know! We’re already enjoying your preparation process and anticipate each new entry in your blog.
Late May will be here before we’re back on the water again under sail. In the meantime, in between skiing adventures, because one of us does really love the snow and cold, we’ll take pleasure reading about your southbound drive and two months of the cruising life so many of us should have done years ago.
Fair winds Salvio,
F & D