We’ve both left the office for the last time. The steps we take now are unfamiliar, our footfalls are steady but they’re in a new direction. Where will they take us next? Read on to find out!

Short term

We are moving the boat to North Carolina. Kyle’s dad leases a marina there, and he’s saving us some dockspace right next to a work shed. We’ve got a refit list a mile long, and a tight budget to get it done. The last week has been ultra crazy (including zero days off for Darcy, big issues in both vehicles, which took up all of Kyle’s free time, plus stocking up on food like we’re never going to see a store again, and a heatwave that held us up from exerting ourselves too much without getting dizzy), so we’re taking the easy, no-thinking route: the IntraCoastal Waterway (ICW). We anticipate travel time between 7 to 10 days.

Next we need to coordinate logistics to get both vehicles up to NC. We also have two weddings to contend with, one in MN and one in Charleston. October. Is. Busy.

Medium term

Refit the boat per the lists we’ve been making. Big ticket items include a hardtop bimini, a 330% increase in our solar power, new trampolines, and all new running rigging. We also need to coordinate a haulout for bottom paint. We have some cosmetic/comfort upgrades as well, the salon table is massive and we…aren’t table people? We used the table at the house for two things: setting groceries on, and serving dinner to friends. The galley sinks are too small to fit our dishes, and the bathroom sinks are too big! 

We also need to bring the bus up to Indiana to put it in storage. We might as well enjoy the trip, so we’re also going to swing by friends and family in Michigan.

Long term

After refit, we plan on heading to the Bahamas to get rid of our training wheels. We’re going to live boat life in earnest, learn our lessons, and get a feel for the lifestyle. Then we’ll make a plan for where to go next!

Notable posts

If you’re new here, check out the crazy stuff we’ve had to deal with just living at the dock:

Historic Snowfall in Charleston

Boat Fire

And our delivery up from Ft Lauderdale was anything but uneventful:

The Gale