Ko Olina Marina, Ko Olina Hawaii, 15-MAR-2020 – This is the first time I’ve been alone for more than a few minutes since my dad died.
I’ve traveled on the bus to Honolulu a few times to the visit the Apple store and work on my TWIC card, but this is the first time I have been alone on board with time to think.
Tomorrow, we’ll fly to San Francisco to visit the French Consulate there. We’re not making the trip home we’d planned. Instead, we’re headed to French Polynesia, if they’ll let us in.
We’re working our way through everything that needs to be done. I’m not as productive as I would like, but given the social activities we’ve been invited to, I’m not doing bad.
A word on social activities, ignoring that we live in a basically a walled community twenty miles from Honolulu and feel safe from COVID-19, we are amazed and flattered that people are inviting us to events on board their boats and stopping by to visit, just to visit.
This is the small town life that I think Jennifer has always wanted – To our Ko Olina friends and neighbors, Thank you for making us feel wanted and that we belong. (Although Jennifer will demur and disagree and tell me I am wrong, I understand our popularity is because of Jennifer. The key to good writing I am told is to just be honest. Jennifer is just that and because of it she is so loved. I am so lucky (see below) to be able to come along for the ride.)
Our neighbors, for the most part, have all sailed across a multi-thousand-mile piece of the Pacific Ocean to get here. We share that experience and knowledge, and we all seem to be the only ones among our friends back home have done this – though in the Seattle area it is difficult not to meet people who have done so much more.
Amongst our friends we are seen as either so brave and admirable or just this side of psychotic.
Being alone gives fertile soil to unbidden thoughts. I feel that I should have spoken to my dad by now and tell him what we’re doing. This morning after Jennifer left with friends to site see, the pressure to do so was chokingly difficult.
We’re going to French Polynesia.
The bravest woman I know, our navigator Jennifer, decided that rather than take the boat north to Alaska we’d sail south to French Polynesia, foregoing Fanning, because the line from there to the Marquesas is too close to the oncoming wind.
We’ll look into New Zealand visas to follow and possibly Australia. We’re asked how will we get the boat back. Assuming the world returns to normal in the next year or two, may be through Asia, something I’ve always wanted to do.
I’ve started visualizing the sail there and checking everything in my mind’s eye, though we’re no where near ready to go: The boom is off the mast, the impeller pump needs to be rebuilt, a second electric bilge pump needs to be installed and the boom rigged for three reefs rather than the two it is now.* None of them major projects.
And then the checking. I need to up the mast to check the standing rigging, look at the batteries in their locker, check running rigging…
I watched some depressing Netflix documentary show on Tinder dating. The sadness was basically the social incompetence of the people profiled. It was a combination of being cavalier and just plan not recognizing someone worth keeping and how to keep them.
No one had the common sense to say, ‘‘There is something here we can build on.’’
I did have that common sense fifteen years ago to convince a gun shy woman to take a chance build a life and a history with me. I get teary-eyed when I contemplate this life that I could never have ever expected to have and how it is all because Jennifer decided to take a chance on me and build this life together with me.
Our schedule for the coming weeks: Tomorrow, Monday, fly to San Fran, Tuesday visit the French Consulate, Wednesday fly home. Three weeks later receive pass ports with Visas. In the following weeks, when weather agrees sail south. Arrive sometime in May. Six or so months later go somewhere else to ride out Hurricane season – Perhaps NZ or OZ and see friends.
* The list is much larger, but that is another post.
So happy for you both!
Ah, isn’t it wonderful to have found someone to share life with? I understand what you are saying as I feel the same about Alan.
I thought I was looking at a retirement on my own, filled with friends, racquetball, and volunteering,until 8 years ago when Alan came into my life. It is very special.
And, I believe you are exactly where you were meant to be, enjoying those things, travels, and people who are important to you!
Kudos !!
I will buy you a beer when you make it to Brisbane Australia.
Look at the post I will put up in two hours or so. However, when we get there it will be great to meet you.
So excited for you two!! Also let us know if you want us to check on your house while you’re away. Or if you’ll be renting it we might be interested, since we will have the girls for the school year, starting in August (if the world resumes some kind of normality by then).