This is it.

Well.

This is it.

This is our last night 'living' aboard Awaitea. We had intended to spend it together, toasting our travels (or lack thereof) over a lovely dinner & bottle of bubbles, but instead I'm going to be slogging it out at work whilst hopefully Xave & the kids meditate, light a few candles - extinguish a few lit torches? - & toast our time aboard our most recent home on behalf of me too.

Awaitea is all but sold. We are taking her out of the water to paint & antifoul etc, and so have rented an eensy weensy teeny weeny apartment in Double Pay for a couple of months. In this case, compared to home, lets just call it Triple Pay...

It was our decision, and at the eleventh hour we can only see the pros of the boating lifestyle. 'sokay. I'm fine. Just sad. :(

Because you see, It is just as easy living on a boat as a house, when you are connected to mains power & have plenty of water, & can simply step off onto a pontoon to get to wherever you're going. Just as easy.

Staying at Rushcutters Bay however has enabled us to be amongst the vibrancy of this city, and for the most part, we have been made to feel welcome - by the staff of the CYCA in particular - thanks largely to Cooks bewitching everyone that she comes across. Just this morning, as Cooks busied herself on the reception desk, a comment was made about her interesting outfit & head gear. The wonderful Maria on reception, stated very matter of factly to her colleague, that 'Cooks likes to do things differently. Doesn't she look lovely'. Warm thanks to Maria, Nick, Gerard, Angie, Marcus & Frank for indulging the kids, making us feel welcome, and shuffling us around in order to accomodate us. We will miss the CYCA.

Awaitea has been very kind to us. She has kept us safe & dry. She has rocked us to sleep, and provided a simple stepping stone to the aquatic playground for the kids. Cookie was 2 when she moved on board Awaitea. She is 4 now. This will probably be most difficult for her - already bursting into tears at the thought of not living aboard. Roo, at 6, simply wants to RUN. To the car, to school, to the park, to the soccer field. Land will suit his ever increasing stride. And as for us, for Xave & I, we are dreaming of our next boat.

Thanks Awaitea, for bringing us close, & for teaching us balance (and now the tears are well & truly flowing......