It's all in the family

   It is so windy today!  The waves even this far inland are pretty gross.  So we are still in Chucktown (which is fine by us for a little while longer, though we really can't wait to get this trip started!).

Family vacation in St. Martin a few years ago.  I love my family!

   My parents came up to visit, so that started the weekend off right!  Also, thereby, we got to end our stay in Charleston with a bang!  I love when my folks come hang out.  It makes me wish that when I was a kid, I would have been able to see how much fun they were (& of course still are).  My family traveled a lot together when I was growing up.  I've been on about 16 to 18 cruises, and my parents have been on too many to keep count of.  I've ice skated & climbed a rock wall on a cruise ship while out at sea, it was pretty cool.  Not only have we spent time together on massive ships, but also on houseboats and ski boats, as well.  My parents have had a boat at Inland Sea Marina in NC on Lake Norman for something like 37 years.  I took my first steps as a baby on that marina & eventually lived on my houseboat there as an adult.  Needless to say, we are boating people (as if by now you hadn't figured that out).  So when I told my parents about the crazy idea of purchasing a shrimp boat, de-rigging it, and converting it into a live aboard trawler in order to travel to FL & beyond, they hardly batted an eye.  Of course the FL part suits them just fine because then I will be closer to them.  The project seems to be endlessly entertaining for them, which suits me just fine because we keep in touch more now than ever before (though that could just be because I'm growing up, or grown up, or whatever).

Jib driving his Chris Craft up on Lake Norman

   Boating doesn't run just in my family, it is definitely in Jay's blood too.  He grew up on Pleasant Lake in MI, not to mention that other lake around there... whatsit called?  Oh, yeah, that's right.  Lake Michigan, a lake so big and beautiful it looks as if you are on an ocean.  He spent a lot of time in the water, or on a boat on the water.  So, naturally we're a pretty great fit. 

Us at Silver Beach, Lake Michigan in January (2011)

   So, since it's Saturday night, I think it's time to go enjoy Charleston together one last time... probably our last Saturday night here for awhile.  We'll see what we can get into, out on land, since we are about to spend weeks out on the water. This will be a nice send off.

And we're off! We have a date with Charleston