Slow Sailing
Recovery isn't linear, and neither is starting a business. Especially one that involves boats. Things don't always go according to plan. Stuff breaks and people relapse. It's inevitable, yet we persevere. Needless to say, there have been some roadblocks in getting everyone on the water. I will say that I am grateful to be creating, and for those of you who have purchased merchandise and have made donations. Currently, we're waiting to fix or replace the starter motor on Odd'sea. Or, more accurately, waiting for my mechanic to become available to have a look at it and troubleshoot the issue.
Donnie's a great guy, just an extremely busy one. He has 3 fishing boats and often helps others with their boats when he's not out fishing. This man can fix anything; therefore, he's in high demand. We recently had a great run up the Fraser River where we pulled one of his vessels out of the water to scrape and repaint the hull. It was a week of hard work, but it was extremely fulfilling, and we had a lot of time to bond. We shared war stories, cracked jokes, and ate banh mi and tortas while drinking NA beers.
Since then, I've been busy at home setting up the HQ. Now the office has 2 desks, and some shelving is on the way. I need a large, purposeful space dedicated to my work; otherwise, my ADHD takes over and I get distracted. My old desk was a tiny one in my living room, which I was barely able to use. This space will double as an art studio as well, allowing me to paint larger pieces and experiment with more mediums. It also has windows on 2 sides, flooding it with natural light, which I love.
Fortunately, the local sailing season runs late into the year, so there will be plenty of time for sailing. In the meantime, I can continue to upgrade Odd'seas' cabin and creature comforts. This is always ongoing, and although she needs a lot of work, her potential is limitless, and I have a solid vision. So far, the interior has been stripped of old, crappy incandescent lighting, some instrumentation that wasn't working or outdated, and the pièce de resistance: the microwave in the washroom. (barf) Planned upgrades include recessed LED light strips, an aluminum saloon table, penny tiles in the washroom, and new cushions and a quilted headliner. A major long-term plan is to replace the diesel motor with an electric one.
All in all, this has been a good lesson in patience. I know things are progressing, and even though it's been slow, it's still progress. I am trusting the process, and as soon as we're ready I know how busy I will be on and off the water. More soon.
