Moving Aboard

Check off the next big milestone on the way to a cruising lifestyle. And I mean BIG milestone! We closed on our home on December 28 and officially became liveaboards on our 42′ Lagoon Catamaran. What a whirlwind week we had! Our house had been on the market for approximately 8 months or so when we finally had a first offer. Our counter-offer was accepted, but they wanted to close before the end of the year. By the time we knew the deal was final, we had just a few days to sell off all our furniture, donate or throw away bags and bags (and boxes and boxes) of “stuff,” rent a moving truck and storage unit, and execute the actual move. We are so thankful for friends who volunteered their free time and energy to come and help us pack and clean. Thanks so much to all of you (you know who you are)!

Louise and Alex Foss assisting us with our packing

Dan Foss sorting our donations and trash in the garage

Parting with my office and numerous bookshelves full of books was one of the hardest things for me to give up

Celebrating our last Christmas morning in a mostly empty house

It seems now that we are fully committed! I need patience, however, as for the next 2-3 years we will be living aboard while I continue to work full time at Lakeland Regional. We met a lady today from Pennsylvania who bought a boat a couple of weeks ago here at our marina. She and her husband have their house for sale and they are in the process of selling all. I must admit to pangs of jealousy that they are setting out on their cruise in a month or so. Another couple in the marina who Cindy and I have befriended having been living aboard for a number of years preparing their 37′ sailboat for cruising. They will be leaving in April. It will be difficult watching them sail away, while we are in sailing limbo.

A 26 ft. Uhaul fully loaded with what was left after selling, donating, and throwing away. It is amazing what one can accumulate while living 9 1/2 years in 3700+ sq. ft. of space!

A view of our beautiful, empty, former home

Our 10×20 storage space a couple of miles from the boat. We’ll downsize in a couple of months after transporting a good chunk of this to Ohio to store with family.

Cindy with the last few items on the truck at the Marina

In the meantime, though, I’ve quickly come to think of Beatitude as home. I think Cindy is feeling increasingly comfortable living aboard our vessel, as well. While docked in Regatta Pointe Marina, we will have virtually all the conveniences of our former home on board, other than a washer and dryer. We’ve reverted to the habits of our early married years and visiting the Marina laundromat. Our bed is comfortable, our showers are warm, and we enjoy each other’s company. After 33+ years of marriage, there is still no one I’d rather be with than Cindy. Thought we cannot set sail for distant shores for months, we are looking forward to enjoying some shorter sailing excursions – many, we hope, with family and friends.

The mess in the salon as we are moving in

Cindy and I at Gaylord Palms for some R&R after the move

At ICE! at the Gaylord Palms: Barry, Erica Foss, Mariah (our youngest daughter), and Cindy

The Capital One Bowl, Orlando, New Year’s Day. We watched Georgia beat up on Nebraska!

Our early visitor the morning after moving aboard. The dolphin was about 10 feet off our starboard side

12 thoughts on “Moving Aboard

    • Congratulations! I salute you both for setting out on such an adventure! God Willing,your new life shall prove to be one of the best decisions of your life together! Beatitude is well-named and may God bless all who sail on her!
      The photos are just inspiring, filling my heart and mind with thoughts of utter freedom! Clearly, such a life at sea/on water, will not be a “cake-walk” in terms of the some work aboard, but O what a joy it will be, to “walk on the water” from your room onto the deck, “far from the madding crowd” to behold sunset after sunset; smiling sea creatures playing in and out of the water; and to contemplate aspects of beauty amongst other things!
      Godspeed!
      Heather

    • Heather, thanks for the post. You sure have a way with words! This is why we have this blog to share our adventures with our family and friends. Glad you are a part of our lives! ILY!

  1. I enjoyed your blog Barry! I’ve laughed and cried along with Cindy during this big change in your lives.. Even though I’m not there physically I am there in thoughts (and prayers). THANK you for being such a good husband to my Sis..it means so much to me and helps me be more at ease knowing you are and will take good care of her. May God bless your new phase (and I will be one of those family members going on nearby trips :-) Love you!

  2. Although it has to be frustrating for you guys to be landlocked for awhile, we’re happy we’ll get to see you both at church and other times, when possible. We know what you just went through and it is, indeed, difficult and emotional. It really is a dream come true and we wish you both the very best in new experiences and new friendships! -Candy & Jack
    p.s. see you Wed. night!

    • We are so blessed to be hooked in to All Saints! You and Jack are very special friends we are thankful we have gotten to know thru our church activities :)

  3. That was very interesting, and I am very happy for you. It is a blessing that you have each other. Life can throw some curve balls. I was widowed at 44, and have been a widow for 16 years. So God bless the time that you can spend together.

    Barry, I do not know you very well. I know Cindy from HPN. I know who you are. I worked at the YMCA for a number of years, and recognized you always. I should have introduced myself and got acquainted with you.

    I don’t believe that you will ever regret the decision that you have made. Have fun and many happy years ahead. I would like to drive down and visit ya’ll one day.

    Sincerely, Elva Saum

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