Thursday, November 29, 2012 – Cocoa    

            Happy Birthday to Kathy and Emily!  Hope both of you have a wonderful day!

            It was somewhat on the windy side last night, and something kept making a tapping noise somewhere near the back of the boat.  I was thinking it was going to drive me crazy, but I fell asleep anyway.  This morning I think I discovered it was the boat hook rolling around when the wind moved the boat.  The boat hook will now be more securely fastened, and I hope that will take care of the pesky little noise.  We had to return the rental car this morning, but not before we decided to check out (guess where?) the Publix on Merritt Island.  Ok – you can’t make a blog (especially a funny one) out of a grocery store, but this store was humongous!  I think it rivaled any grocery store I have ever been in in Maryland.  Of course, we had to buy a few groceries (I mean we do have two more weeks until we have to empty the fridge and the freezer!), then we went back to the Barnes and Nobel store to look for a pair of bookends, but couldn’t find what we were looking for.  But then there was a Pier 1 store next door, so we ran in there to buy a Christmas decoration for the boat.

            Now this is something I can’t reconcile in my head.  My view of Christmas is so incongruous with the weather here.  We are walking around in shorts and short sleeved shirts, it’s warm, the sun is still shining at 6:00 or thereabouts, there are palm trees, etc., etc. etc.  Yet I saw someone with a Christmas tree strapped to the roof of their car yesterday.  It just doesn’t look right!  The condo owners who live here have decorated their balconies with Christmas lights.  Actually one owner has a neon palm tree for a Christmas tree.  I’m sorry, but that just doesn’t get it for me.  But, I made the effort with a red placemat, and a table wreath that holds a candle with one of those battery operated lights in it, so I’m happy.

            On our way out of the marina this morning, we ran into another couple we met yesterday.  We struck up a conversation with them, and they informed us that they had stopped by our boat yesterday to see if they could give us a ride anywhere as they keep a car here, but we weren’t “home”.  That was very thoughtful of them, and it got me wondering why it is that boat people always seem to be so nice and friendly to each other for the most part.  Is it because boat people are normally just that way?  Is it because on this trip you run into people who are basically living a “nomadic” type of existence, and you realize that one good turn may turn into another?  Sort of like “paying it forward”.  Does this “way of life” foster an unconscious sense of loneliness and it makes you more eager to meet people?  We have met several people that you wouldn’t necessarily think you would become friends with in normal life, but on this trip, but you are instantly old friends if you run into them again, and this “friendship” will probably remain if you ever see them again.  Oh well, enough of pondering life’s little mysteries.

            I had a bit of withdrawal when we returned the car.  I like having a car – it allows you to be “connected”.  It’s certainly a different experience when you have to plan bike trips to get something – or walking trips.  Maybe that’s a healthier way to be – perhaps the car has ruined us!

            Ok – enough of all this.  We did boatwork for the rest of the afternoon, and will finish up tomorrow.  The boat was full of salt from our trip down here, and Bob got this nifty brush with a telescoping handle so he can clean all those hard to reach places.  The boat was very appreciative!

            After dinner, we may try the streaming movie routine tonight by the light of our little Christmas decoration.  ‘Night all…”