Today is St Patty's day! At noon we are doing a dinghy poker run through the harbor and it will end at the Tiki hut with prizes, drinks and no doubt fun. Things are going well here but we are itching for a trip, even if it's a short one.
As the sun rises on another day, we say goodbye to several friends as they head off to destinations afar. Jess and I took the kids to Sombrero Beach to enjoy a sunrise this morning and saw at one point 7 sailboats making their way out of the protected waters of Boot Key Harbor. Not only are we sad to see so many of our friends leave, but we are actually jealous and wish we could be going as well.
We met a couple named Lynton and Carol back when we first bought the boat in Indiantown. Carol would come to the community center every morning to do a massive amount of dishes and Lynton helped overview my trip planning prior to our departure. It was nice to be reunited with them when they got to Boot Key and the children got to walk their dog Buddy as a side job. Walking other dogs in the harbor satisfies the kids urge of wanting one, at least calms the urge to beg for one.
This morning we said goodbye as they headed back to Indiantown, hopefully we will get to see them next year. The amazing thing about living here is the constant change, the people, the boats, it never feels stagnant.
Yesterday while working, about 5 minutes before closing I met a man from Spain. As I cut the line he needed for his roller furling we talked about his plans and his boat. He got passage across the Atlantic (his 3rd crossing) on someone else's boat with the intention of buying a boat here, preparing it, and sailing it back home to live cheaply in his homeland on the ocean.
Every day I walk home about a mile or so and after locking up the store I decided to walk with him and continue talking. He talked about the places he has been and one of his favorites was the San Blas Islands off Panama. He talked about the tribes of Kuna Indians and the people of the over 360 small islands not far from Panama. The Kuna make their own laws, have their own rules and are avid farmers, traders and craftsman. After clearing into Panama you can visit the islands, but first you must pay the Chief a fee of 15 to 20 dollars per month to stay there. That's right I said 15 to 20 dollars per month ;-)
The Kuna have a few rules you must follow and punishment is decided on as well as delivered by their own set of rules.
1. You may visit the island during the day, you MUST leave at night. No one without Kuna blood can stay on the island.
2. If you fish, you must share your catch with the Kuna, they believe the souls of their ancestors are inside.
3. NO Scuba diving! They believe it is unnatural and do not allow it.
San Blas Islands are definitely on the list of places to go!
Today while watching the sun come up I talked with Colby and Peyton about how short life is "We only get to see so many of these in our lifetime, enjoy every one" I said as we walked, feeling the cool sand on my bare feet. The warmth of the sun as it first comes up is one of my favorite things, the feeling is both comforting and invigorating.
The best thing we ever did for our children and for ourselves is break away. I've seen more sunrises and sunsets since we have been here then I had seen in years. Every time it's just like the first time, it never gets old, even though we do.
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