High Highs and Low Lows

Three weeks have passed since I moved on board Mahana and there have been some mighty lows, and enough good highs to remind me why I love living on a boat and don't regret it one bit.

Life on the mooring:

There is no better feeling than being out of the marina, instead waking up to the gentle rock of the boat in the bay, the sound of birds, the sunlight appearing over snow covered hills, and the excitement of lighting the fire to get some warmth back into my bones. Fill the kettle and feed the fire.

Work days when I’m out on the mooring require mammoth motivation and are usually fuelled by a speaker on max volume (no neighbours no problems) accompanied by a wee boogie that gets my blood pumping. In 2 degree frosty mornings, the idea of firing up the dinghy outboard and whizzing into the port to go to work is rarely attractive. Especially not at 7am in the dark...

But every morning I’m also reminded that as commutes go, mine is superior to most. I have bragging rights.

Mahana from the morning commute is a pretty sight.

I've learnt some big lessons, the first of which is to slow down. I've rushed and rushed, in a frenzy to get things done and go sailing. I've still not been sailing and have crapped out my engine, my outboard motor and most other projects I've attempted. Last weeks, this weeks, probably the coming weeks' obsession has been the leaking water pump. I pulled it apart, not taking any note of how it all goes back together, and have since reinstalled it three times. Once mounting it backwards, which unsurprisingly led to zero water flow and an overheated engine.

My outboard motor is also now out of action after I assumed the 50:1 ratio of petrol to 2-stroke oil was merely a suggestion. It's not, don't overlook the instructions and wing it. It's now not running, just like my brain, which is a big dark fog of engine parts.

Employing friends to keep me sane

Some days I want to chuck it all in to rent a lovely warm room in a house. It's tough, I’m overwhelmed, there's a lot to do and daylight is non existent outside of work hours so projects are slow...most are non-starters. I have no idea how to find enough hours in the day to do boat projects, clean (endless cleaning!!), go to the shops and eat properly, shower (I take about one every three days it's disgusting), wash clothes (still not done), go sailing (a distant dream), go for that mountain bike I’m longing for as it clears my head, blah blah it's endless and I’m barely sleeping.

But, to end positively I still love it and the highs are HIGH!! I’m currently lying in bed next to a roaring fire, smiling still. Just.

The frequent visit from Nugget cheering me up.

I’m not giving up quite yet, summer is just around the corner!