Move to Siesta Key

Compact…that’s the word for our life now…compact.

We have spent our first night aboard. The children settled down in the forward cabin without a murmur, Alex in one lower bunk, and Carli caged in the other like a junior-size lion. The settees in the deckhouse pull out into a hard but comfortable bunk for us.

Tragedy struck this morning early. We realized that no stove meant no coffee. Bucher almost knocked us over dashing ashore to rub two twigs together to build a fire. He perked us a pot of coffee and cooked Alex some bacon and eggs in the most beautifully efficient way. I was very much impressed.

 

I think after this morning, my favorite room on the boat will be the head. It is a marvel of efficient use of space. To begin with, the seat, occasionally called “the throne,” actually is one in this case. It is on a dais, some six inches higher than the (minute) floor of the room. That leaves ones legs dangling, but the discomfort is more than compensated for by the convenience of being able to brush teeth, comb hair, wash, and, if you like to be tidy, clean the room, from your seated position. Privacy in the room is a possibility, unless you suffer from claustrophobia. Also, it is not advisable if you don’t have a hard head. Since the head is the only place to keep the broom, and it is propped against the wall the door slides back along, sliding the door closed brings the broom clunking down on top of you.

 

Settling is not the problem that I thought it would be. Once all the lockers were scoured and papered, our things fitted into them beautifully, with space (but not much) to spare. And, to my complete amazement, the suitcases themselves and one trunk were disposed of in the hold, as convenient storage shelves aft of the engine.