TWO GENERATIONS, ONE DREAM

Today, under a surprised January sun, we swabbed the decks, threaded the traveler, tapped in teak plugs and attached a boom vang, side by side, Chip and me, Marvin and Nancy.

Yes, Marvin and Nancy, who could very well be us 20 years hence, reminiscing about happy, happy cruising years, the Bahamas, Eleuthera, Venezuela, the Mediterranean, the French canals, stories punctuated with laughter and tears (okay, the tears were mostly mine).

The four of us have converged on Rock Hall this week with a single purpose: to commission an Island Packet 380 named Good Company, to pass her from one generation to the next, to continue the journey.

Four people sharing one dream. One past. One future. One boat.

Good Company.

THE BIG THAW

The call came on Friday. The thaw is coming.

Here we go for the survey and sea trial up in Rock Hall, Maryland, way up about 2 o'clock on the Chesapeake Bay. We originally planned to bring the boat south as soon as we close the deal.

But it's an unknown boat ... an untried engine ... unfamiliar waters ... uncertain weather ... lots of uns. And perhaps the most disconcerting for me: the water temp hovers at a life-threatening 35 degrees. If we get the warm air temp we're hoping for, that would mean fog.

Any one of these things would not be a problem necessarily, but all together, no thanks.

Instead, we'll find a place to keep the boat in the water in Rock Hall, so we can plan a fun adventure south, not a daredevil jaunt through icy waters.

AWAITING THE THAW

"You guys should go on a vacation," a friend told us today.

"We have too many things going on. All this, um, waiting..."

"Exactly," she said. "Go on vacation, and everything will happen."

So, if we go on vacation, the Chesapeake will thaw, the business and the boat will sell? I'm good with that.

New problem: where to go, where to go?

ICED IN

Parties behind us, time to move on to the sea trial on our new boat.

Or not.

Sailing is all about weather windows, and ours slammed shut, or at least froze up. We'll be in the waiting zone until the water thaws and all the players can orchestrate a convergence on Rock Hall: the current owners from South Carolina; the surveyor from Virginia; and us from North Carolina.

Waiting. We have a lot of experience at that.

So for now, we're back in the little house, watching the weather and trying to remember where we live.

PAINKILLERS

3 parts unsweetened pineapple
2 parts OJ
2 parts cream of coconut
3 parts rum (dark and light)
Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg. Enjoy the deliciousness.

CHIP'S AWESOME CARROT CAKE

2 to 3 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1 c. sugar
1 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1 c. buttermilk
3/4 c. vegetable oil
4 eggs
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 (1 lb.) bag carrots, peeled and grated
1 (8 oz.) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 c. chopped walnuts
1 c. flaked coconut

Grease cake pan.

Bake at 350°F. for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 c. butter, softened
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 (16 oz.) pkg. powdered sugar
2 tsp. grated orange zest
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Combine butter and cream cheese in a large mixing bowl; beat until light and fluffy. Add sugar, orange zest and vanilla, mixing well.

*Recipe (mostly) from cooks.com

LAUNCH INTO 2010

Is it possible to enjoy turning 50? Depends on if you're married to Chip.

Amidst buying a boat and running the wine shop during the holiday rush, he pulled off a three-day party that was spectacular. Signature drinks, homemade carrot cakes, a personal chef, a private concert, all in an oceanfront house with a blue moon rising over the water.

This blog exists to help me remember, but there are some things I'll never forget.