Day 9 - SOLO for only so much longer

I have been asked by several cruising mothers what it's like to be alone on the boat. I dare say... it's fabulous! This feels like a vacation!

Yes, I miss my kids and my hubby. But truth be told, the peace and quiet is music to my ears. The projects that I'm working on are so much easier with everyone out of my way. There is no bickering at all. I'm getting a break off homeschooling, too. My thoughts are not interrupted by empty tummy queries. I'm eating healthier and less often. I'm spending less money because I'm making fewer trips to the store.

And the music... I have been able to play all my favorite music and not had the selection changed once when I popped out of the salon for a brief minute. No one has turned their nose up at the poached fish entree and commented that they "don't like their fish boiled". The galley and head have remained remarkably clean and... well, I could go on.

Cruel and heartless? No... maybe blunt, but not cruel or heartless. Only those who live on a boat can know what it is like to shuffle and sachet around other people on board. Projects that need to be done usually create huge messes that can become overwhelming in a small space. For example, I have been sewing privacy curtains and making repairs to clothing. I have been able to have the sewing machine out for three days... THREE days!! My sewing is almost finished and then I can put everything away. It has been a joy!

The only troublesome bother has been the cat. Bad Kitty has been uncharacteristically attentive - or rather, needing my attention. She sleeps with me every night- never has before... ever. She sticks her cold nose in my ear in the early morning to let me know that her food bowl is only partially filled. She's ripped up Jim's oil pads and made a huge mess in the cockpit - white fluffy flurries everywhere. And while I sewed, she unfortunately discovered the thread bag. I stopped sewing to collect the first of the many spools of thread that went rolling away before I wised up and put the thread bag in a locker. After I cut away all the tangles and nests of thread off the spools, I turned to see a flash of black and white. Then a loud CRUNCH! She bit the cranberries off my new Christmas wreath.

My family returns soon and the boat looks beautiful! Although my time alone has been precious and delicious, I am eager for them to get back. I want to hear their stories and listen to all the things they did with Grandpa. I'm sure I will have loads of dirty laundry to do and provisions to store, but I'm looking forward to their return. And I think Bad Kitty is too.