Brand Spankin' New Here :)

[saltwaternurse]

Good Morning,

Testing...testing...1-2-3...Radio Check...is this thing on? lol

I'm making my formal introduction to you all - my name is Jane and I am the loving owner of a 1980 Albin 36 which I keep down in my Home Port of Ft Lauderdale. I am a wretched Sea lovin' woman with a passion for boats and have owned vessels for the last twenty years (Yes - I was two when I adopted my first hull... Not really - more like 22...) I started out as a sailor, 22 ft Oday, then had a brief fling with a 26 SeaRay before going back to my evil ways and getting a San Juan 28. Sadly, in the interim, my marriage broke up and my two sons and I lived aboard a Bruce Roberts 45 ketch for a year and most recently, I went to the "Other Side" and bought the lovely Albin 36. (There was a vintage 13 Boston Whaler SuperSport in there also - but that might be too much information, no? I mean, how many boat affairs should a girl admit to before people start to think poorly of her? lol)

Bit of background on me in case you're curious - I was born in England and spent my childhood bouncing back and forth between Florida and the UK, with side trips to Tenerife in the Canary Islands and Ibiza in the Med - the only daughter of a couple of Nomads, I am hardwired for adventures and such is my legacy, a wonderful, terrible curse...My sons are soon to be 13 and 15 - and though they haven't yet embraced the salty lifestyle quite like their mother, I have a feeling this trait will be emerging in them shortly. As my username implies, I am a Registered Nurse but I'm currently taking a little sabbatical and slowing the pace down a bit as I fear that life may be too short for all that stressing. We adopted a silly fat headed labrador called Max at the tail end of last year, and as a 7 year old, he's still getting to grips with being less of a Wuss and becoming a magnificent salty hound.

I decided to get my OUPV SixPack license at the beginning of last month in the event that the whole allure of the Nursing gig doesn't return and I'm still getting comfy with my Islander girl - so occasionally (no, strike that - most often is what I meant), I refer to myself as "Capt. White Knuckles" lol

I am attaching some pictures from the recent Spring Break trip to Key Largo and I look forward very much to getting to know everyone, someone or anyone... Cheers, Jane

http://www.flickr.com/photos/saltwatern ... 133712875/

[Pitou]

Radio check heard loud and clear here in the northeast. Better to be Capt. "White Knuckles" than Capt. "Sandbar"! Hold on tight and enjoy the ride. Your 36 appears to be pretty squared away and you'll find this forum to be pretty helpful.

Welcome aboard to the AOG.

[Nancy]

Hi Jane -

We read you loud and clear! Again, welcome aboard.

Have fun with the 6-pack stuff. Sounds like a lot more fun than, say, a real estate license.

The ice went out of our bay last night, so we're full steam ahead on pre-launch projects. First we need the water turned on in the yard, and then we really do need the lake warmer than 32 degrees.

[Panhdjoe]

I enjoyed reading your post! thank you. I am currently lusting for a 36 such as yours, we have a 27 family cruiser now. Speaking of which I have next week off and myself and my first mate Janet will be off up the intercostal for a much needed cruise. Please keep on writing.

[whwells]

Like the others your life sounds like a fun one. Those who put off for the future again and again never learn out to play and if they live long enough it is then too late to teach an old dog new tricks. Yes, play now and things will take care of themselves in the days to come. Have friends with the 6 pack license who do reasonably well. So welcome to you "Brand Spankkn" new here. Your 36' Albin is a great choice with lots of living room.
whwells "Howard"
35TE Sportfiher/flgbridge 2006
Home Port / Anacortes, Wa.

[tbnolin]

AHOY Matey!!!
A big welcome from Stuart!! Took 8 months off last year and meandered our way down the coast...8 weeks of cruising and the rest of the time wondering where to end up! Here we are! Welcome!!!

[Jack]

Welcome aboard! That was a fun post. She's a beauty.

[RobS]

...... Sounds like a lot more fun than, say, a real estate license. .

Yeah that would even be less fun than an adjuster's license! (sorry Kevin )

[saltwaternurse]

Radio check heard loud and clear here in the northeast. Better to be Capt. "White Knuckles" than Capt. "Sandbar"! Hold on tight and enjoy the ride. Your 36 appears to be pretty squared away and you'll find this forum to be pretty helpful.

Welcome aboard to the AOG.

Thanks for the welcome - and you're right about preferring white knuckles to a grounding - though I imagine she and I will do that too at some point - the water is skinny down here! Jane

[saltwaternurse]

Hi Jane -

We read you loud and clear! Again, welcome aboard.

Have fun with the 6-pack stuff. Sounds like a lot more fun than, say, a real estate license.

The ice went out of our bay last night, so we're full steam ahead on pre-launch projects. First we need the water turned on in the yard, and then we really do need the lake warmer than 32 degrees.

Nancy - thank you again for the warm welcome! Glad the ice is melting - I had a sailboat up on the Chesapeake and I remember those days...Roll on Summer! : )

[saltwaternurse]

I enjoyed reading your post! thank you. I am currently lusting for a 36 such as yours, we have a 27 family cruiser now. Speaking of which I have next week off and myself and my first mate Janet will be off up the intercostal for a much needed cruise. Please keep on writing.

Thank you so much for your welcome! I've owned several vessels now and while any time on the water is wonderful (the 13 foot 1974 Whaler springs to mind!) I have to tell you that the Albin 36 is magnificent for cruising, so comfortable. I wish I'd bought one earlier when we lived aboard, you'd think the 45 ketch would offer more livable area, but the Albin almost 10 feet shorter is a much better layout for a Mum and her two sons! I'm looking at the trip North at the moment - Summer is coming and while I should get back to work, the kids will be off and all I ever thought when I was stuck in the daily grind was "Boy, I wish I could take off for the Summer..." Enjoy yourselves and I look forward to reading your cruise logs! Jane

[saltwaternurse]

Like the others your life sounds like a fun one. Those who put off for the future again and again never learn out to play and if they live long enough it is then too late to teach an old dog new tricks. Yes, play now and things will take care of themselves in the days to come. Have friends with the 6 pack license who do reasonably well. So welcome to you "Brand Spankkn" new here. Your 36' Albin is a great choice with lots of living room.
whwells "Howard"
35TE Sportfiher/flgbridge 2006
Home Port / Anacortes, Wa.

Howard - thank you for the welcome and you hit the nail on the head....Life is WAY too short! As a Nurse and in my personal life, I've seen it happen OVER and OVER that people make themselves slaves to the job so they can enjoy their retirement later - it's honorable and for the right reasons, however, how many times have you seen those plans get derailed by illness or some other unforseen event? I have been so lucky in life, I hope to continue that way but Life is for Living! Woo Hoo!

[saltwaternurse]

AHOY Matey!!!
A big welcome from Stuart!! Took 8 months off last year and meandered our way down the coast...8 weeks of cruising and the rest of the time wondering where to end up! Here we are! Welcome!!!

Howdy You there, in Stuart! Meandering is the BEST isn't it? : ) Good on you for making the break and just going for it! Once you make the detachments, the other part is easy...going home is more difficult, though when you get there, you realize not much changes! Let me know if you push further South, I'm off the New River in Fort Lauderdale

[saltwaternurse]

Welcome aboard! That was a fun post. She's a beauty.

Jack - thank you for the welcome and the compliments on my Girl! It's a wonderful life, isn't it?

[tbnolin]

Meandering is the only way to go!!! The Admiral and I had the best time of our lives. No hurry what so ever. A trip that we enjoyed to the fullest. About 40 miles south of Lake Champlain on the Hudson River down to Stuart...what a ride!!!! Life is Waaaay toooo short....enjoy it while you can!! (I think we sold the boat today ) Another chapter in our lives have been written...life goes on!! As my Mom always said " don't wait til your golden years...because they aren't that golden!!" She was 96...and I firmly believe what she said!