Me Time on the Boat

Our First Dahlia

Another day in the life. No pictures. Just words today. Not sure where we are going. No notes. I'll just wing it again.

Nice warm day. A bit windy. Beth and I got up in Inverness. We toured the garden and meditated. We decided to go our separate ways today. 

Beth drove to the city. Had lunch at the Ferry Building. Not that she told me - I got the receipts by email. She is having a sleep over in SF with her sister Carol. Good for them. They have a sweet caring relationship.  A little sister fun in the city. 

I had an electrical project on the boat. It was really a pretty minor project. However, I am not a marine electrician. For a beginner there are many possibilities...

I spent about five hours on the boat. The electrical project took me about a couple of hours, including a trip to the marine hardware store. I had to change an electrical outlet. The challenge is connecting the wires so that the connection is solid and watertight. The marine environment is challenging. 

I wasn't sure how to do it. I consulted Rishi. He really did not know how to do it either. I had a general idea. I researched it a bit on the internet. I stopped at my usual marine store - West Marine on my way to the boat and got a couple of connectors I thought would work. 

The project started out well. I seemed to be able to get a good connection at first. Then, it became clear to me that I did not have the right connectors or the right crimping tool. I remembered a marine electrician I once hired telling me about a marine store in Alameda - Svendsons Marine. 21 minutes away - open.

I was hungry. I had not eaten all day. Close to the store, there was an In N out Burger with a short line. I HAD to stop for a double double, animal style, protein style. I might have to go to this store more often.

Svendson's was awesome. I had never seen a marine hardware store before. Marine tools, parts, toilets, clothes, oars, etc. I found the electrical department. They had EXACTLY what I needed: the right connectors; plastic sleeves to heat shrink over my connections to keep the salt water at bay; and a heavy duty crimper.

Back to the boat. I changed the outlet and neatly tucked away the wires with zip ties. Proud.

I never get to spend time just messing around on the boat. I am usually just getting ready to go fishing or cleaning the boat as quickly as possible to get get back home because I am tired. 

I got to relax. Listen to music. Look over everything. Rearrange things. I tended to all the little projects that get overlooked. I cleaned the dashboard. Before I knew it, it was six p.m. I checked the traffic. Not too bad. Off to Inverness.

I stopped at the Good Earth in Fairfax for groceries. My favorite hippy grocery (Rainbow is a close second). I treated myself to some fresh clams and prawns.

I drove west toward Pt. Reyes. There is a calmness driving into the country and Pt. Reyes. I started to feel the peace as I drove through Samuel P. Taylor park, through the redwoods. Then up and over the hill to Olema - lots of cows. 

I made it home. Nice clean, empty, quiet house. Steamed clams with lots of garlic. Prawns boiled in Old Bay spice. Spinach salad with red pepper and cucumber in bleu cheese dressing. Listening to the Bakersfield Beat. Happy. Satisfied. Finished. Riding my bicycle with Mark Lillge tomorrow, over Mt. Tam.

the bear