Well into the first week on the boat, and we're getting more comfortable and more organized. The head is fully functional (always the first order of business), the bunks are made with new sheets and rudimentary wardrobes are stowed in a relatively tidy way.

Tom's had a few days off - he biked to town for the weekend to visit with friends, and they threw him a going-away party, which might have involved dressing him up like a pirate....We'll see if there's any pictures fit to post.

Weather has been great, and that's a great help when it comes to being able to spread the workspace out on deck. The settee on the starboard side is completely taken up with hand tools, power tools, fittings, snerds, grummage and stuff that needs to be installed or connected. The dinette area is pretty much set up for living, and as soon as the refrigeration gets running, the countertop gets installed, and the pantry and dish storage comes together, we'll eat like normal humans for a while. We're cobbling together some fairly bizarre meals in the meantime, but we've eaten some great meals courtesy of friends ashore.

We ate with friends on Saturday night, and I fell fast asleep as soon as we got back and I hit the bunk. An hour or so later, Randy woke because the pump was running longer than it ought to, and got up to find himself sloshing through hot water on the floor in the head, barking about the bilge filling with water. I came to to find myself standing beside him, saying, "We have a basement, not a bilge, we live in a house." He gave me a very strange look, then ignored me and proceeded to reconnect a hose that had come off. I went back to bed once it was apparent that Randy had the problem under control, and I remembered that, yes, we do have a bilge and not a basement.

Other than that little bit of excitement, we're painting and pondering and sawing and gluing and every day the boat looks more like the vessel that will take us south. It's going to be wonderfully cozy - can't wait to get the books on the bookshelves and the pots and pans stowed and some real food aboard.

We've been sleeping well aboard, and from what I hear, it's a lot quieter in the marina than it is on Duncan Street. Party on dudes.

Tom rode his bike back this afternoon after a few days shore leave, and after dinner, he played his guitar on the foredeck and it was lovely.

I'm getting into the vibe on board. I don't miss work. I'm getting very attached to a ratty pair of cut-offs.

Tonight after supper, we did a quick review of what's left to be done. There's more than a few things left on the list, but when we get to the end of the major stuff on the list, Randy said, then I think we should justleave. My guts did a little flip flop, and we raised a toast to just leaving. Maybe two or three more weeks, and we're heading out.