MV & ACK

One might think you wouldn’t be able to enjoy vacationing in the same location more than once, but one would be wrong. There can be many factors that play a role in keeping the adventure distinct such as weather, wave activity, and access to running water. However, I believe the key to having a totally different experience in the same place can be summed up in one word: kids.

If the children wake up before you’re able to get some coffee, that can have an impact on your morning. If they fall into the seawater fully clothed, that can greatly impact the aroma of your space. If they get a $25 arcade pass, you can then be the proud owner of a $2 slinky and a $4 dart gun. If they accidentally jab a passerby with their fishing hook, it can turn you into an outcast. If they potentially break a porthole closure on the starboard side of your boat, you could get wet. 

Conversely, if they walk with you the half mile to a coffee shop every morning, you may enjoy pleasant conversation.  If you encourage them, they may be bold enough to swim in the Atlantic no matter the temperature. If you prepare sandwiches and hotdogs every day, they will probably say thank you and genuinely mean it. If you surprise them with a paddleboard, they’ll use it for hours and hours. If you let them talk about fishing, attempt to fish, and shop at fishing stores, then you will really sigh with relief when they finally catch a fish. If you beg for ice cream, they will happily go along with you to get some. 

Suffice it to say, we had a really nice time on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket last week. The voyages there and back were a mariner’s dream with calm, nearly flat seas and no wind. Each cruise we take provides an opportunity for learning and cataloging boating experience. For instance, this time I had to take the helm at one point and promptly promoted myself to Admiral. In case that isn’t enough evidence of my readiness for the new title, I didn’t even untie the knot in the line Danny provided me for looping around the piling. All he had to do was move a joystick back and forth while I had to hang over the side of the boat, hooking the piling and then wrapping the line around the boat cleat when we docked. Whew! All in favor of my promotion (and of me remembering to get photo evidence of my hard work next time) say “Arr!”