Next step: Breaking Loose!

Here we are, 16 days after we thought we would be leaving for the Bahamas, still sitting on the same mooring ball we attached ourselves to New Year's Eve.  In my last post, I lamented about not being able to comfortably swim in the waters that surround our boat and about my desire to begin our sailing adventure.  And, ALAS, the day has finally come!

Pirates ARRRrrr Around!

We have decided that even if the winds won't let us get to the Bahamas right now, the (very) least we can do is get out of this harbor and start exploring the Florida Keys, which we have only seen by car thus far.  So, two days from now - the day after St. Patrick's Day - we will finally throw off the mooring ball line, make our last stops for fuel and water, then hoist our sails and go about three Keys from where we are now.  We've been charting and plotting, marking out anchorage spots, making sure it's deep enough the whole way for us (we are a pretty shallow boat, so that part is easy enough), and getting excited.

I'm pretty sure that both of us at some point today has said to the other, "I can't believe we are finally making this move!"

Good thing I have a bendy husband!

I realize, though, that we needed this extra time to clean up not just the boat but our personal needs.  Yesterday and today, we: closed one of our two bank accounts (leaving open only the one my mom has access to), informed that bank that we will be out of the country and may be using the debit card, put both of our student loans into deferment, finished the paperwork needed to sell our smaller sailboat in Texas, made copies of our paperwork and passports for our moms to have here in the States, paid someone with a wetsuit and SCUBA gear to clean the bottom of our big boat (see the last post to understand how important that is), and have begun to tell our new friends in this area about our decision to leave.  It was so much nitpicking details that we knew we could not leave behind, but it was the tedious stuff we just kept putting off.  All of these details, however, are the things that would come back to bite us if we didn't take care of them now!

Just a side rant for a moment: When I went to Europe for two months of backpacking in 2004, I informed Bank One (now, Chase Bank) that I would be traveling for that amount of time, but I had no idea where I would be when - just European countries.  All I got was an, "O.K., have fun and your account will be accessible to you!"  Now, I tell Chase that I will be traveling through the Caribbean for the next year and that I will not know what countries I will be in or when.  I was told that, due to the (un)Patriot Act, they can only "approve my travel" for 40 days at a time and that they will need prior notice every time I go to a new country or my debit card will be frozen.  On top of that controlling crap, they are now charging for every action I take at an ATM outside the States - I will get charged $5 for checking my balance, then ANOTHER $5 to withdraw money on top of the 3% exchange-rate fee they'll charge every time I use the card (even for purchases)!  At the time I went to Europe, I only got charged once for whatever I did as long as I got everything done in one transaction.  I really, really hate the banking system and am infuriated by the fact that I can't completely get away from it.

Aaaand, scene!  (Sorry, I just think the control mechanisms through unconstitutional "laws" like the (un)Patriot Act are stifling and against everything the "Land of the Free" is supposed to be about!)

Home Sweet Home with a covered sunset watching porch!

So, now, we really feel as though we have tied up those loose ends that were keeping us here and feel confident about being gone from the American World for a while.  We are looking forward to the clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico for a week or so, then snorkeling and playing in the beauties of Biscayne National Park as we plot our escape to the Bahamas!  Truth be told, I like the idea of getting under sail quite a few times before we fight our way into the dreaded Gulf Stream, the powerful stream of water that runs up the coast and can look like land when the waves are high enough (this is what has been keeping us here so far).  To get us started, we may even participate in the Shamrock Regatta being held tomorrow...

In short, we will still be here in Florida for a little while longer (no matter how much I wanted to be in the Bahamas for our 2nd anniversary on Tuesday) and will still be accessible by phone and internet!  I will make sure to post something here when we finally see our window and are on our way out...  Until then, we will explore, practice, and SWIM OFF THE BOAT FINALLY!!!

We got to see SO many of these on our date at the Sea Turtle Hospital - not a typical "mainland" date, to be sure!