High & Dry Hopes

--> My hopes were raised to unspeakable levels in recent weeks when I thought I had a serious buyer for Annie Laurie.  Some papers were signed, a deposit was submitted, a sea-trial conducted, and we sailed south to haul the boat for an out-of-water survey. The potential buyer had the same stars in his eyes that I had for Annie Laurie the first time I saw her at Armdale Yacht Club one early spring morning in 2006.  I felt the deal was cinched.

I saw a whole new future for myself, unburdened, some cash in hand, able to pursue other opportunities I've had on the back-burner for a few years. When the call came yesterday that the potential buyer was no longer interested, I wasn't fully equipped to handle such a let-down. I don't blame him; his sailing experience was minimal, and after the sea trial, he realized he might want a smaller boat to learn to single-hand with.

On the upside though, it resulted in an excellent bill of health for Annie Laurie in her survey, which can only help when the right buyer comes along.  Although I will remain aboard and based in South Florida for the foreseeable future, after purging my boat of most everything I own, letting go of hope when there was none, and withdrawing from situations that were not healthy for me, I feel able to move on in other ways.  I’ve accepted a new job locally with great people, where new opportunities are more than probable, they are inevitable.

It remains true that you really don’t know what you’ve got until you’re about to lose it, and after this fire drill, I really appreciate Annie Laurie in a way I haven’t for quite some time.  I look forward again to the simple things; weekend trips down to Lake Sylvia, to sit quietly at anchor, unplugged from shore-power and shore life… propane stove, charcoal grill, and a kerosene lantern light to read by. 

Just Effie and I, and yet another new beginning.