It has definitely been a fun week :-)
I have been working a few more days, so getting lots of experience, learning about the different modules, the programming, getting more experience with troubleshooting issues and with basic connections, and still loving every day. I am working with the family to try to find a way to continue this while also trying to bring in some extra cash (maybe some programming work on the side instead of full time).
Unfortunately, in order to meet our goals, and not live on this boat forever, I need to make more money than I do as an apprentice ;-)
However, I am learning some amazing skills, and loving the work and the people, so like I said, I am investigating options to make the two flow more seamlessly together. There won't be a lot more work for the end of the year - just wrapping up a couple big projects, and maybe taking on a couple very small ones. So my plan is to use the end of the year to get my programming skills up to speed, and start investigating other options - wish me luck!
In other news, we anchored out again last weekend. We decided to do Redfish Island again as this time the winds were from the South East and it was actually a good place to anchor. We had two other boats for company, which provided its own entertainment... The first boat was no big deal, a power boater came in, pulled ahead of us and much closer to the island, dropped anchor and was just fine for the night. Our other neighbor, however, was not having a good night. As they came in, they didn't realize there is a very shallow area at the north end of the island, so they first ended up 'parked' there. We didn't realize it at first, we thought they had just anchored pretty far back (they arrived at dusk), but we later saw the Tow Boat and figured out what had happened.
Once they got pulled off and were moving again, they of course decided to anchor for the night, but didn't realize quite how strong the winds were, so as they finished letting out their rode, we were ready to pass them the grey poupon... Thankfully, all's well that ends well, they pulled up anchor, moved a bit more ahead and to our port side, and successfully dropped anchor for the night.
We all slept a little better, though I think we would have slept more soundly had the last incident not happened.... we kept hoping, thinking, wondering, if they had set the anchor correctly - but thankfully, they did, and all was well for the night :-)
The next day, we raised anchor and headed back, played a little in the bay as usual and then pulled in to enjoy some Thai food and a little relaxation before work on Monday.
Aside from that, Bean has started driving! She officially got her permit last week, and she has been doing the lion's share of the driving ever since. She had her first class yesterday, and the instructor said she is ready to take the test and has just given her a couple pointers. She has a second and probably final class tomorrow, and then she will take the test and officially get her license. We are all very excited for her, but I think she is most excited, she has been enjoying the driving and looks forward to being able to run errands and stuff while both Michael and I are working.
We are planning to anchor out again this weekend. We haven't checked the weather/wind yet, so I don't know where, but we will look at it tomorrow and plot a course to somewhere. We are working on a water filter for the boat to allow us to drink the water in the tank instead of relying on bottled water. (We have shocked the water tank, but it hasn't really been inspected and we just aren't 100% comfortable drinking from it yet). We are definitely all in love with anchoring though, it is a sense of freedom and independence, we just need to get the boat better prepared :-)
Until next time, have a great weekend and wish us luck in our adventures!
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