San Diego - Starting to feel like home...

Gosh - it has been 3 months already since we purchased our "new" Moondance. It is crazy that time can be going by so quickly. We need to figure out how to harness time and slow it down!

Great seats at the Padre game

I am happy to report that life is going well for us and forward progress is being made.

Doug Scott - Official Yacht Salesman

Doug passed his State of CA Yacht and Ship Sales Person License - so he is qualified.  Over-qualified, actually!

Tunaman's Memorial

He is working for Suncoast yachts and seems to be enjoying the position. Call him if you want to buy or sell a boat - hah!

Cactus Flower???

Doug is also working at West Marine, so he is a busy guy.

I have been flying back and forth to Texas - family time.

The galley - big fridge included

Unfortunately, our current schedule means neither one of us have had much time to tackle the big Moondance Project List.

Our main salon

But, that is all right with us.

We have a big bed to sleep in, the propane system is working, and our full-size fridge is cranking out ice cubes!

Our big bed - ah the luxuries

Plus, we have access to all of the amenities of the Island Palms Hotel on Shelter Island.

Pools, hot tub, bicycles, and a 20% discount at the Blue Wave Bar.

Enjoying the sunshine

Doug is very happy man.

Beautiful view of the harbor

And, we are in such a beautiful part of the country.

We cross the street and have a million/billion $$$ view of the San Diego Harbor.  Amazing!

Fireworks over San Diego Harbor

Our "current" plans... I will go to work (hopefully at West Marine) in August.

I need to start making some Moolah to buy all those new boat goodies - like electronics, dinghy, engine, watermaker... The list goes on and on!

Art @ the Lafayette Hotel

So, we will be staying in San Diego until November, 2018, working and getting Moondance ready to cruise.

Then, possibly, join the CUBAR (Cruise Underway to Baja Rally).  A rally of about 50 power boats heading to Mexico.  We will have to think about that.

If you would like to do some Glamping - come and visit us!

The New Moondance!

We found our new boat/home - yeah!

The New Moondance

After months of looking from the East coast to the West coast, we got lucky.

Visiting Darrell and Sarah (m/v Scrimshaw)

Our good friends, Darrell and Sarah (Suncoast Yachts) found the boat we have been looking for in San Diego, California.

Captain Doug at the helm

The new Moondance is a 1984 Ocean Alexander 38' trawler (built in Taiwan).

She is in great condition, met all of our requirements, most of our would-like-to-have's, and in our price range.

Beach Art

Plus, she is on the Pacific and a short distance from all of our friends in Mexico - yeah!

Hanging with Deb and Kath at Ocean Beach

We are looking forward to sitting out on the sundeck watching the world go by - our favorite past time.

Possum rescue

Of course, we have already generated a list of enhancements and improvements.

Doug walking Clara and Bobby

Fortunately, most of them are "want to's" and only a few "have to's".

Relaxing on Orcinius

Thanks so much to our friends John and Lisa (s/v Orcinuis) for letting us stay on their beautiful boat.

Danette and Doug at the Barn Dance

Made life so much easier (and cheaper) as we went thru the boat buying process. Sweet people!

Fishing not catching

Our current plan...

Sunrise on the Columbia River

Hop back and forth between Texas and San Diego working on Moondance until we can move aboard full time - hopefully soon.

Dinner with the family in Washington

Of course, we are going to have to work while living aboard in San Diego!

Oyster slurping contest - yuck!

Paying California prices, plus buying a bunch of boat goodies is going to cost big bucks.

Catching up with the crew of Bella Vita

We are definitely going to need a job at West Marine for the boat discounts!

Washington State Capitol

So excited that the search is over and we can get back to the cruising life.

Doug and Cloe and Widget

We have missed it, plus our cruising friends.

Good friends Roger and Laurie

Come and visit us sometime if you are in the neighborhood!

World of Weed - oh boy!

PS: This is a collection of pictures from our 3-month road trip (TX, NM, UT, ID, OR, WA, OR, ID, OR, NV, CA, AZ, NM, and TX).  We were pooped!

Stonehenge Memorial in Maryville

Loved seeing friends and family along the way.

We missed some and didn't get to visit long enough, but loved every minute of it.

Katy and Levi - sweet

Plus, we enjoyed our  house sitting gigs in Olympia, Washington, and San Diego, California.

Great friends from La Grande!

Great places to stay, plus we got to play with the doggies!

I won a TV - hah!

Catching up!

Yup, I am way behind, but I don't want to skip sharing any of our family fun!

Catherine and Ryan

The Warren Clan gathered this year in Texas to celebrate a wedding.

Ryan and Catherine wearing their Salusalu's

Becky and Dave's son, Ryan, marrying sweet Catherine.

Having a laugh

We had such a great time - celebrating, telling stories, laughing, eating - and just spending time with the family - new and old.

Mom and Dad -- first dance

The wedding (and the bride and groom) were beautiful and everything went perfectly.

Eric and Gavin working it

Not because of the Warren's tho.

Catherine's family and friends did an excellent job.

We were having way too much fun!

Crazy family stories - love this picture

We did throw the night-before party.

Beautiful Sisters

We went for food and fun.

A Mexican Fiesta with all of the fixins.

Love my family

It was yummy and we all had a great time.

Danette and Phil enjoying the sun

Besides the wedding celebration, we had lots of Christmas's as family flew in to join us.

More presents?

We love opening presents and cooking and eating, so no complaints from us!

Gavin enjoying 2nd Christmas

There was lots of time to catch up, work on puzzles, and play 42 - a family favorite.

Mom and Dad all dressed up

It was wonderful spending time with the family - as always.

Ness and Eric cheesing it!

But, time goes way too fast when you are having this much fun (as always).

Riding thru New Mexico

We hated to say goodbye to the family in Texas, but it was time to get moving again.

Love those New Mexico blue skies

So, we motored thru six states (New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and finally Washington).

It would have been nice to stop and visit along the way, but we were surrounded by big storms with lots of snow and ice (harrowing).

We just wanted to get the trip over with.

Surviving cold cold winter

Now, we are safe and sound in Tri-Cities, Washington, where it has been very cold and we have had lots of that white stuff (not sand).

But, we have had a great time catching up with friends and family (plus wearing all our warm clothes) and helping at our family's winery - Tucannon Cellars.  Come see us if you are in the neighborhood.

Now, it is time to go shopping for our next boat.  Seattle - here we come!

Road trip to Florida!

Well, so far, our life without a boat is going well.  A much faster pace plus we are spending lots more money, but we are hanging in there.

Beautiful white beaches along the gulf

We received a sweet invite to meet my brother and sister-in-law (Ken and Lisa) in Orlando to celebrate an early Christmas with some of the family, plus meet some of our Canadian relatives.  

Guess that means it is time for a road trip!

Great pub in Vicksburg

We took off from Texas and went thru Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida - with a little bit of Georgia on the way back.

It was a great trip thru the pecan,  peanut, and cotton fields where we learned about Boudin, cracklins, and pickled pig lips.  Oh my.

My Sweetie!

And, the old antebellum homes were gorgeous - would love a tour.

Beautiful Duff Green Mansion

Our favorite stops:  Panama City, Florida, and historic Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Great towns with great pubs.  Plus, the Bon Temps Grill in Lafayette, Louisiana, for Cajun - yum!

The Duff Green Mansion in Vicksburg was my favorite place to stay - even I think it is haunted!

So happy to see Ed and Karen!

Once we arrived in Florida, we had a chance to do some boat shopping, plus meet up with our wonderful friends - Ed and Karen.

Pool time!

We haven't seen them since our Hawaii days, where we had the best dock parties ever!

They are just as wonderful as we remembered. Just wish we could have stayed longer - as always...

Breakfast is served

We really enjoyed meeting the Canadian side of the family too.

They were so excited about the warm weather, Universal Studios, Harry Potter, and all the inexpensive shopping.

Resting after Mini-Golf

It was a whirlwind week.

Filled with lots of laughter, games, gators, and plenty of pool time!

Attack birds at Gatorland

And visiting local hangouts, of course.

We loved the burgers and beers and Shula Burgers (Don Shula's place).  Excellent and cheap.

And lots of Gators

You know you can't go to Orlando without a trip to Gatorland!

Goofy Family Christmas

They put on several exhibitions. Some are pretty hokey, but entertaining.

Island Christmas Tree

You just have to worry about the "Attack" birds if you have any food - they will get it!











We had a great time celebrating an early Christmas with the family.  Lots of sunshine, great food and company, and lots of games.

The Family!

And decorating our fake palm tree, of course.

We were very creative!

Don't feed!

Sorry to see the family and fun time come to an end, but it was time to head back to Texas.

Wild Christmas Trees

We had to get ready for another Christmas (or two), plus help plan a Wedding.

More fun!