I don’t know what’s wrong with me this summer.  But this has become the summer of half finished projects.  I’ve lost a whole lot of motivation and I’m running out of time.

I decided to get a private mooring in Provincetown Massachusetts for a few reasons.  The biggest reason was there wasn’t a waiting list.  And Liam had mentioned he’d want to do a sailing school here when he is older.  My big thought was that the lack of a waiting list certainly wont’ last forever.  And Provincetown fits my children well.

Sailing wise it’s as great spot, good sailing all the time and an easy hop to anywhere in Maine through Rhode Island.  I suppose this year has just been the year of disappointments.  With housing on land so crazy the boys are finding it just about impossible to find their own places.  Although Ryan is on track to hopefully find a year round place here.  Liam has been, less than productive now that he’s graduated high school.  And I’m working a huge project at work in addition to my regular work.  It’s a lot like working two jobs at the moment..

While I’m excited that the extra work at the day job will hopefully both buy us new sails and “fingers crossed” it may even buy us an electric engine, it’s still a lot of work which has me frustrated and not making progress boat project wise.

It took until this summer for Ryan to be able to go off and make friends and do things on his own.  Liam is still following me around like a duckling.  This isn’t as big a deal when we are tied to a dock because I can get up before the children are awake and go off to a random cafe and hide from them.  When at anchor or on a mooring it’s not so simple since we have one dinghy and so most of the time they are all set to get off the boat.  But once off the boat they lack the ability to do anything other than follow me around.  Needless to day I’m over the moon happy that Ryan has developed the ability to go off on his own.

With the combination of work exhaustion and parental exhaustion boat projects have been less than effective.

Windlass Platform Reinforcement: I’ve picked up what I need but haven’t taken the 30 minutes to actually bolt the braces on.

Downhaul Line: It’s sitting in the cockpit, I have low friction rings to tie to the sail to keep the line from getting tangled but.. Still not done.

Slugs:  I have four slugs that need replaced.  They are on the nav desk and I even have the sewing kit handy.

NEMA2000 wire run:  I have the wire, it’s an easy run to connect the AIS to the rest of the network which will also tie in the other nav stuff and connect it to the wifi.  Haven’t done it.

Autopilot Head Move:  Yup have what I need but haven’t gotten around to it.

Dinghy Nav Lights & Electrical Panel Repair:  I got the stern light done, the bow light is on the nav desk and I still haven’t gotten around to it.

Engine Service: I changed the oil but still need to do the fuel filters, the engine zinc, the transmission fluid, and deal with the temperature sensor,.

Solar Upgrade Project: We decided to wait to get the panels until we’re at a dock so all I need to do is fabricate a custom arch.  Easy.  I have the mounts but again they’re not on.

And that’s just what is top of mind.

Needless to say I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed and need an actual break.  In addition to an actual rest I need to get going on my projects to get them done in the next six weeks.  Having of course blown three months of Provincetown on the mooring this summer already.

This happens all the time.  When we stay somewhere for an extended period I get lazy.  When the children are idol they loose the ability to think for themselves or do anything on their own.

So with six weeks left, five undergraduate courses that need significant edits, running two degree programs, teaching a full load, and essentially running a water taxi service for my kids (well one kid, the other one is my shadow).. I don’t know if I’ll get everything done but I’m going to try.