I am thirsty for…. WATER!

You know those days when you don’t feel like yourself. You are irritable, tired, and hungry, but nothing appeals to you. If you Google or ask around about your symptoms, you may see that a common response is to have more water. Now I could pour a big glass, but that won’t do the trick because I don’t want to drink it. I want to be floating on it. I want both the solitude and the silence. The rattling of the washing machine was replaced with the gentle laps of water slapping against the hull. The scent of sunscreen and salt has replaced perfumed candles, adding ambience and warmth to my off-season home. Yup. I need to rehydrate my soul and get away from land.

Since our boats are still firmly on the hard while finishing touches for the season are being done, all I can do is dream and plan what adventures this boating season will hold for me. While we usually do a coastal cruise up the Long Island shore, this year, with the addition of a power boat to our fleet, I think it’s time to hit some old haunts. The places we sailed to when we first started and fell in love with this nomadic lifestyle. So here is what I am thinking…

Newport, RI
Do I need to say more? It is the quintessential New England boaters’ stomping ground. A protected harbor surrounded by beautiful views of the shore, a bustling downtown filled with fantastic restaurants, and if you feel so inclined, there is a bit of shopping that can definitely put a dent in your vacation coffers. With a reliable launch service and the option of grabbing a mooring through either yacht club reciprocal privileges or through Old Port, it’s a nice, no-stress port of call. Speaking of Port of Call…I covered Newport a bit ago. Check out my post for more information.

Jamestown
Jamestown is Newport’s sleepy cousin. If you want to truly get away and unwind, this is the place to do it. Back in the day, we would spend most of our weekends here. It was quiet with a few great restaurants. If we wanted to enjoy an afternoon in Newport, it was a quick taxi ferry ride away, but we didn’t have to commit to the full Newport hustle and bustle. We haven’t been back by boat in about 25 years, so this would be a great time to get to know the harbor again and reminisce about a time when we ourselves, as young ones, were eager to explore so many places and feel connected to them.

There will be other stops on the way to and from our destination, some planned and some just because we may need to, due to weather or a sudden desire to go off the planned course for a bit of adventure and spontaneity. As the wind will not be the constant determining factor, we will have more leeway in which way we want to go.

So that’s it. While I am right now a little parched… I will wait patiently for the hulls to splash, the moorings to welcome us back, and to take a nice, long sip as I await the drink.