The one I'm thinking about today was almost a coin-flip decision. Where to keep my boat. I had already made the leap of choosing and buying a boat. Then I had to figure out where to keep it. I spent many afternoons driving along Lake Resort Drive, trying to find marinas that I knew had to be around there somewhere. I searched online. I made phone calls. But mostly, I drove.
I eventually narrowed it down to three possibilities: Gold Point Yacht Harbor, Sale Creek Marina, or Big Ridge Yacht Club. I had driven up to Sale Creek to see a boat back when I was still shopping around. It was 45 minutes and 45 miles from where I worked at the time. Too far. It was considerably cheaper than the nearer marinas, but I knew I wouldn't use the boat very much if it were that far away. Also, the dock was rickety, and I didn't want my friends falling into the water when they came to hang out on the boat. Sale Creek was out. It came down to a coin toss between Gold Point and Big Ridge. Gold Point was a little closer, but I hadn't made it in to actually check out the dock because it was gated. Big Ridge seemed pretty nice, though, and there were liveaboards there. It eventually came down to cost. Big Ridge was cheaper on a monthly basis, but I had to call EPB to get electricity turned on. And Gold Point offered a month free rent if a whole year was paid in advance. So I chose Gold Point, because it came out slightly cheaper in the long run.
Without ever seeing the marina from any closer than the road, I signed a 1-year lease and charged over $2000 to my Discover card. With my gate code written on the back of a business card, I drove across the dam to check out my new home. I called my parents because I was so excited. And it was awesome! After seeing Sale Creek, I was really worried the docks would be crumbling to bits. But they weren't! They were almost new and very sturdy. I found the one empty slip on the dock and assumed it was mine; I was to be on O Dock. I was totally psyched! This would be the new home for my new (to me) boat. I didn't meet any of my neighbors that day. But they were the ones who would change how I turned out. My dock neighbors made all the difference.
The first one I met was JD. He was friendly and folksy and impossible to dislike. He's still one of the nicest human beings I've ever met, and I've met some amazing people in my travels. He helped teach me to sail. We went out on his boat a few times "for about 15 minutes", as he would say. With JD, "15 minutes" could easily turn into 3 hours. One day I talked him into going out in 25-30 mph winds on his boat. He didn't want to, but my enthusiasm convinced him. I remember dunking his gunnels in the water and him looking at me with an expression of surprise a little bit of concern. But I was so excited, he just smiled with pride. "Alright!" I was sailing his boat like a pro, and he had taught me to do it. Another day I came over the bridge after getting off work, and the flags were flapping in the wind. I had to go sailing! So I headed to the marina, hoping to recruit JD to go out on my boat with me. He was on his houseboat with Phil and Linda, and they saw me coming as soon as I hit the parking lot. None of them wanted to go out, so they decided to convince me to go out alone. I came bounding down the dock, all ready to head out. They all resisted my "come on, it'll be awesome!" and told me to go it alone. "You can single hand it. You'll have to do it eventually anyway." It didn't take much convincing, and I drove out on my own for the first time. It was fantastic! After a little trouble getting the sails up, I sailed that boat all over the lake and back. After docking the boat magnificently, I was beaming with pride and excitement. They were all glad I made it back alive. From that day on, I loved taking the boat out alone. I could sing and go wherever I wanted, for as long as I wanted. The freedom was amazing. JD also taught me how to feed the catfish by hand. When he left the dock, I inherited "the aquarium" with giant almost-friendly catfish that loved when I brought them bread.
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| JD on an afternoon sail aboard my boat. |
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| My first hand-fed catfish. |
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| Phil trying to teach me to shoot. |
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| Linda and Phil sailing aboard BloMee |
I had so many great neighbors there. Jeff was always there to lend a hand or give some advice about my ongoing boat repairs and improvements. He talked a good game about leaving when I did, but he's still there tinkering on his own boat. Keith was also great to talk to and still has dreams of sailing away when he gets the chance. Walter and Dot are a funny pair. Dot is hilarious and warm and downright lovable. Walter is the most meticulous person I've ever met. After talking to him, I always knew the "right way" to do something, but usually realized it wouldn't work for me, due to time, budget, or impatience. I learned that there's the right way, the wrong way, and lots of ways that work well enough. A common phrase heard on my boat is "it's not pretty, but it works". Walter would have a cow, and Dot would just laugh. There was also Walt who left around the time of Phil and Linda. I caught up with and passed him in Demopolis, AL. I never expected him to make it any farther than that, but lo and behold, he showed up here at Boot Key Harbor a few days ago. Good to see a familiar face. Duke and Glen were always friendly and encouraging, and even ended up hosting my going-away party at the dock when the weather was too cold to have it outside. And their grandkids loved feeding the fish in "the aquarium". And there's Joe, of course, who will one day head down here on his boat. The most capable sailor at Gold Point, he'll love it when he gets to the big water. Can't forget Christy, who lived right across the dock from me. She was always so sweet and, again, very encouraging. There were others, all of them adding a little bit to my life there, and every one of them cheering me on in my crazy sail-away dreams.
I gained so much in my time at O Dock. Sailing experience, for sure. But I also made lasting friendships. I had so much support from my neighbors there. When others in my life (mainly coworkers) thought I was nuts for living on a boat, everyone at the dock was encouraging. Everyone said to live the dream. So here I am, living the dream. Once the weather clears, we'll head over to the Bahamas for some serious adventures. I don't know if I would have gotten this far if not for my friends at O Dock. Would I have had such strong support elsewhere? Maybe. Would I have had such strong friendships? Possibly. But that was a magic place that changed my life forever. I can't imagine if the coin had fallen the other way.
