It’s been a while since my last post. So little has changed and yet so much has. We’ve moved aboard the boat now. We’re officially Live Aboards! This has been a game changer. Staying in the house each and every day, in a locked down Toronto due to COVID, with the kids on screens doing virtual school, surrounded by boxes, was suboptimal for everyone’s happiness. Each time the boys looked up they were greeted with another item getting boxed up. More and more was being taken from the house. Each day was an exercise in looking backwards. Additionally we were having to hustle to the boat in the morning before school, trying to manage virtual school while getting boat work done in the allotted 4 hours permissible, before hustling home to allow Oliver to make his next virtual class. Things weren’t awesome. 

We’ve now been living aboard for 5 days now and while nothing is different than previous summers everything has changed. Everyone is so much happier. The boys are buzzing with excitement. Melissa has done her typical amazing job putting their rooms together and organizing the boat incredibly well. While we have miles to go in dialing things in, our first attempt has been much more successful than anticipated. Melissa and I are also much much happier. There’s just something about being outside, on the water, that calms us and allows a slower more contemplative pace. It’s truly wonderful. I think Oliver has been suffering the most the past few months as he’s the one who has lost the most and doesn’t yet have the perspective and wisdom or age. The last 5 days I’ve seen my old son return. Happier, calmer and more balanced. I wish I had taken a picture (got one after this post was written!!) of the 5 or 6 times I’ve seen him laying up in the cockpit with both hands behind his head, utterly relaxed and happy. While we still hope they return to school, even for just a few weeks, there’s no doubt getting to the boat and moving aboard was the best thing for us. We’ll be happy to commute back to Cavendish Street for school each day.