It's a Good Day

Today is a good day. This morning, I did the impossible. I scratched off three bunches of cherries on a Hannaford scratch ticket. Although I only won a dollar (I don't believe that there are any tickets out there where you win more than a dollar, this stupid game is such a waste of paper) I still yelled outloud and called my mom at work, Jackie, and Michael on the phone to tell them. Half of the time I try not to scratch them because it just makes me mad when I lose every single time, but I can't help it. I mean, like the game says, I could win up to $10,000. Which is crap. Anyway, setting aside the love/hate relationship I have with the Hannaford scratch off game, I won. Now I can go to the store and get a few yogurts for free. Because I am a winner. I knew it would be a good day today.

Shortly after this success, I got a call from Michael. He talked to the boat movers, and we are moving the boat next Tuesday at 1:30. Even better, was that the cost was within our price range. This is really happening! Tuesday the 7th, the boat will be in the woods, and one week and one day later both Michael and I will be up there for good. For the time being, we'll be working like crazy to save some extra money. I am in a sort of happy limbo between my parents house and Michael's. It feels good to be home, good to not be paying rent, and good to have food in the refrigerator. I swear there is more food in the house then when I lived here but my dad thinks it's just because there was barely any in my apartment. He could be right.

Anyway, back to the goodness of today. I just made the best cup of coffee I have ever had, my car is clean for the first time in 2 years, and my laundry is almost dry. For the past week or so, I have been in dire need of clean laundry. I've been wearing the underwear that I hate but keep for times when I am running low. So in about an hour, I will be showered and clothed with whatever I choose from my entire wardrobe(which isn't very big, but whatever) all amped up on this delicious cup of coffee, one dollar richer after collecting my bounty from Hannaford, driving back to my old apartment in my sparkling clean car to bid the last chapter of my life farewell. Today is a good day.

Seasick

So it's a good thing we are not putting our boat on the water. Michael and I have been up at camp the past few days and I yesterday especially it was super windy. We were both sitting on the float after jumping in the water and as it is bobbing up and down we both felt seasick. On a lake.

A few great things came out of our visit this week. We changed the location of the boat to make it simpler to move in and easier to power. It is still in the woods, no worries. We also have experienced multiple glimmers of hope with the whole moving a 38ft wooden boat thing. We have talked to maybe a dozen people/companies and everyone has pointed us to one company after laughing at how large the boat is. Michael says that all of the conversations have been the same.
Michael: We are looking for some help moving a boat
Them: Thats what we do, how far?
Michael: Its about an hour drive
Them: No problem, now is the boat fiberglass?
Michael: Wooden
Them: Oh...hmmm.....well how big is it?
Michael: 38 feet
Them: Hah! Thats a big boat! No we can't move that...try CWC
So we called CWC and they are on vacation until the 30th. So we wait. In the meantime, I posted an ad on Craigslist to see if any crazy mainer with a trailer would want to help us out. I feel like I may get a few takers.

Next post: Outhouse Reflections

Extension cords and hoses

So, as everyone knows, we obviously have a few things to work out. The biggest problems so far have been water and electricity. Originally, we figured that we would have a water hookup for the non-frozen months and just have a holding tank for the winter. I'm thinking that this will still be our best bet, but if anyone can think of a better way feel free to give us some direction. Power is becoming the trickier obstacle. Since our plot is about 300 yards away from any power lines, according to CMP, we would have to run power cables underground. Underground means a whole lot of digging, and probably a whole lot of money. Both of which sound unpleasant. We figured that this endeavor could potentially cost us a good chunk of change, but we also wanted to make a point of using recycled, old, preferably free materials. Craigslist has been a fantastic tool so far, as we now have a free boat and can easily fill it with free furniture, a free wood stove, and even a free refrigerator. Unfortunately, people don't seem to want to give away solar panels, wind turbines, or septic tanks. I am eagerly waiting for the day I that I find a post titled "I would love to dig you a well for free Emily!" Or, "I have 12 solar panels and everything you need with it for you to take off my hands Emily!" Yet as I am trying to remain realistic to a degree, I am thinking of extension cords and hoses. How long can you run an extension cord? What about under the snow? I suppose we'll find out. Who needs water anyway...

Our boat, Henry J

We found a boat today. Huge, old, wooden, peeling paint, torn curtains, makeshift stairs and a broken window and its perfect. Bruce said it’s not far from being seaworthy, but that doesn’t matter. The further the better actually. Michael and I aren’t really people of the sea. I am scared of deep water and what’s in it, and salt water makes Michaels eyes hurt. So we are living on the boat, on land. We are driving it into the middle of the woods and making it into our house. It’s small, and we might drive eachother crazy by the end, but it’s worth the risk. We want to do something different. We want to live far away from brick and pavement. We want to be inspired and build and create. It seems like an insane idea, but the more people tell us the things that could and probably will go wrong, the more we want to prove that we can do it. We are both stubborn enough to absolutely let our pride get in the way, and we will live on our boat. Today is Sunday, August 15th 2010 and we are getting ready to set sail.