Laurel gets a new job

Yup. it happened.
I am officially working for the man but dont worry, it's working for the man as only I could do. I work on his yacht. In October I started working for a 73' sloop called Encore. She's a beautiful custom design by Sparkman and Stephens built as a racing machine 20 years ago. She doesnt race any more but has won Antigua race week 5 or so times!
Im working as the mate aboard. I guess Im the First Mate but there's only one, me, so I don't thing it's important to specify. I work with a Captain, Brooks, a Chef, Mike (Hammer) and a Stewardess, only we havent hired a stew so I dont know who she is yet. The captain and chef are fabulous people, which is a good thing because we all live together and work together and see each other pretty much all day everyday.
My job is pretty awesome. It is different everyday and keeps my ADD and SOS (shiny object syndrome) well satisfied. Some days I wash the boat. Some days I take things apart like mufflers and winches. Some days I put things together like generators and winches. Some days I help Brooks invent ways to do things like cool our bevys down (we made a deck locker into an insulated and cooled drink locker). Basically I'm in charge of making sure things dont break, fix them when they do, its a boat after all, and keeping the boat looking sharp.
The other part of my job that is awesome is where it takes place. Currently the boat is in the Newport Shipyard for a refit. Newport is a great town but it is getting coooold! Today it was 24 degrees when we got to the boat! Good thing the actual winter takes place in the Caribbean. You didn't think I got a job in the US did you? So I get to go home to the warm blue water and spend 5 months there exploring some new islands further down the chain. In May we make the delivery north and summer in Long Island Sound. All in all some very nice places to live and work and play. And if I work or play too hard it's ok because I have health insurance now too!
So that's me working for the man, or at least his boat and having a terrific time! Come visit when you get a chance!