It Takes a Village

At this point I would like to thank a lot of people who pitched in, and without whom we wouldn't have been able to depart on time. We're very self-sufficient and were reluctant to ask for assistance, but at the last minute, help was needed--and many friends, old and new, came to the rescue.
It takes a village to raise a child, as the saying goes, and it took a village to launch us.

When we moved out of the Bellevue house for good, we were scheduled to turn the keys over to the new owners at 1:00 p.m.--and we moved the last box out of the garage at 12:55! It if hadn't been for neighbor Scott Jones, who took some runs to the dump and did some last-minute yard work; and Maggie Hsu, who temporarily stored our patio furniture--we wouldn't have made it. And my orchestra teaching colleague, David Drassal, was a hero! He came over with his pickup truck several times, delivering things to the dump or the storage unit or Goodwill or wherver they needed to go.

Jeremy and Stephanie Stubson gave up a day to move our remaining furniture and boxes to the storage unit, and Arline Borella was a great meal provider and moral support.

Nicole & Derek replacing zincs

Both before and after we moved to the boat, my cousin Jim Van der Veen was immensely helpful with errands (including delivering packages to us at Elliot Bay Marina that had been mailed to him, since we no longer had a mailing address). Nicole Schaffer and Derek Fukuda, crew for two upcoming offshore passages, helped with several projects on the boat, both in Elliott Bay and in Anacortes.

Once again David Drassal responded to an SOS, this time by transporting our sailing dinghy (which we can't take on this trip) to Derek's house. There's not enough thanks--or enough beer--than can repay that debt!

Thanks to Dick and Dawn Schaffer for sharing their daughter Nicole and their experiences from previous years cruising in Mexico. Thanks also to the Fukuda family for sharing their husband and father Derek on the next long leg, and for storing some boat items at the last minute that we decided we didn't have room to bring.

We enjoyed a couple of Open Boat gatherings, and Christine Zomorodian and her partner Mike were instrumental in their success.

And to the community at B Dock (Elliot Bay Marina): what a heartening experience, to deepen older friendships and forge new ones in such a short time! We were bonded by our interests and experiences--our love for sailing and water, and the sacrifices we all chose to make this life viable. Lanham & Melinda and Marcus, your time & expertise were absolutely invaluable (as well as FUN!). Ed & Amy's great company and meals were always a delight, and John & Carol's moral support meant so much. Having all of you show up to bid us Bon Voyage couldn't have been more joyful!

Corrine & Larry in Anacortes

B Dock + crew families

Speaking of Bon Voyage: a shoutout to our dear friends Larry and Corrine Stubson. They pulled off some last-minute heroics, too--like schlepping a trunk full of stuff we decided wouldn't fit on the boat after all back to Oregon, and letting Art drive their car to Vancouver BC (!) in order to swap a part for the Hydrovane steering system. But best of all was just having them there, driving all the way to Anacortes from southern Oregon, when we finally cast off the dock lines for the last time.

Last but definitely not least, my sister Cheryl Wertheimer is acting on our behalf, taking care of all the pesky business that crops up on land. There was much more remaining correspondence than I expected, and she's been valiant in attending to all of it.

So to our village, the very deepest gratitude. We love you all!