Another “Side” of Cruising

I couldn’t resist the chance to insert an “intended pun.” Thus, the subtitle for this story is “The End is in Sight!”

Now, back to the story . . .

As you know, boats have all sorts of fun (and challenging to access) “hidey holes.” Whether intended or not by the Naval Architect who designed the boat, they are there. Those of us who cruise or live-aboard put them to good use. That’s the “good news.” The “bad news” is the fact that one doesn’t always remember where something is stowed.

On my last cruise to Mexico, I had more single-handed passages than crewed ones. As a result, much of the provisioning catered to my tastes and was placed in readily-accessed locations. However, I also had to factor in Paula’s desires for certain foods as well as her cooking/baking requirements. This resulted in her stuff ending up in less-easily-accessed hidey holes since she would be aboard for only certain passages and anchorages. Therein lies the problem and the story behind the photo.

When aboard, Paula would tell me what she had in mind for an evening meal when docked or at anchor. She would list the items she needed (known beforehand when planning the cruise and stowed “who knows where?”). This would elicit a “Yes, dear” from me, and the immediate start of a “search and rescue mission.”

The photo says it all. The entire time I’m thinking, “I know it’s here somewhere!” Unfortunately, the desired item was always in the last place I looked.

Now, if I could only look in that “last place” first! . . .