My apologies for not blogging this weekend... just in case anyone actually missed me..

I took the boat out sailing once last time on Puget Sound before moving to California for my new job in a couple of weeks.  In fact, this was the first time I had the boat out over night.  It was a fine time.. anchoring in Elger Bay and watching movies on the big screen... eating mussels and drinking beer at a restaurant in Penn Cove... docking at the marina in Oak Harbor.. and of course.. drinking more beer... and it didn't even rain.. pretty amazing for Seattle in April.

Tomorrow I fly to California to start searching for a home back on land.. and then this summer, I'll be moving the boat down the coast to San Francisco Bay.  These last two days were spent in a mad dash to buy spare parts and get the boat ready to move.. should be quite the trip..

Going down the coast... when there is wind.. from what I hear it generally a following wind heading down there.. and a headwind coming back.  What's the difference...? 

When you run with the wind.. it's easier to keep the boat on track, and it sails flatter and more comfortably.. generally an easy sail.  On Saturday going from Penn Cove to Oak Harbor we ran with the wind.. and got there in record time.. it felt great and was a lot of fun...

When you beat into the wind.. you have to tack back and forth.. since a sailboat won't sail directly into the wind.  You tack from side to side.. swinging the sails back and forth to stay on track.. like doing a big Z back and forth across the line you actually want to follow.. It's a lot of work.. and takes much longer since you're covering more distance back and forth.. and the boat heels over.. less comfortable.. not as much fun... When we left on Friday we were tacking into the wind.. and after hours of sailing could still see the harbor we had left... enough said....

So when I take the boat down to my new life later this summer.... I'll probably be running with the wind.  Great... But what if I ever wanted to come back...?  I'd be beating into the wind the whole way...

Is that what all decisions are like..?  Once made.. they're easy to run with..  But what if we ever change our minds...?  Do we always have to fight our way back..?

I've had a novel forming in the back of my mind for some time about that.. kind of a "It's a Wonderful Life" meets "The Butterfly Effect"... about that idea.. trying to come back to where you were once you realize that it wasn't so bad after all....

I wonder whether I'll be wishing that anytime soon...

But in the meantime.. I go where the work calls.. and hope for the best.  And I might as well enjoy the ride heading there.  Maybe I'll never have to go back... in which case.. this might be all moot...

But what if I want to...?