Hi there from San Diego!

[theonecalledtom]

Hi, I've posted on this forum a few times but for some reason felt reluctant to do the full "meet and greet" until we had a boat nestled in a marina under our own name. This finally happened this last week- and yesterday we finally had our chance to get on board and start learning about our future home.

Who are "we"? We are two 32 year olds building towards an adventure with our new partner in crime the "Blue Dolphin", a Downeast 38'. Janet and I, like so many, have plans on severing the shore ties, and are taking our baby steps towards that. While we're well travelled, neither of us has previous cruising experience. I've been sailing smaller boats most of my life, and Janet has been learning to sail larger boats with me the last couple of years and has been around boats most of her life.

The last few weeks/months have been an emotional roller-coaster! We finally found a boat that fits both our needs financially and conceptually, carried out a survey and sea trial, and closed on a deal. This is the first time either of us has purchased any type of property, so its all been unchartered water for both of us but I feel that we might have landed on our feet.

I can now honestly say that the saying "a boat owner's happiest moments are the day they buy the boat and day they sell it" is a pile of crap. Today we are happy and content knowing we have now taken a step in the *right* direction, that we can get our boat (a step up in size from those we have been renting the last couple of years!) out of the marina, sailing well and back home to bed all without anyone coming to any harm.

Thanks to those in Chula Vista marina who have met / helped us so far - if you read this you'll probably know who you are. Thanks too to those on this site who have either responded to my questions or provided prior knowledge that has helped us get this far! Please be patient because now the real questions are going to start arriving but hopefully we will learn useful things that allow us to contribute back.

Happy sailing!