GroupWBench

Shoulda/Woulda/Coulda  

    I am a member of a Facebook group of women sailors. We share stories, information on everything from which head is best to where to sail to sharing recipes & our thoughts on all things boat related. It's a great group and I have learned a lot from the members.

    Several weeks ago I saw a post from Laura looking for crew to join her moving her boat (an 83 Sabre 34-1) from Oriental, NC  south to somewhere in SC. On a whim I replied and after a few conversations, some figuring if it would work for me to be gone for a few weeks we had a plan. I was going on an adventure!

    I was so excited and anxious. This was a trip of many "firsts" for me. I have never traveled much on my own. I have never sailed without Stan with me and I have never done any coastal sailing. Not to mention I was doing this with someone I had only met on-line a few times.  Yep, this was a stress free trip!

I began to plan what I needed and realized that my wardrobe is short on springtime coastal cruising wear. I needed some warmer, quick dry things as well as some rain gear. While searching for rain pants that wouldn't break the bank and that would fit, I was doubting my decision to make this trip. I was about to talk myself out of going when I found this inspirational top.   

It was just what I needed to push ahead.

    Laura picked me up at the airport in New Bern, NC and we headed to her boat in Oriental.  

It was a nice boat and Laura was great. Unfortunately, we were on hold waiting for some boat parts to come in.  We spent 5 days getting to know each other, doing small boat chores and exploring Oriental.  It is a real nice town with some amazing views.  The people were friendly and we could walk almost everywhere we needed to go.

The town mascot is a dragon.(of course!)

We never got to leave the dock as the parts were going to be delayed a few weeks, so we decided to each head home. Although this was not the sailing trip I had imagined I learned some things about myself, about boats and about practicing patience. I needed to step outside my comfort zone and I did that with or without the actual sailing. I reminded myself that I don't want "shoulda, woulda or coulda" 

I want "DID"!  And I did… Well sorta