I recently became reacquainted with Paul Thompson and Graham Cox on Facebook, and that’s prompted me to post here on the JRA fora.
I feel I need to explain my absence because I feel a little embarrassed.
I was very active on here in the lead-up to, and during, my ownership of Mariposa, a junk-rigged Contessa 26 I bought from Peter Scandling in 2015. I plied JRA members with a barrage of silly questions which were patiently answered, and I made some friends, both online and in person.
Then I suddenly went ‘dark’. I’ve remained a paid-up JRA member, but merely lurk on the fora reading posts and not contributing. I’d like to apologise for that.
By way of explanation, though not excuse, I’d gone off a little half-cocked in my adventure. Didn’t quite have my ducks in a row enough to be able to escape to the sea. A couple of minor family and financial calamities meant I had to scurry back to Australia, tail between my legs, and leave Mariposa with a broker to sell. I don’t know who has her or where she is.
The dream of voyaging aboard a small junk-rigged boat has not diminished, it’s just been in the back of my mind while I build up the savings, and handle some other responsibilities. I’m still a single parent, though my daughter lives independently, apart from needing a few hundred dollars from time to time. I lost a parent last year and the other one won’t be around forever, so that ties me to the shore somewhat too.
To scratch the ‘freedom’ itch I returned to my first love, motorcycling, which really is an iteration of the concept of ‘freedom’, albeit one that’s much less of a lifestyle than a pastime.
I hope to buy myself a Top Hat 25 when the time is right for me. They’re cheap enough, but the time will be right for me when I have space and time to re-fit/modify one.
That’s why I became reacquainted with Graham; I’m watching with interest his progress with his ‘junkette’ and his experiences living aboard. I spent some time aboard a Top Hat some years ago while I was living on a Compass 28, and was impressed with her, found that she had much more useable space than the Compass, despite being three feet shorter.
So, sorry for going so quiet, it’s a bad social habit of mine and I’ll endeavour to not be so neglectful in the future, of folks who have been so friendly and helpful.
I’m living simply in rural Victoria, Australia, working as a teacher. I usually get sent by my employer to teach in China, but obviously, that’s on hold until COVID-19 is conquered. I’m starting online teaching tomorrow with my Chinese students and I’m NOT looking forward to it. Given their low level of English, I anticipate making little progress on the course.
I hope everyone’s managing their respective lock-down rules and looking forward to returning to a new normal when it’s all over.
Cheers,
Matt