With a four day weekend in the scheme, there is room for cold, rain, socialization and work on Gypsy, too! One would hope that our blog would serve as a way to stay connected to our friends and family as we travel and also may serve to give information to potential sailors and /or cruisers. Never did I imagine that one of our friends would read our blog and offer a solution to our sanding problem! Not only did Tom Hills offer his orbital sanders, he offered his time to assist with the sanding! Now that is a true friend! Tom and his wife Elaine had their own 34’ Catalina that they sold last year and Tom has not adjusted to a lack of boat chores. Friday found us ready to go at the marina by 9; I had started sanding by hand and Tom arrived shortly 
thereafter with his classy Festool sanding set. Seeing what a professional job this sander does, I wonder how I could have ever imagined that I could sand that entire hull by hand! Gypsy is positioned on flat ground which makes some of her hull directly overhead if I am sitting on the ground. Tom had the wisdom to bring a stool and in addition to sometimes sitting on it I was able to use it to lie partially on my back with my feet flat on the ground. (In yoga this would be assisted bridge pose!) Spring fever has come to the boat yard. Cars were parked all around; people laden down with bags of all their tried and true remedies for making the bottom hulls foul resistant and the hull above the water line, sparkling. Frequently enthusiastic workers would support others with words of encouragement or would share information on a product they found exceptional!
I liked the sanding; it’s something I can do. It’s messy! Even clothed in a bandana and a respirator, I tasted the dust for days! There is something mesmerizing about the sanding and I had a hard time pulling myself away. I also liked the intimacy of scrutinizing every inch of 
Gypsy. This structure below the water line, that soon will be a trusted part of our home, cannot be ignored. I found myself whispering endearments to Gypsy at times, hoping for us not to find ourselves kissing a reef or any other underwater obstacle during our future adventures. While Tom and I sanded, Dan worked on several other projects that only required his expertise.
Saturday was the rain day and Sunday we shared Easter dinner in New Haven with 16 friends and family. One of the last of those for a while…
My enthusiasm got me to the marina on Monday; my body felt it! Where once I held the sander over my head indefinitely, I now felt the muscles burn! My sanding attire has now expanded to one of those attractive one piece disposable suits, complete with a hood. In addition to the respirator I wore a bandana over my mouth. Though being a fashion setter is not one of my ambitions, I needn’t worry, even my mother would not have recognized me! Tom arrived at the dock bright and early and was willing to give us another few hours of sanding assistance! We broke for lunch midday and walked to the Seahorse restaurant where we refueled and rested; ready for round two! Even with the constancy of our effort, the job is not complete! Ought to consider a shorter vessel!
