To all our northern dwelling readers, imagine, if you will, a sunny, glorious day, the kind of day that makes your spirits high. Imagine strolling along in sandals and a tank top under graceful live oaks draped with Spanish moss, past booths bursting full of colorful fresh vegetables. Everyone around is smiling and friendly. Later you take home your fresh vegetables and make a stellar fresh salsa with juicy, ripe tomatoes, garlic and cilantro. Just like the middle of summer yumminess in December!!!

Then you walk downtown and find a whole Christmas parade happening under swaying palm trees, complete with marching bands and floats and of course a pirate ship full of santa/pirate hybrids shooting off canons. Many people are walking around in wonderful colonial costumes as if were the most normal thing in the world, and in this colonial city, indeed it is.

This is just part of our day today. We are in heaven. We love this place!

But just so you aren’t too jealous, here is a snippet of what our day was like yesterday. It was my second day of work at my new job (more on that later) and I had to look nice and polished. Captain K had a Big Deal important 2nd interview for a job he is hoping to get. We needed to be professionally presentable! The wind was blowing at about 20 knots from the north and a serious chop had built up in the anchorage. We were anchored a good, long distance from the dinghy dock. Capt K made us both put on our foul weather gear (that means rubber boots, and full on neon yellow rain pants and jacket), and we carefully packed all our clothes and gear for the day into big plastic trash bags. We looked very fashionable! I thought the foul weather gear was a bit overkill at first, but once we were out there, was I glad we were wearing it! We both got completely drenched with waves splashing into the dinghy. Salt water in the eyes, even. Tons of water in the dinghy. And of course our motor died again halfway there and we had to row like mad against the current.
By the time we got to the marina we looked like drowned rats, and felt like it too. Good thing there are showers there for us to regroup. And work schedules and tide schedules do not easily coincide, so of course on the way back we were rowing against the tide AND the wind. We are so angry with this piece of crap dinghy motor we almost threw it in the water. (but instead our brand new waterproof camera fell in the water, and we were idiots by not getting the float strap. So sorry, no photos of the parade.)
As soon as we get paychecks that motor and camera are going to be replaced. It has been very stressful getting to and from our boat with our current dinghy situation, and not having a camera is just a drag. Meanwhile we have moved back onto a mooring ball to at least be closer to shore.

So the only two things we dont like about St. Augustine so far are the strong current in the anchorage and my new job. Yes, I got a job. I took the first one that was offered, even though I had reservations about it. I am working in a “wine boutique”. Its a place conveniently located a block from the marina that sells high end wine and gifts. In theory it is not a bad job, as I am interested in wine, however the pay is HORRIBLE, and the managers are the only unfriendly people I have met so far in town. So for now it is a least some income, but needless to say I have not stopped looking for something better. I have some fabulous performance art plans in the works, and am getting together a costume that I think will create a successful street performance act.

So all in all, we are managing to get ourselves settled here, and we keep on loving this city. It seems that everyone who lives here loves it too. It is nice to be in a place where everyone loves and wants to be there. If we can succeed in making the money, we will be happy to stay here awhile.

St. Augustine also gets the cutest lighthouse award

– Capt’n K & Lala

Location:St. Augustine, FL