Once Sandi picked Joe up from the airport, it finally felt like the shift from planning mode into action mode. There was no more talking about what needed to be done—we were now fully in it. The next few days would be a blur of unloading, organizing, fixing, cleaning, and trying to turn a boat that was still very much “in progress” into something we could actually live on.

The first major challenge was simply getting everything from the car onto the boat. What seemed manageable in theory quickly turned into a steady stream of boxes, bins, bags, and supplies that all needed a home somewhere onboard. Every item had to be carried, stowed, or at least temporarily placed somewhere so we could figure out where it actually belonged later.

And then there was the freezer.

We had ordered a new freezer ahead of time and had it delivered to the local West Marine so it would be ready when we arrived. On paper, this was a great plan. In reality, Sandi is still not entirely sure how she thought she was going to get a freezer onto the boat by herself. That job quickly became a “Joe is here now” problem, and she was very relieved about that.

While Sandi focused on provisioning and organizing, Joe jumped straight into mechanical and electrical projects. He replaced several fans, swapped out cockpit lighting, and tackled some of the small but important upgrades that would make life aboard more comfortable. One of the bigger jobs was removing the old freezer from the lazarette and getting the new one installed in its place. Somewhere in the middle of all that, only one screwdriver made an unscheduled trip over the side—which, honestly, felt like a small victory given everything else happening.

At the same time, we were trying to clean. And clean again. And then clean some more. Every surface seemed to need attention, and the goal was simple but ambitious: make the boat as livable as possible in just a few days.

Captain Dee also had his own checklist before we could depart. He replaced the anchor, removed excess oil from the port engine, and went through a general once-over so he could feel confident about the boat before the trip north. It wasn’t just about comfort—it was about safety and making sure everything was truly ready.

Of course, that’s when the surprises started showing up.

He discovered the port engine reverso wasn’t working properly. Then, almost as if it didn’t want to be left out, the generator decided it wouldn’t start—even though it had run just fine during the survey. That is, until the previous owner came aboard, tweaked something, and just like that—it started working again. Sandi probably should have paid more attention to what was actually done, but it was running, and that’s what mattered. Or so she thought.

But that’s boat life, we were quickly learning. Things don’t always fail in a logical order—or on a convenient schedule.

Still, between the repairs, the cleaning, the provisioning, and the endless list of small tasks, we kept moving forward. Slowly, steadily, and sometimes with a little bit of chaos—but always forward.

Because in just a few days, we weren’t just trying to get the boat ready.

We were getting ready to leave.