Shakedown Cruise – What we are currently on; the first trip on a new boat where you discover all of the things wrong that didn’t show up in the survey. This also encompasses all of the stupid things you do that are part of the cruiser learning process.
Blow – When the wind is blowing too hard to risk going anywhere. Basically you have to wait it out and you better either be on a dock, on a mooring ball or have a really good anchor.
Weather Window – Your chance to get to your next destination when the blow is over and the weather is finally good.
Roll-ey – When the water and wind conditions are such that the boat rolls from side to side, making all of the stuff you didn’t properly stow away fall down.
On The Hook – When you drop your anchor in an anchorage and use your dinghy to get to civilization.
Smarmy – How you feel after you haven’t had a proper shower for more than two days.
Lux Marina – Any marina that has surprisingly good amenities for a low nightly fee.
Butler – What Tristan calls me (with a smile) as I’m constantly making him food and drinks, fetching packed away things for him, doing dishes and cleaning up all of his crumbs and spilled juice.
Battle Wounds – The various bruises, bug bites and other injuries from living on a boat. My strangest one was a cut on the inside of my toe. I was half asleep one morning hanging out towels to dry and accidentally dropped April’s swimsuit into the water. I grabbed the pole and fished it out but then in my flustered state as I was returning to the cockpit somehow cut the inside of my toe on the winch holder.
Laundry Lady – What Chub Cay locals called me as I was sneaking a load in the workers’ dryer.
Morning Meeting – A ritual with Tristan’s stuffed animals led by Renard, Russian King of the Foxes, and attended by Bubba (bear), Reddy (red panda), Rocky (raccoon), Wiley (coyote), Art Studio (English monkey and art teacher) and Bananas (smaller monkey and Art Studio’s protégé). Unfortunately, Love Doggy and Blackie (another dog) have been MIA for some time. I think we left them in the U-Haul truck.
Garage – Storage space behind the bathroom and shower where we put everything we don’t need on a daily basis like all of the crap we should have left at home, the new generator that stopped working, the solar panel that never worked, etc.
Arrival Cocktail – The drink we have once we’ve arrived at a marina and have docked without me falling off of the boat. This is usually followed by an overpriced splurge lunch in the marina restaurant.
I’m tired I’m hungry I’m thirsty I’m itchy I have to go to the bathroom! – Tristan’s litany every time we try to make him do schoolwork.
Juice – Power to charge all devices that keep us from going insane.
Ship Store – Stores at marinas that sell overpriced everything, especially beer.
Sarcophagus – What Tristan calls the side of the bed in our cabin that falls under a lower ceiling. If you aren’t claustrophobic, it’s the darkest spot in the boat and perfect for an afternoon nap.
Mr. Moneybags – What T and I call Lawson when he kicks our asses in Monopoly.
Helmet Head – T’s overgrown buzz cut. (Though I’m not one to talk. We haven’t come up with a term for my hair but it’s currently sporting five shades: silver, dark brown, burgundy, chestnut and blonde. Lovely.)
Cruising Kitty – Money saved that was supposed to last us through three months of sailing. I think it maybe lasted one.