Season 2 Begins

March 18, 2024

By Kay Hunt

Season Two on Beagle Spirit has begun! We were excited and a little nervous to return to the boat in Roche Harbor last week.  We were not sure what we would find after letting it sit for 3 winter months that saw some 35+ knot windstorms and bouts of below freezing temps.  Luckily, things were in good shape thanks to steps we had taken last fall. We had blown out our deck shower, emptied out the frig/freezer, set up electric heaters and a dehumidifier to keep the interior above freezing temps and dry.  The teak decks were a little green with algae, but nothing a good cleaning won’t take care of.  Two weeks prior to our return, our kind marina neighbors, Chuck and Suki, noticed we had 2 flat fenders and they helped us out by placing one of their spares to protect our boat. We were very thankful for their watchful eyes and helpful intervention!  

We are so grateful for our families who cheerfully hosted us in Boise, McCall, Beaver Creek, and Austin while we waited out the winter.  We had an absolute blast and felt so welcome.  But now we’ve stashed the snow skis and donned our sea legs again! We do not anticipate that being off the boat for such an extended time will be common, but rather a couple of 2-3 week visits per year, once we get into warmer year-round climates.

 Being away from Beagle Spirit led us to reflect on the idea of home.  Boise was our home for a long, long time and we still feel tremendous love and connection there with all 4 of our parents, Pam and Brian (Brett’s sister and husband) and close friends living there.  We have a treasure trove of memories and connections in Boise that stem from raising Ellie and Aaron. We couldn’t resist driving by the 3 homes we owned in Boise just to take a look.  The roots we have there are deep and wide.

 In February, we took a trip to South Dakota to establish residency.  The trip was a pleasant surprise, and we very much enjoyed the cowboy and cosmopolitan culture fusion of “Rapid” (what locals call Rapid City), marveled at the scenery and wildlife of Custer State Park, Mt. Rushmore, Badlands Nat’l Park, and the Black Hills.  In getting our residency we were asked to consider South Dakota as a potential future physical residence, and we were very honestly able to do that.  That said, while we may receive our mail there, vote on South Dakota ballots, and carry South Dakota driver’s licenses, it does not feel at all like home. 

 The roots we have laid down while living on Beagle Spirit are young and tender, but they are present and growing. As they do, this vessel offers us a deepening comfort of home.  Upon our return, we sank into its space and felt the security of its shelter, were uplifted the personal touches we have added, settled our belongings into space that is our own, checked in with new friends here, and relished the ease of coming home.  What a treat!—sailing along in the ultimate mobile home while we travel from place to place.