Happy Destiny Home

Isn’t it so crazy! We’ve entered into a new decade. What a ride we have had this past year!
2019 was full of new adventures for Jim and I.
Last year in January we were still living on the Happy Destiny. Having just returned from our Great Loop Adventure, we were trying to normalize our lives. We had lots of conversations about what life could possibly look like for us.

One year later, as I write this entry, I can honestly say, I’m in a really good place. Life after the Loop is awesome! Jim and I are happy and very content with the choices we’ve made this past year.

I’m so grateful for all of it! My God is so good, and I am one blessed woman. My sobriety has been enhanced by finally fitting in with a new “tribe”. It’s taken this whole past year to establish new friendships and feeling like I belong here. Jim and I hosted a Christmas Gratitude meeting and dinner for a few of our AA buddies. A tradition brought in our hearts from California, where, at Christmas time, our friend Mike hosted a gathering that went back over 25 years. There’s nothing better than a grateful heart, and our rendition of the tradition was just lovely.

We had a few fun trips in the RV and took the boat out on a few cruises. We bought our home. Jim and I joke about having too many toys. It’s true, but how lucky are we to have such problems! We are working to get the Happy Destiny Boat sold, which is not an easy thing to do. They say the best days of a boat owners life are The day you buy it, and the day you sell it. We’ve had several lookie-loos, but, no takers, yet. I know when the time is right and all the stars align, the perfect people will come and our Happy Destiny will become someone else’s dream.

Jim continues to drive for Uber/Lyft. I ask him often if he is happy, and his report is always, yes. As long as he is enjoying this, I’m happy. I don’t ever want him to do anything that doesn’t bring him joy. He deserves always to be happy and content with what he is doing. I have committed to taking care of an older gentleman, in his home, who suffered a stroke. He is a nice old man who just needs assistance with daily life skills. I work a 12 hour shift, from 7:00 in the morning to 7:00 in the evening. He and his wife live in a beautiful home that overlooks the Gulf. I’m happy to be doing this. Being of service is something I need to do. It makes me feel productive and helpful. The view isn’t to shabby either!

My View at Work

My sister Cameron came to visit last week! What a blessing thaft was. I haven’t spent 5 days in a row with her for like forever! We had a great time! We shared many nice meals and a few quiet walks. We enjoyed an afternoon on the Happy Destiny, an afternoon at Sharkeys on the Pier in Venice, Florida.

We celebrated New Years at a party on Spanish Point. Jim had a gig there driving the Magic Boat, with its Christmas lights on, back and forth in front of the party. It looked really pretty. He took a few folks out for a ride. Cameron and I enjoyed the evening and had fun snapping pictures of ourselves on Snapchat 😂

Captain Jim on Magic

We ventured off to the Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach, where, at Tampa Electric, the manatees have come to enjoy the warm waters.
While there, we also saw black tipped sharks, spotted sting ray, and 5 foot Tarpons!

We had planned on spending some time with our Auntie Sharon on this day, but unfortunately, she was not feeling well. After the viewing center we went to the Cuban Community of Ybor City on the advice of our brother Kelly. We found a really nice authentic Cuban Restaurant called the Columbia. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch.

To top off my sisters visit, she booked a room at the Grand Hyatt in Tampa. Her flight was leaving at 7:00 in the morning, so the stay here put her very close to the airport. Flying to and from Florida is an arduous undertaking. It’s a long journey with layovers and plane switching. From our home to Tampa Airport is a hour drive. Staying at the hotel was a great idea. She was able to catch a shuttle, and I was able to enjoy the morning in a very nice hotel room. Win, win.😂

bonus- the view!

So, all in all, life after the Loop is just perfect. I keep writing this blog because, number one, I promised I would, for those Loopers who were to find themselves in the same situation as Jim and I were in when we returned from our adventure. For those who felt lost. For those who weren’t quite sure if life could ever be as exciting as it was on their adventure. For those who had no other place to go, who had quit their jobs, sold their stuff and decided to throw caution to the wind and conquer the Great Loop. Those who left their families behind. I continue to write for you. We are so blessed, and we are so fortunate to be able to live this life. It took some work. Some risks. Some action. We had to reach out our hands and join in. If we hadn’t had the courage to do that, I don’t know where we would be. If you read this blog, and you have found yourself in the position we were a year ago, please know that there is definitely life after the Loop. I’m as excited about this new chapter in life, as I was about doing the loop.
Number 2, I continue to write for me. I have spent countless hours reliving the last 2 years of our lives on my blog site. At any given time, I can look back at where we were and what we were doing. I can see pictures. Most importantly I can see how I felt. There’s something about the feelings associated with the life I have lived. I can see where I replaced fear with faith. I can read about how it felt to conquer a lock in the blowing wind and rain, and how I found the courage to do things I didn’t want to do because I was scared. I can see how much I have grown as a woman. I look back and can read about how a girly girl like me, ditched her high heels for deck shoes and how I could live without all the luxuries in life. I like reading about how Jim and I worked as a team. How compatible we are, and how our love for each other makes life so sweet.
I write, because it’s good for me. This is my journal. I’m very complete and I think that shows. I’m not the same girl as I was 2 years ago, and I’m grateful for that. I’m better.

I hope and pray that your new year brings you nothing but happiness and adventure, good health and joy.
peace and our love♥️