Catalina is waiting to show me how magical it is

I have never been but have always been curious about this set of islands off the coast of southern CA near San Diego.

This is taking a big leap of faith for me to sail on a 50 footer from Mission del Rey to San Diego and then on the Catalina. We will spend 10 days visiting all different stops on these islands. I am so excited about this adventure!

Another great holiday meal with our friends Jamie and Elaine at the Marina. We could get used to this.

After dinner, we had such an entertaining night just watching young couples come and go to and from their expensive and fancy New Year's Eve parties at the Hilton and Sheraton. This is an annual show for them each year. Best of all the people watching is free! The fashion is out of this world. Throw a few drinks in them and there is loads of entertainment.

On our winter whale watch trip in 2008, we saw some nappers taking advantage of being rocked to sleep. Capt. Jamie looks a bit chilly, don't ya think?

Stepping Outside the Box

Friends of ours have a gorgeous 49.5 Taswell sailboat. We've gone for many a day sails on Tardis.

After years of enjoying days on the SF Bay with Jamie and Elaine, they moved to San Diego area. It turns out that we saw them more often after they moved than when they lived here. The amazing thing about us getting together down in San Diego, is that they were able to offer us their 49.5 Taswell sailboat as a luxurious and romantic "floating hotel."

After visiting them these past 3 years, we decided to get ourselves a starter sailboat with another couple (our partners.) We felt this was a good first move because all expenses are split in half.

We now share a gently used 29.5 Hunter which is perfect for a beginner boat. Though we have co-owned the boat for 2 years, I couldn't bring myself to go out on it for most of the first year. Being a smaller boat, I just didn't like being that close to the water when the boat heeled.

I know how much boating meant to my husband,so I decided to sleep on it to see if I could come up with a way to get over my fears and to enjoy boating.

I decided that if we took out another couple, who had experience sailing, I could be distracted while chatting with the wife, while Rob and the husband sailed the boat. The added peer pressure also helped me to keep my occasional screams in check.

Low and behold, I became more accustomed to sailing the bay and after my 3rd sail I no longer got queasy if I went down below. This is progress for sure.

Now we have had the boat for 2 years and it turns out to be very enjoyable much to Rob's delight.

We now spend overnights on the boat (however all have been dockside for now.)