Hi All!
So here we are at the start of 2026!
Whew! We survived the year of 2025, barely it seems….
Hope you all arrived in 2026 in good shape, healthy and happy!
Just a moment of reflections on our Journey through 2025
Lots of challenges on all fronts last year… some within and some without control.
I generally like to get the bad news out of the way first and then get the good news to have something pleasant to dwell on.
So as just about any rational person can admit there have been A LOT of really sad, disappointing, and horrible things in the journey through 2025 I thought would never happen in my lifetime occurred…unimaginable things…things that the I can’t write about here… but I know that time and history will never forget nor ever forgive. I know I won’t. For the perpetrators I think the Karma is gonna be a real @#&$%! for some folks.
(Personally just I’m glad that when and where I can I’ve tried to
peacefully highlight and counter the egregious harms … I can sleep at night with a clear conscience & I’ll just leave it at that.)
So on better aspect journey notes…
We have been able to have renewed our limited capability to to contribute to World Central Kitchen so that those who are hungry can get fed around the world regardless of nationality, origin, or belief. It is a great organization that has helped make a difference in so many innocent lives faced with adversity. We have also been fortunate enough to help make limited contributions to our local food banks, non-denominational charities and related organizations trying to help those in need. It’s not so much as ‘paying it forward’ as it is ‘giving back’ for the help and assistance that one inevitably has received from persons known and unknown in one’s life.
Then there has been the enjoyment and pleasure we have been able to experience this past year exploring our local waterways with our Mac26X! The varied waters. The beautiful sights and sounds. The wildlife. The variety of it all. We know that we are indeed fortunate and are truly grateful for it. Every day is precious when one knows it can only exist heartbeat to heartbeat. Getting out on our boat is a joy.
While we have ticked off several big items from the infamous “To-Do-List” along with a number of minor ones there is still a lot to do on the home renovations. Flooring, electrical, plumbing, planning, refurbishing have all made measurable progress this past year..(not as much as one had initially hoped for but accomplishments none the less! I’m grateful that I can still do as well as enjoy doing these things even on a limited budget
with physical limitations. It’s been a rather productive year.
On the boat related “To-Do-List’ there was also project accomplished and progress made. One of the important ones was the refurbishment of the boat trailer! Getting all the old bunks replaced, the majority of the bolting hardware replaced, getting the leaf springs replaced… glad that’s accomplished!
Aside from the normal oil changes and scheduled maintenance our Suzuki DF60AV engine has been performing great! Over 300 hours of run time this past season without a hitch. This has been a very much enjoyed and appreciated investment!
While there have been some health scares along last year’s journey we count ourselves fortunate and are grateful that things worked out well. We are well aware how every moment of life is really what happens heartbeat to heartbeat. It’s my perspective that We are all born with expiration dates … all we can do is do the best we can, within our abilities, to try to make it and leave it a better world than we first arrived.
The Journey into 2026 is just getting started!
Plan your work & work your plans!
(… Or as Hagar the Horrible told his son Sherman “Aim for the Stars in life… Even if you miss you’ll still hit the mountain tops!”
)
The primary SC home renovation To-Do-List between now and June is basically to get
> the floor transition strips between tile areas and the newly installed flooring
===>>> Update 01/28/26 - Finished the transition for the fireplace hearth
===>>> Update 02/14/26 - Finished the transition for the entry foyer
> the new kitchen cabinetry painted / installed
===>>> Update 03/03/26 - Moved first prepped cabinet in from the garage (finally) Will prime/paint later. Started on second cabinet.
===>>> Update 03/13/26 - Moved #2 prepped cabinet in from garage. Trimmed/adjusted big pull drawer.
> the new appliances installed
> the new electrical and plumbing installed
===>>> Update 01/24/26 - The three new in-slab floor recessed electrical outlets are finally installed and operational! Took a bit to get the right style but they look perfect!
===>>> Update 02/07/26 - The new kitchen electrical needs has multiple new 20 amp counter outlets on two new circuits. Between these and several other new electrical circuits being added over the years the main panel circuit breaker space availability is limited. The cost ($2k+) for just the hardware of adding a new sub panel has been averted by my local electrical supply house who managed to get some duplex breakers to replace existing single breakers. This allows for consolidation of twenty existing breaker slots down to ten slots, making the need for a new sub panel moot! The new breakers add up to about less than a 1/4 of the sub panel hardware with a lot less work as well! This will allow for the future addition of proper dedicated outlets for the boat when it’s parked at the house.
===>>> Update 02/09/26 - Finished up installing the new duplex breakers today!
This now provides and additional 9 new spare breakers for the remodeling efforts! Glad thats accomplished!
> wiring and installation of the new garage heating unit (that will be really be enjoyed while working on the cabinets!)
===>>> 01/18/26 Update: Finished new breakers, wiring and installation of 240VAC outlet receptacle for garage heater
Added new 110VAC outlet while I was at it.
===>>> 01/19/26 Update: Finished the ceiling installation of the new garage heater! Set it up with 25 ft of 8 gauge high flex
wired extension cord so that I can readily reposition it as well as being able to take it with us when we go up north. The
uninsulated 2 car garage went from about 47F to 70+F in about 15 to 20 minutes! It’s really gonna make it a lot nicer to work in
the garage this winter! Been wanting to do this for years!
( Excuse all the rough-in wiring that is for the new kitchen )
===>>> Update 02/21/26 - Had to divert to landscaping today to remove two large hazardous branches about 50 ft up a large pine tree in our front. Used a hand cable chainsaw with the help of the Admiral to bring them down safely.
===>>> Update 02/25/26 - Additional diversion to landscaping to remove more large compromised tree branches though this time only 40 ft up an oak tree. Admiral has been a great help!
The primary NH home renovation To-Do-List between July and November is basically get
> get new roofs on house and garage (that’s one we’re gonna have done for us ($$$) as I don’t bounce anymore 
)
> the new driveway retaining wall built
> the new driveway area filled in, plumbed, wired and leveled
> the initial (final?) gravel surface
> completion of the new basement electrical wiring & lighting
> demolition and replacement of the back balcony
> recasting/leveling of garage floor
> installation of proper 120/240 VAC electrical power to the garage
> installation of some sort of garage heating system
The primary boat To-Do-List between now and the end of March
> remove/replace all the trailer wheel studs
> service/inspect/grease all the trailer wheel hubs
> scrape/ clean/ repair/ repaint boat bottom
===>>> Update 01/25/26 - Moved stern support frame over to the boat / got new short pressure washer wand / got hose moved over
===>>> Update 02/08/26 - Made additional support frame shims for additional clearance. Lifted boat up unto support frame. Used new technique with 3-1/2 Ton floor Jack at frame between tandem axles. Was able to lift boat higher and faster than the prior teeter totter method.
===>>> Update 02/10/26 - Scraped and pressure washed hull.
===>>> Update 02/14/26 - Found my left over bottom paint from last time. Seems I should have enough for two coats! Yippie!
===>>> Update 02/21/26 - Started taping the hull in prep for painting
===>>> Update 03/04/26 - Oppsies! Found a hidden divot on the bow area. Seems at sometime in the past a chunk was taken out and “fixed” with some 5200 that was painted over.
Starting clean-up/grind & repair.
===>>> Update 03/08/26 - Finish bow divot repairs with some stick epoxy putty and two part epoxy paint. Great bond! Looks great!
===>>> Update 03/10/26 - Finished new bottom paint!
===>>> Update 03/13/26 - Lowered boat off support stand back onto trailer. Coated hull area where stand had been.
> Remove replace original ballast fill/drain valve
===>>> Update 03/08/26 - Replacement ordered from BWY
===>>> Update 03/12/26 - Installed new valve
> clean and paint of sliding companionway, forward hatch, anchor line locker hatch, rear cockpit center seat
===>>> Update 03/10/26 - We’re gonna skip this painting project this year. Just not enough time before our launch date of early April
> install sun covers for fuel cubbies
> install new fwd facing spotlights w/ console control switches
> Spring cleaning inside & out
—->>> Update - 04/08/26 - FINISHED all the Spring Cleaning!!! Whew! Glad that’s done!
—->>> Update - 04/08/26 - Scrubbed and cleaned all our fenders. Used denatured alcohol & mesh 180 grit abrasive to get the years of accumulated sun/sea gunk off. A fair amount of elbow grease but they look a whole lot better!
> Added 02/07/26 - Erect canvas garage for our 15’ runabout ‘Scrambled’
===>>> Update - 02/07/26 - Completed preliminary brush clearing of side yard w/daughter’s help. Big job done!
===>>> Update - 02/08/26 - W/ daughter’s help expanded brush clearing and extensive vine overgrowth removal! So nice to finally get that accomplished!
===>>> Update - 02/12/26 - Finished getting current quotes for ground lumber/gravel/rental mini backhoe for install of canvas garage today. Material Cost are Much Higher than expected from last year (but what’s new lately). The Admiral (CFO) is thinking about it..
but isn’t opposed to it. Glad we’re still able to DIY the labor!
> annual engine maintenance & oil changes
===>>>Update - 03/21/26 - Accomplished all of the annual maintenance on the engine and fuel system except for changing out the water pump impeller. The shift linkage coupler nut seems to be bolixed and won’t spin up to disengage so I can’t separate the lower unit as yet.
> planning and reservations for multi week ICW trip
===>>> Update - 03/29/26 - New shift link nut came Saturday and installed Sunday. Lower unit bot back up. Test runs on the water muffs perfect!
Starting in April
> Multi week ICW trip
===>>> Update 03/29/26 - With all the recent substantial price increases (marine gasoline has increased to over $4.50/gal
(up over a $1.20/gal in a month) and our grocery bill average up almost 10%
in the past month) with no real chance of it coming back down for probably a while we’re considering reconsidering / curtailing our ICW cruise plans to stay within our planning budget. This would be the second time in as many years!
(Why? Everyone knows that answer….)
> get boat slip lined up for three months
===>>> Update 03/04/26 - Signed new slip lease today. Our prior slip was unavailable so we’ll adapt to the new one. Started calling about potential in-transit slips for our upcoming ICW trip.
Even if we only get half of these accomplished it’s still better than where we started
Hope you all have a fantastic 2026!
Best Regards,
Over Easy
