It’s a Small World

There is nothing quite as comfortable and happy as hanging out with old friends. Like, not old as in age, but old as in, we have serious history. Gabes and we spent 2012-2015 together in Kenya, and except for a couple weeks together in 2016, we hadn’t laid eyes on each other. Perfectly shameful, but so easy to do when you live halfway across the US from each other. But this was the year of change. Heath decided we were plain and simply booking tickets to Seattle and going to Sequim to see them.

We are very Midwestern, we realized on the plane. It was filled with folks going to some festival out in the WA bush, and clearly some were also coming from the bush. Or maybe just places that didn’t really have shower and laundry facilities. They were fine, friendly people, but we are from Iroquois, population 200 basic individuals who shop at Walmart and drive Expeditions. I felt very drab.

It only got more radical when we landed in Seattle and walked to our hotel. The tent communities never fail to amaze me, nor does the tolerance people have for the dwellers. Our hotel was also the mustering point for crews headed out to Alaska to fish for the season. Heath experienced some pangs of jealousy. I didn’t. Fishing has never even remotely interested me.

Gabes live on a delightful little farm that produces an unbelievable amount of flowers, veggies and eggs. There is something that feels extremely charming about hauling around 5 gallon buckets of flowers and picking vats of plump sweet peas. We spent a couple idyllic days helping harvest, eating rustic breads from Jenn’s oven, curling up in front of the fireplace and chatting, or heading down to the water to watch the sunset. Hospitality at it’s finest! At night the bed was soft and the cool winds blew in the open window. So did Winston Churchill. Scared the willies out of me, a black cat suddenly launching out of the night.

On Sunday we worshipped in their little church with the bathroom right off the sanctuary, then ate lunch with Robbie. He’s a seasoned sailor friend of theirs who talked from the minute he walked in until he walked out. Fascinating stories about life on the water, close calls, and all things boating. Of course we loved it! He also brought his charts for the Salish Sea, where we were planning to sail the next week. We plotted our route with several tips and pointers from Robbie, and in general felt a little more prepared for the new waters. Such friends are invaluable, and we’ve learned that the sailing community is full of knowledgeable people who will bend over backwards to help you out. Love that!