Jane Ainsworth was looking forward to retirement, envisioning plenty of tennis, hill-walking and home improvements. Her husband had other ideas...
Life on the open sea
When I retired in December 2011, I looked forward to spending more time with my family and friends, playing more tennis, doing more hill-walking, and most of all, spending time in my garden on those beautiful days when it would have seemed so hard to go to work. I enjoy cooking too, and had in mind a few improvements to our house, which had been a bit neglected while we were both busy working.
But Mr A. entertained no such plans. Having managed large civil engineering projects, and enjoyed arguing with people for the last 40 years, he now needed a new project about which he could argue with me.
He’s always liked dinghy sailing, and for some years we had a share in a narrowboat, so it was perhaps inevitable that the project would involve a boat. Inspired by Monica and Terry Darlington, who took their narrowboat, The Phyllis May, and their whippet Jim, to the US and wrote about their experiences in Narrow Dog to Indian River, Mr A thought we could go one better and do a trip called the Great Loop.
The Great Loop is usually started in Florida. You go up the Intracoastal Waterway along Florida’s east coast, up through Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia and on to New York, then via the Erie Canal to the Great Lakes, then coming south via the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers to the Gulf of Mexico. Then you cross the Gulf back to Florida. It takes about a year.
Having managed large civil engineering projects, and enjoyed arguing with people for the last 40 years, [Mr A] now needed a new project about which he could argue with me.
"A year!" I quailed. Away from my family and friends, and home? Living on a boat? Much as I enjoyed our times on the narrowboat, exploring Britain’s waterways, I was always glad after two weeks of cramped living to get home again. What if any more grandchildren were to arrive? The only upside, as far as I could see, was that we would be able to make more visits to our son and his family, who live in Virginia.
We compromised. We would do the Loop, but in bite-sized chunks of two to three months at a time, and store the boat when we’re not using it. We arrived in Florida on 7 January. Mr A has spent the last year doing boat-handling courses, navigation courses, communicating with other "Loopers" on an online forum (at least it deflects criticism of the amount of time I spend on Gransnet), and looking at numerous "boats for sale" websites.
He had a short-list of about six boats, and had arranged to view the top two the day after we arrived in Florida. The first one simply did not tick enough of my boxes (comfy bed, fridge, adequate storage space, reasonable toilet and shower), but I knew within five minutes of boarding Carina that this was the boat I wanted. She measured up to all my requirements, and then some. She’s 35 years old, and registered as an antique vessel, so we got a lot of boat for our money. She’s spacious, well laid-out and finished in teak inside, shabby chic if you like.
We’ve been living on her since January 26th, and she’s already our second home. We’ll be back in England on March 12th to await the arrival of a new grandchild, and of course I’m excited about that, but part of me will be sorry to leave Carina and I’ll be looking forward to coming back to the US in the Autumn.
Jane also writes a blog detailing her adventures on the sea at www.talesfromtheamericanwaterways.com
By Jane Ainsworth
Twitter: @Gransnet
Thanks Sally, yes we've had a great time but I think if I wasn't doing the blog I'd forget most of it 
It's Independence Day here of course, so we're hoping to see some fireworks tonight on the Hudson River.
MrA has hung up our Union Jack next to the American flag on the boat, not sure if this is a wise move 
Jane what a great way to share all your travel news and it's great for me to see who I have been messaging How do you find the time to keep up to date with all the messages on the blog as well you must be very well organized lol wish I had your energy Thank you for all your news Ive enjoyed it so much look forward to reading and seeing more of your travels Speak soon Take care Sally 345
I sure will When 
You have all whetted my appetite now! I shall download the book.
I love going to places I have read about in books and I think one of the reasons I always wanted to go to the US was reading Little Women and What Katy Did as a child.
I got a kindle from the DCs for Christmas and an amusing spin off has been that instead of MrA wandering about like a lost sheep going 'Got any interesting books to read?' Then reading them and criticising my taste in literature, the question can now be answered with 'Yes I have, they're on my kindle and I'm reading it!' 
I did indeed , as you say , fascinating !
Kitty if you love Savannah , I do also you should read the book "Midnight in the garden of good and evil" by John Berendt .
It is set in Savannah and is a good read , a film was also made of it !
janeainsworth you have a treat in store! Savannah is one of my favourite places. We also visited Charleston this visit and I'm in love with it as well.
Good luck on your travels - it sounds a wonderful journey
Thank you both bellasnana and POGS
POGS he always has itchy feet! When we come back from anywhere, even before I've got all the washing done, he will be on the Internet looking for a travel bargain. I have a list of little jobs though and use these as bargaining ploys
Actually we have had quite taxing conditions the last few days - we had to bring Carina today to the yard where she will be stored while we're at home. 20knot winds and a nasty chop wasn't pleasant so I think he'll be quite glad to get back to his dinghy at Tynemouth
bellasnan I hope you're having a good time with your family - I've never been to Georgia but looking forward to it when we come back in the autumn. specially Savannah.
Hi Jane
I am so pleased you have had such a wonderful time. It certainly sounds like great fun.
Will Mr. A have itchy feet once he is home? Will everyday start with "When we are back on Carina".
Have a safe journey home next week.
We're in Jacksonville now Grannyknot and it's grey, cold and miserable! It has been lovely though, but I'm looking forward to some English spring sunshine when we get back next week [hopeful emoticon]
jane great blog(s) and I love that you negotiated doing it in "chunks" - like you, I need a buffer zone in between adventures. That's why I'm happy to go off with husband on numerous road trips, as long as we have a couple of nights in each place (or even more) in between.
Having just come back from 2 weeks in that wonderful part of the world - Florida - I too am 
Thanks again for all the kind comments. Doing the blog is a kind of therapy, if that doesn't sound too melodramatic.
ffinnochio I will let you know should any vacancies arise
Well Galen at least they would open wide, unlike some human patients
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