Frustration is having a long job list and icky weather. Coping with this can be tough.

We spent the summer busting a hump: painting, repairing, packing.

We moved and we had to get organized, find our way around, "get settled". Maybe 5 or 6 weeks.

Then a quick boat shop, and we're back to a long list of jobs.

The Job List

We have a mixed feeling about big job lists. For over 15 years, we avoided big lists of jobs. We did -- approximately -- the least we could get away with. Maintenance, repair. a few improvements. But somehow, we weren't really motivated to do much. I think it's because we were too busy living in the house to take much interest in improving the house. It was very relaxed.

During the last months, working on the house become a full-time job. Conveniently, we were living there. It's not like we had to go anywhere to paint, repair or pack.

The boat is in Deltaville, almost two hours away. And we're having the worst winter in two decades. So we're not getting much done. And we're chafing while we waiting for better weather. Weekends are slipping away and jobs are not getting done.

Stressing

Clearly, one can internalize the "not getting enough done". It can become a life crisis. A "wake up in the middle of the night, worrying" kind of thing.

But, it's also possible to put it into perspective. It's a boat. A vacation camp on the bay.

But the insurance company wants to see a fair number of survey defects corrected. Which creates pressure and stress.

But we're trying to use some simple priority rules to prevent stress.

1. Pre-launch. Things we have to do before Red Ranger can go back into the water. The last of the through-hull repairs, the bottom paint, and the massive foredeck repair. Plus things we find during deck repair -- mast partners, windlass. While we're at it, we can address the halyard wrap, which is really a rigging issues, which is really a worn-out roller furler. Finishing the Coast Guard documentation.

2. Post-launch. Everything else can be pushed back. This includes fixing the knotmeter, tightening the belts on the engine, recharging the refrigerator freon, getting flares, posting the trash management plan, and covering the battery terminals.

3. Eventually. Add battery fuses. A bunch of minor interior woodwork to restore some shelves, and patch some holes. A bunch of small repairs like moving little depth-alarm speaker so it's not in the way of a hand-hold. Replace all the gaskets on all the lockers and portlights.

Job one is to get the pre-launch things done. And nothing more.

And there's a huge list of ongoing maintenance items -- engine, brightwork, head, water, refer, batteries -- that we don't really have a good grip on.

Playing Boat

Our theory on avoiding stress is to (1) take a deep breath and (2) remember that it's a life-style choice. We don't have to get it done now. We have the rest of our lives to play boat.