The images and photo opportunities on Splendid are turning from a horrible mess to beautiful.
My new mainsheet is installed and all my winches are back. My friend on “Sara G” gave me 2 new stainless Hershoff cleats for my jib sheet, they’re beautiful. For the first time in a while I can go sailing if I choose to…, and I choose to very, very soon! It’s a good feeling to know I can move again, my soul is smiling! I’m finally digging my way out of the “restoration” ditch and I can see 
the light at the end of the tunnel.
Opportunities are passing me by. I had 6 interested backpackers I had to turn down on a trip to Zapzurro Colombia, and I got a call from a German woman who wanted to charter for 10 days in San Blas. I also got the first email through the charter page from a backpacker in Brazil and I haven’t even launched yet.
I know a few months after I start working I’ll be turning down charter work to focus on my creative efforts. I don’t want to be a charter boat captain. My goal is to generate 
a humble income from my words & films and share my travel experiences. This is my passion!
After Splendid is together my plan is to make wine, bread, tofu, and home can on a large scale. At this point I need more money in my life as I’m still restoring Splendid, but after I will realize the minimalist in my heart and live as lean as possible as I grow into my years. The reason I moved to a larger boat was for freedom & simplicity, not comfort. Splendid will be my groovy minimal sailing, 
living, and traveling platform soon, WEEHAAAA!
I’m uber-motivated to get out of here, make a few bucks, and get lost in the San Blas so I can continue shooting my film. I need to get a computer that can process HD video and luckily the chartering thing will afford me this. I’ve re-titled my next film “The Minimalist Sailor” a free mans guide to the world. I tell you making a film or writing a book takes a lot of energy! I think I’m the busiest cruiser I know and I still live a pretty laid back life.
My fear of home canning was dissolved in a few hours with Margo watching her prepare hamburger, chicken, and beef cubes for 6 months aboard her boat. I’ve read a few books on canning but actually watching it pulled it all together for me. I also plan on building a solar dryer on the aft-deck to dry fruit, fish, and meat.
Home canning is a snap. Clean & sterilize the jars, fill them with raw meat, clean the rims so they make a good seal, put the lids on and screw down, cook under pressure for 75 minutes. Let them cool on the counter over night, take the screw part of the lids off for re-use, and store the jars. Not too difficult, and I now have 
the ability to store large amounts of protein for long journeys, pretty cool in my book! It will be so nice to be able to pop open a jar of home made stew at sea, heat it, and have a real meal with minimal effort.
The sun is slowly winning over the gray & rain, and some beautiful days are emerging from the sky. The mountains aren’t growling as much and the 30 minutes of rain a day is fresh and welcome. I really love this country. I think no matter where I travel it will always be my home. No hurricanes, no ciguatera, the authorities don’t bother me, warm beautiful water, and nature, nature, nature! Home is where the heart is, and my heart is in Panama!
Over the following weeks I will continue to work and finish Splendid’s decks. I don’t want to take passengers aboard until 
I have at least put down a good non-skid. I’m having problems finding the right size sand. I did a small portion of the deck with sand from the beach here and it is too fine. It’s a good non-skid for the weekend sailor, but not what I want on Splendid. Splendid is a very kind ship and good hearted, but I want her decks brutal and to remove flesh if you fall upon them. If you remember I was taken almost completely overboard on Namaste when my drifter hit the water one night in the Pacific. Sticking to the boat is much more important in my book then a skinned knee!
I had dinner with some friends last night. They are very traditional German sailors and have a beautiful wooden boat Grete. I’ve recently watched her for a few weeks when they were traveling in Ecuador. They have a Taylor made kerosene stove in storage that I’m going to look at this week. I’m hoping it’s this one:
http://www.marinescene.co.uk/view/2685/taylors-029-2-burner-hob-amp;-warming-oven
They want $500 which is a bargain but I don’t have the money at the moment. However I’m sure they will hold it for me if I want it.
I have a 30 gallon tank in the engine room that was dedicated to the generator I pulled. If I go kerosene I will convert this tank to kerosene and be able to easily carry a 2-3 year supply of cooking/heating fuel that is safe! Eventually I would like to find used kerosene heaters for the main and aft cabin as well as a kero water heater.
I am so grateful for the life I lead, and I’m really excited to produce my next film and share the details of a minimalistic life at sea.
Thank you for reading.
Sail far and live slowly!
alex