We generally wake up at 7:30 if we leave the shade off of our window in our bedroom. If we leave it on it is so dark, cool, quiet and rocking like a cradle we have been known to sleep until 8:30. We have flannel sheets and a blanket on the bed and it is usually around 55 - 65 degrees in Nova Scotia (45-55 in Nfld.) so it is a real struggle to get out of bed. #1 boating factor - when I get up I go to the bathroom and then have the GREAT FLUSHING. If I don't drop the toilet paper in just the right place the incoming (ocean) water doesn't catch it to go down the toilet. I have to hand pump water in and then keep pumping until everything is out. THIS COULD TAKE 40 STROKES. This is not what I want to do the minute I get up ( I don't enjoy it very much the other 5 or so times during the day either).
While I'm pumping Glenn is making the coffee. #2 boating factor - The first thing we do is listen to the - weather. Our day, our week, our month, our entire trip is revolved around the weather. Each day we determine if the weather will allow us to anchor somewhere or if we have to head for a dock or mooring because of high winds. It also tells us how far we can go that day. The week is adjusted as to whether we have had to sit in one spot for a while waiting for good weather. Then we may have to skip someplace we had planned on going. Our month is based on out of Nfld. by end of August, out of Nova Scotia by end of September, to NC by mid-November. And by weather I mean winds. The wind speed and direction rule us. Can we sail? Do we motor? Do we stay? Do we go?
After we plan our day's destination Glenn checks the engines while I put away last night's dishes and bring the radio, binoculars, lifejackets and cushions out into the cockpit. Then we do the anchor dance. I sit in the helm and Glenn gives me hand signals as to how long to push the button to raise the anchor. We can raise and lower our anchor silently and calmly. No show for those around. Usually, by 9:30 we are on our way. I generally stay at the helm for a few hours steering and navigating. It is generally very cold up here because you are up in the wind. We are still wearing fleece pants and a jacket while at the helm. We decide if we can sail and we use teamwork to raise and adjust the sails. When Glenn takes his turn at the helm it's usually time for me to make lunch. While I am at the helm Glenn is generally doing small maintenance jobs. We are somewhat back to traditional roles with me cooking and doing dishes and Glenn repairing. It's not totally like that all the time Glenn still cooks some. When Glenn is at the helm I read, journal and lately do crossword puzzles. I don't do much housework! We are doing laundry every 3 weeks (together) when we hit a marina. I have vacuumed 4 times since we left. I just did a major wipedown in the salon area that took about 4 hours and I cleaned the cushions and fenders one afternoon at a dock.

Our normal sail is about 4 hours. If we are going to dock I get the fenders and lines ready while Glenn does the steering. My greatest stress is throwing the docklines to (hopefully) someone on the dock who is waiting to help. If we moor I catch the mooring ball while Glenn steers. I just did my first steering while Glenn gets the ball in Baddeck and I was quite successful! Now all I have to do is learn to dock it. Each docking is different based on what other boats are there, type of dock, wind current, etc. So that may be a while.   A little footnote here:  I began docking the boat at the end of our second season and am doing quite well with it if I do say so myself.  I actually find it less stressful to dock then deal with the lines and fenders.  If we anchor I steer up to the anchorage and push the old button while Glenn is on the bow giving me hand signals. We then explore our latest cove. We kayak, hike, dinghy and sometimes walk to a grocery store.
Dinner is usually around 7:00. Boat factor #3 - THE REFRIGERATOR. It is a chore to get food out of the refrigerator. It is 3 feet deep with a diameter of 2 feet. Everything you want is always in the bottom. I generally have to remove half of the items in the refrigerator to get out what I need for dinner. God forbid if I forget something after I have put everything back in. We just may go without it. I have made eating decisions based on how much trouble it will be to get something out of the refrigerator. I originally thought getting cans out from under the seats whould be a chore. Little did I know.
After dinner we listen to the weather again to get a rough idea of what we are going to do the next day. (We listen to the weather during the day too) Here it is first in English and then in French. We plan where we hope to go the next day. Check our guidebooks, charts,etc. to see how far and what to do when we get there. We have frequently been invited on other boats for wine and travel comparisons.
Boat factor #4 electricity. This is why I don't vacuum. I actually get down on my knees and sweep with a little brush. If we watch a video. listen to the radio, use our computer we have to run our engines. We have to make our own electricity. So we keep electrical use to a minimum. Speaking of minimum - Boat factor #5 - water. We conserve water constantly. We carry 80 gallons and have to go to a marina that supplies it in order to refill. Dish washing is a real exercise. Showers are quick. Real quick.
Boat factor #5 - garbage. We have to hold our garbage until we can find a marina that will accept it. It is a different experience actually walking around trying to find a place to dispose of your garbage when we are accustomed to just putting it over the sidewalk.

We usually go to bed around 8:00 and read until 10:00. Day over.

Sailing is a different combination of activities. We spend more time here than at home getting food out of the refrigerator, disposing of garbage, doing laundy, walking to grocery stores but on the other side we have so much more time to enjoy people and nature. We flew to Nfld. 4 years ago and drove around the island for 2 weeks. In that time we spoke to waitresses and clerks. This trip we talked to people who came up to see us at the dock, rode in cars and talked to them, went to their concerts with them and spoke to the fishermen at their boats. We learned about their problems, their life and really got to know what Canada is like. A totally different experience. Then there is nature. We are living in it. We just sit in the cockpit surrounded by it. Beautiful views, birds, sealife. We walk on the beach and see tidal pools, kayak and look in the water, hike in the forests and bogs with their variety of plant life. Glenn keeps saying "there's an eagle". I have heard my first loon and really wish I could get it on tape.Soon we will be enjoying the colors of fall.
Glenn and I have always been close and done so much together. On the boat everything is discussed and decided as a mutual decision - where to go, what to do, do we sail, how much sail, what to eat. We are together 24/7 as the saying goes and it is wonderful.