Simply put, it was "Are you happy?"

The interesting thing is that invariably, everyone from stateside that was down on vacation would say something to the effect of "Why do you ask?" or "What sort of a question is that?". Mainly because their answer was "No." and the realized how bad that was.

Everyone that was living down there ("We're all here because we're not all there!") would immediately answer "Yes, but...", and then go on to say something or another that they didn't like.

For a long time, while I was on the boat, I was happy. Now I'm not.

I'm generally a happy person, and when I'm not happy, I get surly, irritable, and irrational. Possibly also psychotic.

I was happy this summer. And since I've been off the boat, I haven't been happy. I associate the boat with my happiness, which is why when my mom sent me a note tonight suggesting I sell her, my immediate reaction was to balk.

She does, however, have many good points. Val's been a bit of a horse collar lately, and for the past two years I haven't gotten too much enjoyment out of her. (This last summer's end excepted.). She's expensive to maintain, and expensive to keep. I have a ton of equity tied up in her. And if I want to live aboard (which really is the only thing that makes sense), it restricts my job opportunities to east coast locations (or locations that I could get to in her in a short amount of time.)

It's important to reinvent yourself every seven years. I have been a game developer, and a transatlantic sailor. Perhaps it's time to go back to being a game developer? Or to get a Real Estate license? Or get a small powerboat for the ICW?

I have about two months to sort it out, as during that time I'm going to be finishing the condos and getting them sold. But after that, I better have a good plan, as I'm getting tired of moving around.