In Boot Key

We arrived in the morning on Jan. 26 and took the dinghy in to sign up.  We are 29th on the waiting list for a mooring ball.  Mooring are so much better for a number of reasons.  1. They are a known entity.  You know how much the other boats are going to swing and they aren't going to hit you.  Also, you know they will stay put, not so much for some of the sketchy arrangements in "budget" boaters with old line and undersized anchors. 2. They are much closer to the dinghy dock and all the facilities. This really matters when you have bags of groceries, laundry or other supplies.  In bouncy conditions, shorter rides are better. 3. People tend to socialize more on the balls.  Some of the anchorers can't comply with the requirements (running engine, holding tank, etc)so are out here in the hinterlands.  Living in the keys, especially on a day laborer salary, can be tough and expensive so people tend to find whatever place to lay their head that they can for the least cost.  Even a leaky boat with no rent beats a tent on shore, I guess.  The middle keys, and Marathon is right in the middle, are more working class with fishermen and people who commute to the more wealthy Key West and resorts to the North.  It makes it a more interesting and varied place to be and not so touristy.  Boaters are notorious cheapskates so nobody seems to feel like they need to impress anyone.  It's a much more laid back. Once the weather clears, we are looking forward to jumping in to the community and adding our bit of spice to the mix.  Two potlucks already on the calendar! 

Caught this guy munching away in the community garden.  There are quite a few permanent
members of the harbor community living here.  They take great pride in their bit of
paradise and doing what they can to make it nice.

We are about a 1/2 mile from the main building and dinghy dock and there are
hundreds of boats here.  At night, all the anchor lights make it look like the
Milky Way.  We pay a small fee to be able to use the marina facilities that include the dinghy dock,
bike rack, restrooms/showers and laundry.  There is also a large day room with a take one-leave one library.
There are some tvs hooked to cable and it's also where we'll pick up any mail forwarded.   

We had a few hours of no rain and made it to Mass at San Pablo's via our bikes.  It
was built as a gift about 50 years ago by a family.  It is all sea glass of varying colors, shells and
rocks.  So unique and beautiful.  The parish is a vibrant and active blend of locals and snow birds.

This is the back of our tachometer.  Boating really does involve fixing things in exotic places!!