![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/4-16-13a-011.jpg\" "\\"4-16-13a")
<\/a>Jay and Tanya have lived aboard Take Two with their children for the last four years. \u00a0Actually, in the interest of full disclosure, they first became liveaboards with four children and now have five, with the addition of Rachael, their youngest. \u00a0I guess that living aboard agrees with them. \u00a0If Dr. Seuss met Rachael he might have found inspiration for his character Cindy Loo Hoo<\/a> in her. \u00a0She is a cutie.<\/span><\/p>\nI stopped over to visit after tying up Pandora in her slip to say HI to the gang and was very pleased to be invited over for dinner. \u00a0What luck! \u00a0All I had to do was to bring over some wine and was treated to a lovely dinner and evening with the “gang”. \u00a0And, what a gang it is. \u00a0Their catamaran is a riot of toys and color. \u00a0 There is everything from Legos, colorful hair clips and party earrings. \u00a0Someone was even building a pyramid out of sugar cubes in the cockpit. \u00a0Now, that’s not something you see every day aboard a sailboat, is it? \u00a0Take Two has all of the accouterments you would expect for a home with parents, three sons and two girls.<\/p>\n
Jay and Tanya, like me and Brenda were high school sweethearts, having met very young. \u00a0 However there is one major difference, and don’t quote me on this, but I think that they have been married only since the 90s. \u00a0What a couple of little kids!!! \u00a0Brenda and I, just a little bit older, met in junior year high school algebra class and were married in 1977. \u00a0Seeing Jay and Tanya made me think back to those “dating years”. \u00a0It’s been a long time and yet seems like only yesterday too.<\/p>\n
Tanya made a mess of enchiladas for dinner, what seemed like enough to feed a small army, which they have. \u00a0With three boys and two girls, they really do have an army, and one that they are home schooling. \u00a0It seems that the next major chapter in their next major lesson plan will include a voyage to Panama next winter. \u00a0What fun. \u00a0 I can’t imagine any more fulfilling opportunity for kids than a visit to such an exotic country. \u00a0 Having said that, living aboard isn’t easy and to home school 5 children as well is worthy of a “parenting medal of honor”. \u00a0Hats’ off to Tonya and Jay for a fine work in progress.<\/p>\n
I understand that they might not make it to the Bahamas this winter (bummer) and instead, may opt for a visit to the Florida Keys. \u00a0Sounds like fun but I do so hope that our paths will cross again soon.<\/p>\n
After dinner I asked if perhaps I could get a “family photo” and within a literal moment, all were assembled and ready. \u00a0 How great is that? \u00a0No need for 15 minutes of assembling a reluctant group for a photo, just a simple request and an equally simple answer. \u00a0And yes, the first shot was perfect. \u00a0What a great looking brood.\u00a0 As you can imagine, life aboard Take Two, is a bit chaotic, but in a very nice way. The boat has four cabins and one of the spots that two of the boys share is a riot of Lego Toys. \u00a0Little Rachael’s bunk is as pink as you would imagine. \u00a0Me, I think that I need a bit more tidiness but it was such fun to visit a home where expression by all is encouraged and celebrated. \u00a0 Good for you, Tanya and Jay. \u00a0I wish that I had the guts to toss it all to the wind and sail off into the sunset. \u00a0How nice is that?<\/p>\n Perhaps the highlight of the evening was when their older daughter Sarah and Rachael disappeared down below for a beauty session with Sarah returning, multiple times, with little sister in tow who did a shy pirouette to show off her lip gloss, designer earrings and hair ribbon. \u00a0She even changed into her little pink too-too at least once, perhaps twice. \u00a0Her expression was the “Aren’t I pretty” and shy at the same time. \u00a0Adorable.<\/p>\n It was nice to see how well the kids played together and it reminded me of our sons Rob and Chris so many years ago.<\/p>\n<\/a>Imagine living full time on board with five energetic children. \u00a0As an added testimony to how things are going, they moved aboard with four and now have five. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n