Of course, this is also a reason to gather with friends and celebrate our time together! On a sunny weekend in December, we rafted up with a group of our neighbors in a nearby bay. Peter, from Kittani, got some great shots from his dinghy.
Big raft- and this was before the boats Freddie Ray and Allagai showed up!
Greg & Leisha from s/v Fine Gold with Mike & Sammy on the bow of their boat, Quartermoon.
The marina's holiday party on Christmas Eve was like one big reminder that there are a lot of people we we don't know when we'll see again. Steve, below, is the caretaker. He loomed large in our children's lives this year, and they miss him pretty badly. Abby and her husband Ben are sailing south to Adelaide. We wish it was north but are excited about their plans and dreams for a new chapter in their lives.
Siobhan adores Steve...and had him pretty well wrapped around her little finger.
The silver lining to saying all these goodbyes is knowing most of those are just until someday. Still, the departure milestones racked up. We did a lot of things for the last time. Last time for a while, anyway. Never say never!
Neighbors sending us off from the Cammeray marina
Following s/v Liberty out of Middle Harbour for our New Years Eve anchorage
But new horizons for a change...well, they feel good. Really good. We've gotten some growth on the bottom and are excited about sailing up to the warmer waters of Queensland. Goodbyes are softened with the knowledge we'll see many of these people again- some very soon!- and hold the promise of future shared anchorages.