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2/4/2004 11:30:00 PM
San Diego, CA
Harbor Island - In our new cozy marina

Civilization relaps

Many of you probably wonder where we are now - back from Austria, already in Mexico, still in San Diego? Well the last one is the case... for a while.

Hallo for the first time in 2004!

Many of you probably wonder where we are now - back from Austria,  already in Mexico, still in San Diego? Well the last one is the case...  for a while. As I have told you many times before there is always  something new with the Schmids. We came back exactly 2 weeks ago (1/20)  and had the best intention to "Sail south"  the end of January latest  for Robert's birthday on February 2nd. The first two days on the boat  we really worked hard, started many porjectst (finished some...) took  care of the Mexican visa and fishing license etc. And than we thought  about the whole process and plans and realized that our time in Mexico  will be very limited (we have to be out of there latest by April to  cross the Pacific in order to have enough time in the South Pacific  islands), we would be the very last ones to leave for Mexico from here  (the season there is November to the end of May), to find contact and  meet people will be harder and we would start our adventure with a lot  of pressure. Then we looked into our finances a bit closer and realized  that we had spent more money as originally planned which would mean we  would leave with a very tight budget, not a good feeling... When we  looked at it from many different ways it just did not make any sense to  stress a weeks departure. The decision wasn't made easy specially since  we worked so hard the last 6 months to leave for our adventure this  winter, and now talked about it so much during our trip back home.  Well, after two intense days lots of thoughts, pros and cons we decided  to wait until next October - and we feel good with this decision!

This meant "big" civilization relap - we had to find a marina that  would take us for 9 months (it isn't easy in San Diego either, long  waiting lists), we needed a car again, maybe another phone.... In order  to boost up our boat savings Robert talked to a few friends and might  have a few options to work short term on some IT projects. That was  another reason for us to stay on, since the money would have lasted  till the South Pacific and it is probably easier for him to find a good  job here than in Fiji.... Just a week later we are back to a "normal"  life. We moved into a new marian today (so far we stayed at a boat  yard), unfortunately a bit more expensive then what we wanted but it  was the only one that could take us throughout the 9 months, has  internet connection and a heated pool - entertainment program for the  boys. We also bought a new/old car today, from our neighbor at the  other boat yard, where Robert could use the Internet. He was just in  the process to sell his mom's car and did us a huge favor with the  price. Robert is back to his parent's first car a VOLVO, it is an 88  (dark grey), pretty well kept and running, Robert fixed a few  electrical issues and put new tires on, so we are confident that it  will last us good for the time being. We will test it right away  tomorrow, since we are driving up to Boulder Creek for a week. We will  pick up Robert's old car (it is still at the body shop after his  accident in October and only was ready 2 weeks ago!) so that our  friends don't have to sell it for us, that way we can have 2 cars for a  while before we will sell it ourselves later on in summer. Who would  have thought that we get back there so fast. We are looking forward to  seeing some friends (a week isn't much) and the boys are really looking  forward to having Broesel for a few days!

Well, that's it with the Schmids - never a dull moment. Many of you had  mentioned that they would have loved to come out and see us before we  leave but did not make it - there you go, we will be here a bit longer  and if you are in the area or are planning a weekend away come and see  us, we'll take you out on a sail in San Diego Bay! We now have Internet  access on the boat, so just send us an e-mail or give us a call 408 505  2474, next week Niki will get a new phone and we will let you know that  number. For snail mail please use our Florida address, we will get it  forwarded every 2 weeks.

PMB 502 88005 Overseas Hwy. # 9 ISLAMORADA FL 33036

With all these changes and things to do it seems ages ago that we were  back in Austria. We really enjoyed the 4 weeks though, seeing lots of  our family and friends. Only 2 days after our arrival (12/27) we left  for Munich to be with my sister and nephews (even though the 4 cousins  are very different in ages, my nephews are 18 and 15, they got along so  well and the big ones took great care of the little ones, who they  admire!) New Year's we spent with our friends Bine, Ralfi and Kristin  (and lots of other people) on a fun "Russian" party - a blast! The boys  stayed with Ines and they enjoyed their aunt a lot.

On January first we went back to Austria to spent two days with  Christoph and Hemma (they were back home visiting as well), who's  father has a big house there, where they usually spend the holidays  with friends (17 adults / 14 kids)!  Sebastian's 7th birthday was on  the 2nd and even though he did not get to have a big party he at least  could spend it with his close friend Lucas (and the other 12 kids),  which he enjoyed very much. We also went skiing 2 days and although  Benjamin had a hard time in the beginning he adjusted well and we all  had a good time.

Two days later we went to see our friends Walter (Sebastian's  godfather) and Gabi in Salzburg, it has been ages since we saw them and  we had a great time. Next day we continued on to Villach to visit  Ritchie (Robert's best man), Nina and Philip (6). We had planned many  times to go see them but for whatever reasons it never worked out, so  we are very happy it did this time. We had wonderful 3 days together,  skiing one day and also seeing a very exciting ice hockey match. They  had wanted to visit us 3 years ago - arriving on 11/11... well their  plane got turned around midair and with everything going on then they  could not make changes and never were able to see us at our house, so  we made up for it this time.

The last 10 days in Vienna went by so fast - with family, friends, some  shopping, a classical concert for me and another ice hockey match for  Robert. His brother "Dr. Werner" came the last weekend from Leipzig,  where he is presently working at a hospital, and the boys were excited  to see their uncle who they love to pieces. Sebastian also went to  school for a day with the same teacher Robert had (she has been at this  school for 30 years!), she was so excited about our visit, our stories  about our sailing trip and the memories she had from Robert (only good  ones she says...!?!?!). First Sebastian was a bit unsure about this  idea but he warmed up to it and at the end had a wonderful time. He  even was a bit proud to overcome the fear of a German school, new kids,  etc. and so were we! Our two Heurigen evenings were great and we loved  that so many friends came and we could catch up with you, thanks a lot!

It seems that you have to wait a bit longer for those exotic logbook  entries but there will always be something to tell and now that we have  internet access we can be in touch a lot more often, so keep on  writing. For now lots of sailor hugs and kisses

Yours Niki and her 3 pirates

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