Trying to Stay Positive

Shelter Bay Marina is not the mecca that I thought it'd be. Apparently it was, about a month ago, when 400 some odd boats were passing through. I can't change the past, and I *try* to cut myself slack about decisions that turned out poorly...I mean, I chose what I thought was best with the information I had at the time. But gosh darnit, why did I waste so much time in Curacao? AGGHHHHHGGHHGHHH!

Alright, rant over.

I've had a bit of good luck here, fortunately. Running into s.v. Shayale, who I met in Curacao, was super lucky as they gave me a place to crash for a couple of nights. This tipped the scales to good luck from bad as the hotel is full through next week! (And NO other accommodation options are available.) They happened to meet a German couple on a boat called Momo who was in need of line handlers for the transit of the canal. I spoke to them a few hours ago and I'm jumping on tomorrow. In itself, this is awesome news - I GET TO TRANSIT THE PANAMA CANAL! I won't be going any further on Momo though. On the Pacific side of the canal I may be able to hook up with boats that have just transited in this last week in the hopes that maybe someone still needs a hand.

Bad luck has reared its ugly head too. Obviously, I'm late to the party here in Panama. But beyond that one of the luggage locks on my pack was cut and I had an emergency stash of $200 cash stolen. (And interestingly enough, my lucky $2 bill that I've carried with me travelling since 2001 - I guess it lost its luck status). However, staying on a boat is defraying that unforeseen cost, so I'm not tooooo upset.

There's a big cat that's just pulled in - a Lagoon 440 - that is en route to Australia. I've met the owner and the captain and they're going to get in touch later on today about a spot. Fingers, toes, legs, boobs if they're big enough, crossed on that one.

There just aren't any other options. There's a boat here headed to Texas that needs crew, but that would be the end of the line. I'm not ready to give up yet. I kinda feel like it a little bit today. If I were a crier, I think I'd be pretty teary right now. But NO DURNIT - MUST KEEP TRYING!!