Christmas approaches

With the festive season all but upon us, and best of all, the Winter solstice past, the days will now start getting longer again, and so our thoughts are turning to spring and summer cruisingWell, yes, maybe it is a bit premature, but as any sailor will know, the short cold grey winter days are specially created to allow you to dream of long hot days, late sunsets, and drinks in the evening cockpit.We've got a decent sail planned for the new year, with our friends Jim and Lynn coming over. We'll party away New Years Eve, and then on new years day, we'll go find a quiet anchorage somewhere and chew the fat, reminisce over a year with far from ideal weather, yet still some lovely memories, and wish away for a long hot 2009 summer.Times are hard enough as it is at present. The outlook for 2009 is gloomy to say the least. So many people are having a hard time, and there is really little sign of any great improvement on the horizonIn chatting last night, SWMBO and I decided that should the worst come to the worst, and my job goes south, which fortunately at present, isn't looking too likely (but if things get worse, then who knows), then we'll cut our losses, sell the house (if we can) and take a couple or so of years out to sail with the kids... home educate them.... and copme back when things have recovered somewhat. It'd mean starting again financially, but hey... you roll with the punches.Happy Christmas everyone.