I am completely unadorned. My hair, I let the wind blow dry. I don’t wear any makeup and no jewelry. Someone told me that the barracuda might take a nip at you if you wear your wedding rings, so even those are off. I don’t wear any perfume—I barely wear deodorant! The only things I do wear, beside a bathing suit or shorts and a shirt, are my glasses. If I don’t wear those, then I can’t see anything.
I would never do this in Annapolis. I would always wear some makeup, at least lipstick and wear some jewelry. I would always put on some perfume as well. But here, it seems so unnecessary. I wear the same clothes day after day until they stand upright without my being in them. I wear flip flops ashore and bare feet on the boat.
I wonder what others think of me. Many of the women on boats, if they don’t wear makeup, then they wear earrings or bracelets or necklaces. Many have painted their fingernails and toenails in vibrant colors. I cut my nails very short and they’re not painted at all.
There was a spa on Nanny Cay and in the two and half weeks we stayed there, I didn’t visit it once. There was a massage table by the pool, but while I always love massages, it didn’t appeal to me somehow.
We are in Virgin Gorda Sound, now. The devastation from Irma is evident around us. Not many boats come here because Saba Rock and the Bitter End Yacht Club are still closed. But I’ve found there’s a peacefulness here that other crowded anchorages lack. I’m not distracted by charterers. Instead, I get to look at how nature displays her various moods.
On the way to Gorda Sound, we hit several squalls. Even though the wind was sometimes fierce, the rain was always warm. I look forward to spectacular sunsets every night. After dark, Jeff and I go out on deck, on the bow of the boat, and look at the thousands of stars above us while we share a glass of wine. During the day, when I read in the cockpit, I look up and see and hear the waves crashing over a reef nearby—white frothy tops over azure blue water. The wind caresses my cheek and lessens the heat of the sun. I frequently look up from my book, not because the book isn’t interesting, but because I can’t believe I’m here. Feeling the sun sear my skin when I know it’s cold and rainy back home. And when I get too hot, I jump in the water to cool off. How amazing is this!?!