Boot Key Harbor : Our (temporary) Home Salty Home

Tiny lights hover above the calm water like dim stars just after dusk. They are anchor lights. The anchor lights of over two hundred boats, moored in the protected water of Boot Key Harbor. I’m sitting in the cockpit of Lil G’ letting the warm, damp breeze wash over me and it catches loose strands of hair which sweep back and forth tickling my forehead and ears. It seems quiet, although there is a gentle flood of sound around me; the light slaps of the water against the hull, the hum of wind generators on neighboring vessels and the murmur of dinghy motors navigating the dark maze. I can’t really feel the boat beneath me swinging around the tether of the mooring ball, but as I raise my eyes to our surrounding neighbors and the shadow of land behind, I see a graceful waltz as they dance together. It’s peaceful tonight, and although our closest neighbors are less than fifty feet away, it feels like I’m all alone here, peering out at the shadows of masts and the star scape that hangs above them.  

We arrived at Boot Key Harbor, a thriving community of year round liveaboards and cruisers passing through, in late February. The harbor, with Marathon City Marina as its hub, is a community of variety, from age to origin. It brings me back to my roots in Colorado though, where most everyone walks around (or in this case, rides their dinghies) with their heads up and enthusiastically offer a nod or ‘hello’ or ‘how are you?’ in passing. The marina is located on the north side of the harbor and has a small canal offering dock sites to a handful of boats and two large dinghy docks for all the other residents on mooring balls or anchored in the surrounding area. They have all the basics, from fresh water hoses to restrooms and showers to dumpsters. In addition they have a tiki hut for gatherings, a community room with a small library, televisions and wifi, and a large work room for repairs and projects that won’t fit on the deck of a boat. Another aspect that makes it an ideal place to call home, or a temporary home, is that it is surrounded on all sides by land with only two water passages out to the ocean which offers ideal protection when the wind picks up and the ocean gets choppy.   

It’s hard to believe we’ve been here for over three weeks now. Where has the time gone and what have we done? I think we had a vision in our heads for our time in the Keys, picturing everyday full of sailing, snorkeling, fishing, and exploring. And yet it’s resembled our days in Bradenton much closer. Our time here has consisted of days running errands and cleaning and doing laundry, and days working on boat projects and doing minor repairs, and days of sailing and swimming and catching dinner beneath the waves. Although the days vary, we don’t always get to decide which will be which because as we’ve learned, and sadly were reminded of everyday this past week, that even though we may have finished all our chores and are ready to go play, the wind and the sea are not always inviting. However, despite the uncontrollable weather and the continuous list of to-dos, we’ve enjoyed many afternoon sails, one overnight trip, a couple of scuba diving excursions, lots of snorkeling, some time at the beach and some crazy-delicious, fresh meals from the sea. Life is good, very good indeed.

Ya know, I was thinking the exact same thing. You should definitely be here with us.