#TBT - Feck Off Snakes - Wellington, NZ

We spent St. Patrick's Day 2010 in New Zealand's capital city of Wellington. If ever there was a windier city, we haven't found it. Being in the higher latitudes and just off the Cook Strait which separates New Zealand's North and South Islands, the wind blew constantly at 40 knots in windy Wellington and no one seemed to notice.

We drank a pint or two to celebrate the Irish at the Green Man Pub because on St. Patrick's Day ... everyone is Irish.

There are some striking similarities between New Zealand and the Emerald Isle. About 20% of New Zealanders claim Irish ancestry. The drinking age is 18 in both countries. Both countries are lush and green. The populations are about equal. And like Ireland, there are no snakes in New Zealand (they're all in Australia!).

We spent a week in the city, walking, exploring and enjoying Wellington city. There's lots of wide open spaces and parks, loads of interesting street art, a world-class museum and a fine collection of pubs. Take a quick tour with us.

Interested in more New Zealand? We really got around. Take a look at our website.

P.S. “Feck off” is a quasi-polite, socially acceptable Irish profanity and, after all, it is St. Patrick's Day!

FAQ - Do you ever take crew aboard?

We know lots of cruisers who like having extra crew aboard, especially when they're facing a long trip ahead. For sure, having an extra mate to stand watches and help with chores during an ocean passage can be a great benefit. We know of several boats that have had excellent experiences taking on crew in local ports. We also know several that have had nightmare crews and regretted taking crew aboard.

We have only taken on crew once. It was a long passage from Ecuador to Chile via the Galapagos and Easter Island. John is a good friend and we couldn't have asked for an easier crew mate to get along with nor a more knowledgeable or helpful sailor. It was a long passage, however, with lots of days at sea and after a particularly big storm, he was ready to call it quits when we arrived in Easter Island. He was very honest about it. “This is your life and for me, it's just a one-time adventure and I'm ready to go home.” He'd had enough.

Talking with other cruisers and from our limited experience, here's some basics we'd suggest if you are considering taking on crew…

1. Finding crew.Consider asking friends whom you know are good sailors and whom you trust to accompany you on the passage. Check out bulletin boards in local marinas … there are always ads for crew seeking passages or experience. If you're “interviewing” on line, be sure to speak to the person in advance, get a feel for them. Obviously, in person interviews are best. Get references from other captains. Are they capable and trustworthy? Remember if you're sharing your “home” and watches, you've got to be able to trust the crew, so you can sleep. There are lots of on-line crew/passage finding websites. Here's a few …crewseekers.net, www.cruisersforum.com/forum/f30, floatplan.com
2. Personalities in sync.The best qualified person may not mesh with you and the personalities of the resident crew. A very experienced crew person may want to take over and feel it beneath him/her to do menial chores, while a more inexperienced crew member may be excited to pitch in and learn as much as possible. Weighing the pros and cons of how the new crew member will fit in with life aboard is crucial to harmony at sea.
3. Set house rules in advance.No smoking aboard. No drinking alcohol during passages. No friends with benefits aboard, etc. Whatever your rules, state them in advance and make sure they're understood.
4. Outline crew financial obligations.Crew usually pay for some boat expenses like their share of food, sometimes part of the fuel, etc. plus their own personal expenses as well as immigration entry fees at new ports. Who pays to get them to the next port or back home? Make sure they understand the costs involved and, more importantly, have enough money to pay.
5. Delineate your expectations regarding duties.Do you expect them to stand night watches? What are their responsibilities regarding maintenance, repairs, cooking, sharing cleaning chores, etc. Be specific.
6. Be aware of the immigration/maritime laws of countries you plan to visit. Taking on and letting off crew can be tricky in some countries. Some require that a bond be posted in case a crew member jumps ship. The captain is required to pay their airfare back to their country of citizenship. We know a captain who paid a hefty fare to repatriate a Russian crew member from French Polynesia to Moscow. The French weren't interested in having an indigent Russian hanging out in their paradise.

That said, the biggest problem with crew for us is that we lose our privacy. We don't usually bother to close the head doors when we go to the bathroom. We don't necessarily get dressed when we head into the galley for morning coffee. We aren't beyond skinny-dipping in tiny, secluded anchorages. I reckon we enjoy our intimacy, personal freedoms, and “us” too much to share with others for any length of time.

Have you ever taken on crew? What were your criteria and how did it turn out?

13 Tips for Thrifting

Yesterday I wrote about our successful thrifting excursions of late and I thought I'd enumerate a few thrifting tips we've learned along the way. Thrifting is not just being frugal, it's making good use of your money while enjoying the hunt. It's smart shopping.

1. Not all “thrift” stores are equal. The better known ones, Salvation Army (aka Salvos), Good Will, St. Vincent de Paul (Vinnys), etc. differ from city to city and even store to store within the same city. More affluent areas seem to have better quality merchandise. Some shops are great for clothing; others for books or furniture or brick-a-brack. Check them all out and find which one(s) suit your needs.
2. Not-for-profit thrift shops are many times exempt from charging sales tax ... an 8% savings here in Las Vegas.
3. Check out discount days and shop those days to get the best bang for your buck. It's not just seniors who are eligible for discounts, by the way. Students/teachers, police/firemen, military or other organizations many times have special discount days, too … up to 50%. Some shops in Las Vegas have casino discounts and just having a player's card from any casino entitles you to discounts on certain days.
4. Most thrift stores have a date or color code that indicates specifically tagged items are on sale that day at a discounted price. You can sometimes combine your senior or other discount with the discounted price making your purchase even more economical.
5. Frequent thrifter discounts are available at some thrift shops. Some Salvation Army stores participate in Flok and offer your first item purchase at 50% off, then subsequent special deals/discounts on purchases with significant savings. Once a month, the whole store is 50% off except for a few specialty items. Check individual stores for programs they offer.
6. Savers, a thrift store chain that seems to be everywhere these days, offers a SuperSavers Club Card for bigger discounts based on frequency of purchases and also special discounts for those who donate used items to Savers. I find their prices higher than other shops, but the selection and ease of finding sizes, etc. are better than most other stores.
7. Go with a list because it's easy to get carried away. I pile everything I like in a cart and walk around with it for awhile. Just before I'm ready to check out, I review all the purchases and usually end up putting several things back.
8. Go for brand names and quality. Mary, my sister-in-law, got a nearly new pair of Levis for $1. David got a Nautica jacket for $4.99. Also, be on the lookout for antiques. I found a Staffordshire teapot in perfect condition for $2. The bargains are there … you just need to look for them.
9. Try on before purchasing. Check the zippers and buttons; make sure there are no stains. Check out your furniture purchases well, too. Make sure the drawers work, the hardware is in place and the chairs are solid. Items are usually sold “as is”. Most thrift shops do not accept returns although some Good Will stores offer a store credit for returned goods with the tags still on and the receipt.
10. It's not just thrift shops that offer good bargains. Consignment shops are another source of good quality, used items at significantly lower prices than new. There is less room for discounting in consignment shops. Since the seller is going through a middleman (the consignment shop), he/she has to forfeit a percentage of the selling price. There are consignment shops that specialize in high end designer clothing; others specialize in good quality furniture and accessories.
11. Consult Craigslist for specific items, especially furniture that might be offered very reasonably. That's how we found our dining room set. Craigslist also lists yard/garage and moving sales. Again, making purchases from individuals also alleviates the sales tax and gives you some room for bargaining.
12. Estate sales are listed on Craiglist as well. These are usually liquidations of estates of people who have died and it's relatives that are selling off the furniture and merchandise. Be aware of the emotion that might be involved in the sale of some items.
13. Don't forget used furniture stores, junk shops, flea markets, pawn shops and, of course, auctions … all good opportunities for bargains.

Be patient. If you haunt enough shops and your expectations are realistic, you're bound to find what you're looking for.