Bee-ing a Part of the Waltenberger Partnership

           

We're Engaged!!

The Waltenberger Partnership, what to say? What to say? Well, I suppose, that since it is a partnership I should bring my co-captain in on this post. So for you guys to get a better idea of what we are all about and why Spencer decided to make the Waltenberger Partnership a legal entity by popping the question, I decided to do a little couples interview. So sit back, relax and get to know us!

When did you first meet and was it love at first sight?

S: "When did we first meet?" (He's really asking me, I'm the records keeper in the relationship, so he really is unsure of this, after enlightening him, his response was as follows) I saw you while picking up a camcorder in the honors department, and I said to myself I want to know that spunky little red head and I want her to tell me where and how to drive a car, boat, four wheeler, etc. I don't really believe in love at first sight, but I'll give you a like at first sight."

B: "We met in college at a party at the house Spencer was living at, a friend introduced us and I thought he was VERY attractive when I first saw him."

What makes your relationship special?

S: "An ability to rely on each other. We have uniquely different strengths and weaknesses."

B: "I think we are best friends first and above all else we just really enjoy being together. Living within a 30 foot space together and sometimes being confined to that space is like locking yourself and your partner in a bathroom with a couple sandwiches and still liking them after 3 days of being in there."

How are you able to live on a 33 foot boat together?

S: "Passiveness"

B: " Ummmm, we talk a LOT! I think that helps.

What was the toughest time in your relationship?

S: "My relationship is sunshine and angel farts, what are you talking about? Really I'm a private person and I don't really want to answer these questions anymore." 

B: "When you were working in Soldotna and I was living in Anchorage, I used to get so upset because you weren't missing me enough." (Laughs a kind of scary laugh)

What is Breena's most annoying trait and what would Breena say is yours? Vice a versa for Spencer

S: "These are terrible questions! I don't want to play this game. You're a little bossy, BeeBee. He's too darn handsome....no really theres a couple, biting my nails, stealing your pillow, not stressing when it seems like the world is ending. I would like it noted that the world has not ended yet."

B: "Touching me with his feet, even though he knows I don't like it! And my most annoying trait I would say is, telling him how to drive, I do that a lot. Although I do try not to....I just can't help myself!"

What is Brena's best trait and what would Bee say is yours? Vice a versa for Spencer

S: "Best trait as a team member is her ability to handle peopler cooly and calmly. Handling everything else cooly and calmly."

B: "Spencer's best trait is his level headedness. Is that a word? You keep your cool in all situations. I think you think my best trait is my people skills or handling stressful human interactions."

If Bee/ Spencer had $20 right now, what would they buy?

S: "Wool"

B: "I think he would shop on craigslist for a boat part that was $15, use it a week and then sell it in a different town for $100. So the real question is what would Spencer buy with $100, and that would be a really nice Gin."

What does Bee/Spence do that makes you laugh?

S: Her impressions of men in black, I want to say your cooking (makes face like, op, you can't get mad! It's your interview)

B: "His laugh really makes me laugh. He will tell a joke that no one really gets or thinks is funny and he'll just crack himself up. That really makes me laugh when he does that!"

If left to die on a deserted island what is the first thing Bee/ Spencer would do?

S: "Find shade"

B: "Start a 'Deserted Island Craigslist' so that when I arrive he can make me walk 20 miles around the island to get a random boat part he found a 'good deal on'."

What is your favorite activity to do together?

S: "Sailing"

B: "Talk"

When Breena/ Spencer says _______ I know we have a real issue?

S: "I don't know, you ramp up from 0 to 10 a lot"

B: "Usually he doesn't say anything, so really it is when he is quiet that I know we are in trouble."

What is your favorite place to be together?

S: "Bahamas?" (not sure why he answered in question form)

B: "Bahamas!"

What are 2 perks from being in a relationship with Bee/ Spencer?

S:

1. I don't have to remember any passwords

2.  I'm always allowed to dream big

B:

1. I can have grandiose plans or ideas that he always makes happen

2. I get to eat really well! Oh, and I don't have to do any work with the head.

What are two disadvantages?

S:

1. We can't go out in the sun

2. We can't go out in the cold

B:

1. He walks away from any awkward situation, leaving me alone to handle it, and then to find him after.

2. I have to hike

What were you thinking in the time between asking "Will you marry me?" and her answer?

"I don't think I was thinking anything, you're getting kinda sappy with this thing, BeeBee"

What do you hope the next year will be like for you two?

S: "Hopefully the same as last year, sailing and free livin'!!"

B: "Just as exciting as the last 6 years"

What would Bee's/ Spencer's perfect vacation sound like?

S: "A pool"

B: "Unlimited food and drink budget in Seattle, and if he were told he could shop anywhere in that state for a craigslist deal while on vacation"

What is your favorite game to play together?

S: "Catan"

B:"Speed"

Cheers! Thanks for getting to know us a little more.

Bee-ing the Self Appointed Risk Tolerance Appraiser

When we were cruising on Lorax, our first 30 foot fiberglass sailboat, our biggest accomplishment was crossing the gulf stream to the Bahamas. We waited for a month in Ft. Lauderdale before finding an adequate weather window to make the 60 mile crossing. One night we attempted a crossing but turned back because the seas where too large and we scarred the shit out of ourselves. 

Before the actual crossing we were preparing as if we were making a 20 day passage. We provisioned with months worth of food, had "Bahamas Bound" meetings with our buddy boats, and prepared Lorax for battle! We ended up motoring the whole thing, into wind and waves, but it was an awesome feeling as soon as our depth meter started falling and we found ourselves on the Bahamas bank. 

This time, in Cambio, our departure was much different. We listened to the weather that morning, baked a frozen pizza, skyped with my brother and my niece, and finally we turned to each other and said, hey do you want to go now? The feeling was total relaxation. We were making a 170 mile passage and our stress level was zero! We pulled up anchor and Spencer took the helm to drive us through the intercoastal waterway (ICW). 

The Miami skyline from the ICW

For us the ICW is horrific! We both would rather be out, 50 miles from land, than driving the ICW. Why, you may ask? Well, because our engine is not a normal engine. We have a SABB engine with a variable pitch prop. So instead of having two levers, one for forward or backward and one for speed, we have one for the pitch of our prop, one to engage it, one for our speed, and a clutch. Add that fuck show to not being able to see over our top deck due to 2 dinghies and a dodger and it makes for an ordeal. The stress free morning soon became a panic induced roller coaster for me. 

Spencer usually doesn't stress as much, as he considers us the biggest steel wrecking ball in the ICW and figures people will move out of our way. I neither believe this nor put this into practice while at the helm, so he usually drives in the tight spots, whereas I become the self appointed "other boat" alarm. At regular intervals I state, "Do you see that boat" or "Are you moving for that boat." I find my services, although unappreciated, invaluable to the whole experience. I mean without this annoying little feature it would be a fun experience, and we can't have that! 

Spencer at the helm in the Miami inlet
(possibly a little annoyed at his co-captian)

So, after giving myself the stress shits and Spencer saying for the final time, "YES! I see that boat!" we were out of the Miami inlet and on course to the Bahamas! (Ahhhhh, a sigh of relief) We had gotten the green light from our weather guru Chris Parker (CP) and we were also going to be able to sail the whole thing. A rare and unexpected perk to crossing to the Bahamas. We had put up the sails, turned up the tunes and watched the sun go down when a couple of clouds rolled in. CP didn't mention anything about squalls (our mortal enemy on Cambio as they ramp the wind up to, as much as, 60 knots) but I decided to turn on NOAA on the VHF, just to double check. 

NOAA radio has employed the use of the most sinister computer automated voice on the planet!! They also have bizarre weather reports in which they will say "North wind 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 90 knots" (actual broadcast we have heard out of the Florida Everglades) so their forecasts leave a lot up for speculation and terrify me. So when I turned on the radio and heard, "squalls in the central Florida area with winds up to 60 knots and damaging lightening and hail," both our hearts sank. The voice went on to say, "All boats should seek safe harbor, if offshore, reduce windage and go down below." At that point I was pretty scared, the most wind we have experienced was 50 knots in Lorax and we ended up on the shore with a lot of other issues. Although Cambio is a much more capable boat, and we were offshore, I was not excited to experience 60 knots! We reefed the sails, took down a few things that would blow away and heaved to. We sat with the sails inflated, but not making any headway, and watched the clouds rumble, light up, and pass along our bow. We turned on the VHF after a half hour and to our frustration heard, "All emergency storm warnings have been removed." WHAT! We just sat there, freaking out, for nothing!!! 

Squall line!! AKA terror in the sky!

The rest of the trip was uneventful and fantastic! For giving us that little weather scare, it seems nature helped us out a little, and with the help of the gulfstream we sailed across the Bahamas bank in record time and made it to that crystal clear water, by day break. Hello, Beautiful!

The gorgeous BAHAMAS!!