Winter is in full swing and spring is still months away. For many of us, that means no boating season, dry docked boats, and other horrible inevitabilities we'd rather not think about. (If you're lucky enough to live in a place that stays nice, the rest of us are jealous.) That's no reason to despair, though. There are plenty of things to do, even if you can't be out on the water, that will keep the magic alive. So, without further ado, here are the top eight things you can do to feel like you're still on the water this time of year.
1. Accept the Inevitable, Mourn Your Loss
There's no getting around it: you're dry docked, stuck, forced to see the not-so-watery part of the world. Life might not make sense. You could be in shock and denial. You wonder how you can go on, if you can go on, why you should go on. But you must! There's no point in getting angry at the seasons (they can't do much about it anyway). Bargaining for one more week, even if it works, won't stop the inevitable. So in the end, you're stuck. Welcome to the party, my friend. Here's your complimentary nautical-themed spoon and half-gallon chocolate ice cream. So take a seat, Captain Frowny-face, and let's get this party started.
2. Run, Run, Run Away
An option, of course, is to avoid the situation altogether. The grass really is greener on the other side, but only because it's not covered with two feet of snow. If you can't afford to live somewhere with nicer weather, there are tons of places you can go to get in the water. You could go on a cruise to warmer waters or take a trip to the beach. Even renting a hotel room for a night to get access to the pool might rid you of the need to float on the water. If none of those work, the truly desperate could simply run a hot bath, throw on your swimsuit and floaters, and have a good time.
3. Check Up On Your Baby
Even though you can't be on the water, that's no reason to forget about your boat. Winter can be hard on a boat, and it's worth checking up every once in a while to make sure everything is all right. Boatus.com has a free winterizing guide available online. Check it out for some tips and checklists to pay attention to during the winter. When you go to check, you might bring a bottle of wine and have dinner on deck. Just to remember the good 'ole times, you know?
4. Celebrate The Frozen North
Just because outside looks like there was an accident at the flour factory doesn't mean you can't enjoy it. Go ahead, try something new. You might even like it. One of my personal favorites is snowmobiling. It's kind of like boating. You're piloting a motorized vehicle over water (but this time it's frozen) at high speeds. If you have kids, drag them in a tube or sled behind you. It’s almost like the real thing! For the fisherman out there, ice-fishing is pretty fun but bring fire and good conversation. If that logic isn't working for you, I understand. But seriously, get out there and try something new.
5. Raingutter Regatta
If you know a boy scout, there's a good chance you've already heard of this. The Raingutter Regatta is the sailboat equivalent of the pinewood derby races. You know, where they build cars out of chunks of wood to race down a track? It's kind of like that. Each kit comes with a piece of wood to be carved and painted as well as a sail and mast you attach. Instead of racing down a track, however, you race in a (detached) gutter filled with water. The contestants blow into the sail, pushing their boats along. The first boat to reach the other end wins. While the competition itself is a lot of fun, it could be even more fun making the boats.
6. Feeling down? Just add BBQ
Just because it doesn’t look like summer outside doesn't mean you can't pretend it is inside. Party like you would if you were on the water. Have barbecues and cookouts—or "cook-ins," as it were. It's cold out, but don’t let that stop you from wearing loose-fitting floral shirts and baggy shorts. Break out the sandals and rock out to some music. The truly ambitious could repurpose their basement as a temporary beach. You're aiming for total summer immersion with this. The more you feel like it's summer, the easier it will be to forget that it's not.
7. Sharks & Icebergs & Subs, Oh My!
There's nothing that warms my heart quite like the great boating classics of Hollywood: Jaws, Titanic, or, in a pinch, The Hunt for Red October. Who doesn't love the touching story about the largest cruise liner created hitting an iceberg and sinking, taking thousands of lives? What about the story of the shark that terrorized a community and sank a fishing boat? Oh. Actually, those might not be "heart-warming" movies. More like tragedies, if anything. Nevertheless, they’re still great movies and worth watching. Just be thankful you’re not worrying about sharks or icebergs right now.
8. Plan For Next Year
Take the time you would normally be on the water and plan for next year. Some of the fondest memories I have of family vacations are those for which the entire family planned. Set aside an hour, maybe an afternoon, and think about what things you can do. Maybe you can take your boat to a new lake you’ve never visited before. Maybe you want to have a party to welcome back the nice weather. You could invite friends and family to that. Maybe a new boat is in order for next year. Whatever you plan to do, make it something worth looking forward to; that way, you’ll be all the more excited for it to get here.
