
We're going to do something a little bit different in this post because we thought, why should we limit our giving of thanks to just one measly little day in late November (i.e. American Thanksgiving or Turkey Day)? So we're going to have an early Thanksgiving this year, not the big gluttonous meal or the quality time spent with family or the football or anything like that but gather the literal giving of thanks. Because as anyone who's ever tried to run a small business, especially a small sailing charter business on an island like Roatan in the Western Caribbean part of Central America knows, it really does take an entire village to run even the most modest operation.

So we're giving gratitude in this post, not just to people like our dinghy engine mechanic up in Oak Ridge (Lim) who has been kind and thoughtful, explaining all the problems with a detail that we find enlightening, eye-opening, and refreshing. We're also giving thanks for people like Andrew, who helps us out with all kinds of things, whether it's doing delicate fiberglass work on our boat or just knowing the right place to go in Los Fuertes to get the job done right the first time for the local price, or helping us haul our heavy dinghy engine out of the water, Andrew is great. He does the job with an easy smile and a real genuine, honest laugh.

And there's Alan who helps us clean the bottom of the boat when we're stuck in the marina and Marissa who does an amazing cleaning job inside City Dogs when we've got a tight turnaround time between sails and need things looking ship-shape. And there are dozens of security guards in the Parrot Tree development that are always patrolling keeping us safe, and loads of maintenance personnel keeping the grounds looking nice.

And there are thousands of Hondurans working all over the island, the ones making the amazing new roads that make driving here a breeze and the ones that keep the power running over at the RECO plant and flowing through the, let's be generous and call it a somewhat head-scratching system, to say nothing of the Max Cable (and Internet) staff out there seemingly every day of the week. And we can't forgot the great taxi drivers who keep everyone and their guests moving around the island with poise, precision, and expert local knowledge. And let's not forget about the ones working to bring all our packages in from the States, all the heavy stuff we've got to bring down to the islands by ship.

We're also thankful for the police and the special forces and all the local security companies that do what they can to make life in the Bay Islands a little safer. And we've got to thank the Port Captain and everyone at the Municipality who keep things running as smoothly as possible. And we're thankful for all the people we don't normally see, the ones picking up the trash and sorting it at the dump. The ones out working the seas shrimping and fishing. And we're thankful for all the many wonderful people here working to help make the lives of other people. We do what little we can, but there are people here making a real difference, sacrificing themselves helping to improve the lives of those less fortunate than them and we're thankful for folks like that, who not only have the means but also the will to help others. We're also thankful for the little things, like good food, a nice cold Salva Vida, and a nice view.

And of course, we're thankful for our families, for our wonderfully supportive parents, for our amazing siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, and more. And we're super thankful for all our friends, all the people we know from back in the Northeast as well as all the amazingly kind, generous, thoughtful people we've met along the way. We're thankful for being able to share our journey.

And of course we're thankful for our dogs, for our pack. Even when one of them has accidents all night long. Each day we have together with them is unique, special, a treat for us as humans.

And of course we're thankful for each other, for being joyous, supportive partners, steering through the currents, eddies, and tides of life together.

And, of course, we're thankful for our 39 foot Beneteau Oceanis sailing vessel, for City Dogs which has carried us over thousands of nautical miles safely with style and grace. We couldn't do anything without her. She's our shelter, our home, and our office all rolled into one and we'd be foolish not to acknowledge her. We're grateful for every day we spend with her.

And we'd be remiss if we didn't thank the gods (using the plural of God to be as inclusive as possible ((including even nonbelievers, deists, Scientologists etc.)) since we generally stick clear of politics and religion on City Dogs) for creating (or arranging) the awe-inspiring MesoAmerican barrier reef system that we have here in the Bay Islands of Honduras. We are truly thankful that we get to experience the majestic beauty of this amazing place, both above and below the water, while it lasts.

And finally, we're thankful for our guests, for those who choose to come out sailing with us. We couldn't do this without your support. Thank you!
Simply wonderful to read and to have you give real thanks in a world in need of them. A real tribute to your world and the most wonderful people in it. Brilliant.