Lynn’s Recollections and Reflections #34 – We Bought A Boat

Written ByLynn
A boat dock with a covered shelter extends over a calm lake, surrounded by trees and houses—a tranquil scene that invites recollection, as the clear sky and gentle clouds reflect softly on the water.

Something to Do in January

In January of 1998, we went to the Boat Show in Chicago.

At the time we had two boats. A really old pontoon boat that could hold a lot of people but it was slow and had seen better days.

We also had a cuddy cabin boat. It could go fast and pull skiers or kids tubbing but we were very limited with how many people could fit on the boat.

A white motorboat speeds across a lake, leaving a small wake behind, stirring a sense of recollection. In the background, docks, houses, trees, and a boathouse line the calm shoreline beneath the clear sky.
A person is driving a white motorboat with a green canopy and boat cover on a lake, with houses and trees lining the shoreline in the background—a scene perfect for recollection.

A Deck Boat

We fell in love with the idea of a deck boat. In particular a Chaparral Sunesta model. It was open and could hold 13 people and bonus it had a bathroom (or head in nautical terms). Perfect for a family with two kids.

We Bought A Boat

We thought about it for a few days, went to some boat showrooms (we have a lot around us), and kept coming back to the Chaparral. This would be the first major purchase that we made together.

A wooden dock with white railings leads to a covered boat slip on a calm lake, evoking a sense of recollection. A white boat rests in the shade, surrounded by green trees and tranquil water.

We Christened A Boat

With any new floating vessel, it’s a tradition to christen your boat. We went out with good friends on the first nice day in the spring. Later that night “Handy” and I “christened” the boat. It usually involves a bottle of champagne and there was definitely some alcohol involved. Something did break but it wasn’t a bottle. Is that too much information?

Four people posing and smiling on a dock next to a white boat; trees and a green bridge are visible in the background under a clear sky, capturing a joyful recollection by the water.
Two men sit on a boat, one steering and the other pointing toward the water—a scene filled with recollection. The sky is blue with scattered clouds, trees line the shore, and it’s a sunny, relaxing day on the water.
A smiling couple, dressed in white and light blue, sit on a boat holding drinks up in celebration—a joyful recollection as water and trees provide a serene backdrop.
We’ve had a lot of fun on our boat!

9 Months Later

I was 42 years old. I was sure that I was just going through early menopause but 9 months later I gave birth to the most amazing, surprise, our Emma.

Peace & Love,

A blue background with hand-drawn elements sets the stage. A heart symbol flanked by two lines adds charm, while the text "Lynn xoxo" in cursive whispers a promise to make food prep easier and more delightful.
A dark blue background with a subtle, wavy abstract line pattern running across the center, reminiscent of the flowing creativity often found when living large in a small house.

I’m Dreaming of Gardening

On my blog Living Large in A Small House, I may sometimes use affiliate links, which means a small commission is earned if you make a purchase via the link. The price will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link. You can find my full Disclosure Policy HERE

A dark blue background with a subtle, wavy abstract line pattern running across the center, reminiscent of the flowing creativity often found when living large in a small house.
  1. The Introduction
  2. My Parents and Their Friends in the 60s
  3. A Lonely Kid
  4. The Day I Ran Away TO Home
  5. The Tornado
  6.  Moving Away from My Friends
  7. The Summer of 1975
  8. Living with the Devil
  9. After the Summer of 1975
  10. The Wedding
  11. Newlyweds and 2 New Houses
  12. A Baby
  13. Behind Closed Doors
  14. Living the Dream
  15. Four Tumultuous Years
  16. My Sister
  17. Fast Forward To Today
  18. The Divorce
  19. Do Your Homework
  20. Why Am I Writing This
  21. Living Through Abuse
  22. Fixer Upper
  23. Dating Single Mom
  24. The Ghost
  25. Losing My Favorite House
  26. Present Day
  27. Meeting “Handy”
  28. Falling in Love
  29. Becoming a Grandma
  30. Where Did We Leave Off
  31. And Then There Was Annie
  32. Something Else Was Happening
  33. Our Family of Four

Meet Me

My name is Lynn. I live in the suburbs of Chicago in a 1,300 sq. ft. home with my Handy husband, Keith.

I’m an open book about my life on my blog. You can find out more about me by visiting my “About Me” page.

about Me

Featured

  • Logo for "the spruce" featuring a simple outline of a house in light blue with an open door and neutral Halloween decor elements, followed by the text "the spruce" in a stylized gray font.
  • Black and white logo featuring large "ORC" letters above "ONE ROOM CHALLENGE," capturing the bold spirit of the One Room Challenge event.
  • Black text logo reads "Taste of Home" in a serif font on a white background, evoking the warmth of a Farmhouse cottage.
  • A minimalist green line drawing forms the outline of a house, with the words "re design" in bold black text inside the shape—perfect inspiration for your next Saturday Shopping adventure.
  • The image displays the words "BOLD JOURNEY" in large capital letters—"BOLD" in a bold, dark red font and "JOURNEY" in a smaller black font on a white background—capturing the excitement of a Saturday Shopping adventure.
  • The image features the word "WANDER" in large, bold letters, evoking a sense of recollection. Below it, in smaller text, are the phrases: "LIVE WELL | EAT WELL | TRAVEL WELL." The entire text is set against a plain, light background.
  • Hometalk logo featuring a blue house icon to the left of the word "Hometalk" in black, rounded font—perfect inspiration for sharing cozy recipes like Potato Broccoli and Leek Soup.
  • The word "SIMPLIFY" is written in all uppercase letters, with the letter "I" and "L" replaced by the number "1," on a teal rectangular background—perfect inspiration for anyone looking to make a faux topiary and keep things straightforward.
  • Orange logo with a house-shaped icon containing a white fork and spoon, followed by the word "Foodtalk" in bold orange text—your go-to source for tips like how to use Javy Coffee for Spring Coffee Drinks.
  • Boutique Rugs logo featuring a red geometric pattern beside the words "BoutiqueRugs" in bold black and gray text on a white background, perfect for pairing with stylish Peel and Stick Wallpaper in your home decor.
  • Logo with two interlocking heart outlines on the left, followed by the text "LOVE vs DESIGN" in a modern, clean font—perfect for a brand specializing in stylish Peel and Stick Wallpaper.
  • The image shows the text "CANVASREBEL" in a clean, dark blue sans-serif font on a white background, evoking the spirit of Living Large in A Small House with its minimalist yet bold design.
  • Colonial Candle logo featuring a circular emblem with overlapping "C" letters above the brand name "COLONIAL CANDLE" in uppercase serif font—perfect inspiration for cozy moments, like learning how to use Javy Coffee for Spring Coffee Drinks.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.