I'm going to have to move 'Div to a new slip elsewhere.

Anchor Marina is just getting too crazy. It actually started before Mark got out of rehab, but things have gotten progressively worse over the past month or so, and now I'm seriously worried about leaving the boat over there

I probably should've moved Olivia over to Island Times slip behind Jim and Janices house earlier in the winter, but I put it off  mainly due to Jean, who has been trying to keep Anchor afloat, despite Marks best efforts to sink the place. Unfortunately, I got the dreaded appendicitis, and was out of commission for awhile, so Jim leased the space to another ketch from Houston till he brings Island Times back from Rio Dulce this summer....

Fortunately I have a few options, friends who are looking out for us. My latest preference is next to Jupiter, which Jeff moved last month when he got freaked out with the goings on at Anchor. It's the same slip where the Commander had Orange Roughy moored alongside Renaissance for so long. It's cheaper, much more private and even has a washer-dryer available. I'm gonna hobble over there this afternoon and stick the front part to see if we've got enough depth. Should. Our present slip almost goes dry, and 'Divs keels sit in the mud on minus tides, something I've always hated. As long as I can get into the new slip, it doesn't matter

Things at Anchor are now out of control.

Mark went right back to his old tricks, presumably the day he was released from the can. He's up there now talking about spaceships and other nonsense, completely wasted. He talked a homeless ex-pugilist who claims he's a "missionary" into coming down here from Oklahoma I think, to help him "stay off the stuff". Gave him free rent in the Ledger trailer that's parked in front of 'Div, and now they're both holed up in there doing crack and watching TV.

Pathetic.

And the cops have shown up again looking for Mark. Jean's had enough, and it's only a matter of a little time before Anchor Marina is history.

To top it off Dock boy ("sofa-boat guy"....See "No Jimmy Buffett Dream" entry) is now running the asylum. And we KNOW what his philosophy is: All boats moored at the marina are fair game.....

His current scam is called "steal the money from the ramp box".

Sunday, we were aboard 'Div barbequing (d%^$# the torpedoes, broken leg full speed ahead!), watching the dock show. Dock boy was slithering around the piers eyeballing the folks trying to trailer their boats.

Like some goofy, but dangerous apparition, he appeared on a pier across from the public boat ramp where a shallow sport was struggling to get on a trailer. Hands on hips, he starts shouting at them:

"Hey dude.....LISTEN to me!"

No response, the people are too concerned with trying to get the boat on the trailer.

"Hey dude, if you don't pay attention, I'm just gonna walk away".

They should've heeded this advice.....

....He finally catches a little kids attention. The kid is about 10 years old and he stops his father, who is struggling with the skiff, half cocked on the trailer...

"OK, that ramp is in bad shape, real bad shape.....the one over here is better, much better"

"There's a box on the dock where you put your money to use it in case nobody is at the office".

"It's after hours, and nobody is there. I don't care if you pay or not.... but it's a better ramp. You should drive your trailer over here and take your boat out..."

The guy says "thanks", and he and his wife push their boat off of the trailer, she drives the truck/trailer over to Anchor with the boy, and they load it up there, stuffing the money box on the way out.

Later, Dock Boy will rifle the box, obtaining a little beer money.

As I said, Dock boy runs the place.