Really Big Thanksgiving Day Potluck Dinner NOVEMBER 25, 2010 ST. MARYS, GA

My Turkey Day dinner was a cruisers' potluck dinner held at a local restaurant, supplied by scores of folks and attended by probably over 300 people.  People who cruise are not the weekend sailors u see at marinas, who often do as much drinking as sailing.  These are, in the main, interesting doers who are seeking adventure.  I sat with a couple who have sailed from Australia, and a Nebraska couple who are a long way from the cornfields or wheatfields and having a ball.  The latter couple sold their home two years ago and have been liveaboards ever since.   They worked the Annapolis boat shows the past two years, for a paltry sum, and said they had a ball meeting and working with others also devoted to the nautical life.  They must be in their 50's or older and are in great shape and appeared very happy, as were the Aussies.  I met several Canadians who were in their 30's-50's and was impressed how attractive and well-spoken they were. 
Boaters were asked to bring a dish for 8, so there were tons of food, and what I ate was delicious.  When I met one of the organizers last week at the regular Friday morning cruisers gathering at another restaurant, I did my best to look helpless while saying I wished I could bring something, and she awarded me the task of supplying 250 name tags (someone else was assigned this task also, perhaps another 250 I imagine!   This Thanksgiving week fete has grown like topsy.  The beautiful St. Marys harbor was decorated with at least 50 newly-arrived yachts of all shapes and sizes.
As the day was magnificent, I had bicycled the five or so miles to town and relished the opportunity to ride some of the meal off on my return.
Cap'n Lynn