Well, it’s the end of April and we still have not found the boat we want. This has been a learning experience and we still have a lot to learn. For example, the Gemini Catamaran that we had initially planned on has the roomy, live-aboard space, shallow draft, and economical fuel consumption but the useless mast and the retractable keel boards needed to be removed for our purposes. This presented too much complicated logistics in removing and storing the components.
Our next logical focus was the Trawler which has good live-aboard space but deep draft and high fuel consumption. Generally, Trawlers (30-43 feet)have one or two large inefficient, diesel or gasoline engines that power inboard or stern drive mechanisms.
A particular class of Trawlers are shallow draft and have good fuel economy by using outboard(s) power. Unfortunately, Trawlers using outboard(s) power are typically under 20 feet and unsuited for our purposes.
All this has now led us to look at a class of houseboat-like vessels, called “Coastal Cruisers“. The Coastal Cruiser has good live-aboard space, shallow draft, and can have economical power in certain models. The vessel is built like a houseboat but has high floatation and water-tight quarters suited for coastal waters. These boats are abundant along the Great Lakes and inland waters of the Intracostal Waterways, so that’s our focus at present.
This fits well with our “cruising plan”, allowing us to shop boats as we travel north along the “Great Loop”. It also works well with the “weather-window”, meaning that “Great Loop” cruisers must traverse the Great Lakes during July-August. Wherever we find the “right boat” will put us right on schedule.
In summary, we have found some good boat candidates;
30-foot Gemini multi-hull at Fort Myers
34-foot Gemini multi-hull at Fort Lauderdale
31-foot Chris Craft at Tybee Island
43-foot Gulfstar at Skidaway Island
We have learned, tested boats, modified our requirements, and continued our search. So, we continue our quest and enjoy every minute of it.(Bob)

We have really been enjoying the state parks in Florida and now Georgia. They are wonderful jewels in a very busy and crowded world. Since we were volunteer camp hosts in Georgia they gave us a pass for the entrance fees and 5 free nights; and we are so grateful. We are here at Savannah GA and have looked at 3 different boats this past week. One a huge fixer upper, one that was ready to go, beautiful and oh so comfortable. It however was 43 feet long. The 3rd was also ready to go, clean and beautiful but the living area just too small. Like Bob Simmons says, we learn every time we look at a boat.  Terry

After a week at Green Cove Springs, we’re getting reasonably familiar with the area. Green Cove Springs is an old resort town that built up around the impressive 3000-gallon-per-munite, crystal spring. A beautiful park now surrounds the spring, where it feeds an Olympic-size swimming pool.
As the Flagler Railroad extended on to the Florida Keys, Green Cove Springs began to lose it’s attraction and the area commenced  to move economically toward agriculture. We attended the Clay County Agricultural Fair on Seniors day and it was loads of fun. We saw Toby and Janyce there and had another nice visit with them too.

One highlight of the fair was the “Old Florida” exhibit, which consists of a reconstructed village, composed of old homes, barns, store, church, sawmill, smokehouse, blacksmith, all staffed by period-dressed, re-enactors. It’s situated on a sandy terrain, under a shady grove of Live Oaks and just takes you back to the days of the early settlers.
The pig races were a hilarious event where spectators could volunteer to choose a pig and serve as pig-rooter, during the course of the race. The race was called by a professional race-track announcer, supplying  colorful hog-commentary during each race. (Loads of laughs! I laughed until I cried, Terry)
Our Green cove Springs residence has been Whitey’s Fish Camp and Campground, located on Black Creek. www.whiteysfishcamp.com
It’s the best seafood restaurant in the area and people come by car and boat to patronize the place. Whitey’s has a large restaurant with inside dining and a large outdoor dining area that extends out on Black Creek, with piers and docks for boaters. They have daily specials, with music on weekends. The place reminds me of some south-Louisiana establishments, where the families come and bring all the kids, for dining and dancing. Black Creek converges with St. Johns River about 40 miles south of Jacksonville, so it is accessible to the Atlantic by boat.
Speaking of boats, we’re still looking for the boat that’s just right for us. We’ve followed the Atlantic Intracostal Waterway from Fort Lauderdale, watching other cruisers pass us by. We will keep moving north looking for “our boat”!

We're in Green Cove Springs, our new home address. We also got Florida tags, vehicle registration, and voter registration here. FYI: it is necessary to have a home-address when you live on a boat, RV or any non-permanent home. (Legal stuff!)
Tonight, we spend an evening with Toby and Janyce, (Toby, a former Magnolia High School alumni) residing in Green Cove Springs.

We spent 3 days in St Augustine.  One of our favorite cities.  It is beautiful and much cleaner than New Orleans, and safer.  On Sunday we went to church at the Cathedral Basilica St Augustine.  The first parish in the US.  There is also a place that sell Gelato, we stopped there twice!  The architecture there is beautiful, varied and in great condition.  If you ever get the chance you need to see this place.

We're enjoying Gamble Rogers, one of our favorite Florida-Atlantic State Parks, situated on Flagler Beach and the Atlantic Intracostal Waterway. The park has cozy RV sites overlooking the beautiful beach and Atlantic Ocean. To the west, it borders the Atlantic Intracostal Waterway, where we explore a dense, thick coastal hammock, with nice hiking trails that we enjoy with our dogs. Additionally, the west side has a small bay, with piers, and anchorage for waterway boat travelers. We observed several live-aboard boats, making their way north, after a winter in south Florida.
This morning, we enjoyed coffee on the beach, while watching a spectacular sunrise. No need to rush off when life is so enjoyable!