My First 'Houseguest'

May 17, 2012

After four months of bachelorhood I need to quickly adapt to living with a ‘roommate,’ again. Today, Rosie has joined me to cruise my final eight days of my first contract together. This will allow us to celebrate our 25^th anniversary while onboard Silhouette. The day started with a call for all officers to be on the dock to help direct our guests to their desired locations in Venice. This port is so popular that only 40 out of 3000 guests would stay aboard our ship. That was why every available officer needed to help direct the crush of humanity. As the onslaught began to wane, Tim looked up into the sky and commented in a matter of fact manner.

“Oh look, there’s my computer.” Now, before you think he has lost his mind, you need the back story. Tim needed a new computer and the cheapest way for him to get it was to buy it online and ship it to my home in the US. Rosie agreed to pack it and bring it along with her. So, Rosie’s arrival meant that Tim’s computer had made it, as well. As Tim looked up he saw an Aer Lingus plane flying over the port on its way to land at the Venice airport. Since this was the right time for Rosie’s flight to be approaching he drew the correct conclusion that it was her. Less than a half an hour later I received the call from Rosie that she had collected her luggage and was at the car which was waiting to take her to the ship. Only 20 minutes after that, she was on the dock. After four months apart it was strange to see her walking along the dock. The two haves of my life were finally connected. I quickly led her onto my new home and welcomed her into this very different life.

The biggest challenge is when a small space that has been home to one person is now inhabited by two. I had tried to prepare by emptying half my wardrobe, but I soon realized how small my storage space really was. I left Rosie to unpack and get settled as I needed to go back to work. However, the amount she could unpack was limited, so she would need to rotate her clothes in and out of her suitcase which found a convenient resting place under my bed. The other limiting factor for space in my cabin was that our Chief Housekeeper had chosen to bedeck the cabin with gifts to celebrate her arrival: champagne, fruit, chocolates, robes, and towels were added to my tiny living space. I appreciated the thought even if the extravagance was less than practical. Even with the storage worked out to the best of our ability, the rhythm of the day would be different. Trying to get ready for work while not disturbing her sleeping will be a challenge in my tiny cabin. Arranging meals around a second persons schedule will need to be a reacquired skill. Getting ready for an evening out in a small space will have me yearning for the larger accommodations at home. None of these are insurmountable, of course, but a clear sign of how routines are so radically different on ship versus home.

But no question it is good to have her here. When you must be away from home and family, it is great when home and family come to you. Now I just have to figure out how three of us are going to live in this space when both Rosie and Dani come in October!

And the adventure continues . . .