September, 2000
(John's comments, Rhonda's comments)
I wanted be flexible, so I suggested we look for other sailboats for sale. We went to look at a 12 foot Chrysler Pirateer. With this little sailing dinghy, all we would be able to do would be bring a cooler and sit in one spot the whole time aboard! I hoped John would now maybe reconsider. So I talked him into taking another drive to look at the Windrose 22 again. Yep, that second look really convinced me!! After seeing the 12 footer, John was a little less reluctant and even took a measuring tape this trip, but still said we didn't have room!
OK ... Hardball time!
So, the next evening while John was at school ...I carefully contemplated what my next move would be. I called Tom (the Windrose owner) and asked if we could go for a test ride on Saturday. Maybe that would help make a decision, once and for all. Later that night when John got home, I stated matter-of-factly "Guess what, we're going out sailing Saturday". John started with "the look" 
but it was late and he was too tired to raise a good enough objection, so it was on!
We met Tom, at Jordon Point Marina the next Saturday at 9:00 A.M. Tom had previously told me that he could have the boat set up for sailing, but I told him not to. I was sure that it would be beneficial and a pleasure for John to see how to set up the rigging. Well, I'll let John take it from here.
Thanksabunch dear.
After 2 hours of explanations, instructions, sweating and hefting the 27 foot mast up (twice, because the first time we noticed the end of the halyard was up there, waaay up there, at the top .. arrgg) we finally launched into the river. We motored out to the main channel and drifted around in a very gentle backwash for over an hour waiting for the wind.
We looked very 
cool out there. There is something beautiful about sails, even when they are just hanging there. Tom told us lots of stuff about how great it is to just cruise along and enjoy yourself, how it is and all, very careful not to mention wind though. We were sold!
YEA!!
Now all we had to do was to figure out where to put a ton of sailboat on our postage stamp sized estate. Rhonda, true to form, insisted there was room. Rhonda thinks you can get four elephants in a Volkswagen. You know the old joke. Two in front, two in back. She doesn't get it. She thinks it's true.
My turn. hey
We have a lot of wasted space on the far side of the garage, all we have to do is cut down that forty foot pine tree, transplant several shrubs, move the landscaping timbers, relocate the woodpile, level the ground a little and maybe we could even put in a walkway! Take a breath ... there's plenty of room. Okay, okay the pine tree can stay, but you need to trim it back.
Sept. 23, 2000
We bought her! We were not totally prepared for all of the little adjustments required by the rather large presence of this boat on our little bitty piece of the world. Here she is on arrival after I had already hauled off three loads of Virginia vegetation to make room, and more to go.
Ain't she beautiful! I told you!!
John, I told you she would fit, honey, will you move those azaleas and the wood pile to the back yard? Can you get your chain saw out to take that tree down? I really don't want those pine needles falling all over our new boat! OK, maybe the tree is too big for you to take down, then let's go shopping and get a tarp and see what else we need! I'm so excited, lets see if we can find a sailing store! Aren't you excited?? 
I love her! Now we have to name her.
We finally agreed on "Whisper" ,
which is as close to "Silence" 
as I'm going to get.)
