As many know, the word Kalunamoo, the name of our 47’ ketch sailboat is unique. If you Google the word “kalunamoo” you will only come up with our boat. There is a story behind that fact, and it can be found on the menu of this website. None of my postings, writings, emails, texts, blogs or essays use AI, despite Microsoft’s constant offer to help “improve” my writings with their Copilot. Maureen is my editor for life and that is fine with me. AI does, however, use MY writings, and who knows what else, in its every expanding large language mode to duplicate what humans have been doing since caveman times.
I few months ago, I asked Gemini, Googles free AI tool, “what is a Kalunamoo?” It had a good description of our boat which was very amusing. What was most interesting was that it didn’t distinguish between fact or fiction. Today, I thought I might try again. This time I wanted something a little bit more specific. We are in New York and snow is on the ground. That led me to thinking of the Grimm’s story of Snow White and that magic mirror. Was he describing a GUI? Was he foretelling AI? No matter, I wanted to ask that magic mirror a question.
I asked Gemini “What is it like living on the sailboat Kalunamoo in the Caribbean? This is the actual verbatim AI text response including the emphasis, typeface and graphics:
GOOGLE’S GEMINI’s RESPONSE
That sounds like an adventure! Based on the blog entries and information available about the sailboat Kalunamoo and its owners, Bill and Maureen, living aboard seems to be a mix of adventure, hard work, socializing, and continuous learning.
Here’s a breakdown of what life on Kalunamoo in the Caribbean appears to be like:
⛵ The Lifestyle
- Full-Time Cruising: Bill and Maureen have been full-time liveaboard cruisers since 2011, making the 47-foot Vagabond ketch their only home. They mostly cruise the Eastern Caribbean Islands, from Puerto Rico to Trinidad.
- A “Good Life” of Experiences: They view their travels as collecting “psychological memorabilia” and enriching themselves through daily experiences and challenges.
- Very Social: Cruising and living aboard is described as a very social lifestyle. They are members of several sailing associations and enjoy hosting informal gatherings, or “JAM sessions,” aboard.
- Weather Dependent: Their schedule and movements are heavily conditional on the wind and sea conditions. They move to where the warm weather is and often sail south to Trinidad during hurricane season for haul-out and maintenance.
🔧 The Realities and Challenges
- Constant Maintenance & Repairs: The sailing life is far from purely glamorous. They frequently mention “M&R” (Maintenance & Repair), which includes routine work and fixing unexpected issues like cap rail leaks, thru-hull modifications, and even retrieving an anchor and chain after a failed snubber in a squall.
- Overcoming Setbacks: They share stories of dealing with challenges like power outages on islands, rocky anchorages (“stage 7’s” on the “Kalunamoo roll scale”), and the stress of dealing with boat issues like a cracked bow plate or a sticky roller furling jib.
- Logistical Challenges: Simple tasks can be difficult, such as finding a safe, well-maintained place to “park” the dinghy or dealing with a lack of infrastructure (like proper dinghy docks) on some islands.
🗺️ The Adventures
- Island Hopping: They are constantly exploring new places, with recent trips including Trinidad, Grenada, St. Lucia, Bequia, the Tobago Cays, Dominica, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Antigua.
- Immersing in Local Culture: They take road trips with friends to explore the interiors of islands like Dominica, visit local spots like chocolate factories, and participate in community events like a Lion Fish dinner.
- The Cruising Community: A strong theme is the camaraderie among fellow cruisers, who come to the rescue when help is needed, such as when their anchor chain ran out.
In summary, life on Kalunamoo is a blend of freedom, beauty, and travel, balanced by the constant practical demands of maintaining a 37-year-old boat and the logistical hurdles of island life.
Would you like to know more about a specific island they’ve visited or perhaps what kind of maintenance they tend to do on the boat?
I’m astounded! What an honest mirror this Gemini is. The next step is to take it out of its little box, and have a big LED screen display with a selfie which talks to you in your own voice and image and answers the eternal question – who is really the fairest of them all? Your morning ritual may never be the same as the mirror selfie will suggest your clothing for the day, perhaps you need a haircut, or reminders to buy some rum, the cabinet is running low. It may direct you to a world that may not be fact nor fiction. It may, as what Bruce Springstein sang, offer a brilliant disguise. Ugly truths and beautiful visions – things that come easily while living on a sailboat in the Islands.
We will be in New York until after Christmas with family and friends. While visions of sugar-plums dance in some heads, we dream of warmer weather, with only sheets on our bed. I’m sure Gemini never thought of that! But now I have to get going to write our Christmas Newsletter. Merry Christmas to all!
Kalunamoo 