Nothing half so much worth doing

How many of us remember this from "Wind in the Willows"

“Nice? It's the only thing,” said the Water Rat solemnly, as he leant forward for his stroke. “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing -- absolute nothing -- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Simply messing,” he went on dreamily: “messing -- about -- in -- boats; messing about in boats”.

And isn't it true? From my mother reading this fable to me when I was a child - to now. To now.

The depression that came to me 5 years after retiring I thought was from missing the feel of a boat beneath me. It was, but more so from "simply - messing around in boats".

Ripping out the old wiring. Re-doing the bright work. Putting in a proper bilge pump. Those are the sort of things that really brings the joy of sailing to me.

I know there are boats in my harbor that have never felt the hand of the owner, except to steer them. And that's ok, it's just not for me. For me the pride of ownership comes more from the pride of making her right.