First trip to the catamaran (Patreon)

Hi guys!

This week's video is my first trip to see the potential new project boat. I was hoping to hold off on publishing videos about the catamaran until we heard back from USCG, but the whole process has dragged out, and we can't wait any longer. It's been three weeks since we submitted the paperwork - the estimated processing time was 4-6 weeks so we are getting closer :)

The uncertainty of our current situation, along with all the hassle and expense of trying to get a foothold here in the US, has been draining and a little demotivating. There are so many small hurdles and roadblocks. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining, and I'm VERY thankful for all the fantastic people who have helped us in one way or another, including our amazing patreons :) I'm stressed out and a little out of sorts because we have a lot of loose ends. Here are a couple of examples:

A) We can't start my immigration process until we're sure we will get the boat - and no sooner than mid-September (immigration law reasons). We have gotten a quote from an immigration lawyer for $4000 - I was not expecting it to be so expensive. Everything depends on this multi-year immigration process, and it's making me very nervous.

B) According to the internet, my Danish driver's license is only valid in the US for 3-6 months. After that, I will need to get a US driver's license. The DMV was not able to help clarify whether it's valid for 3 months or 6 months in Florida. This issue could make it impossible for me to get from the marina to the project boat. There is some uncertainty regarding how this is entangled with my immigration process.

C) We're in the process of moving our AdSense account (how Google pays out advertisement income from YouTube) to the US. This is an arcane and slow process. There are horror stories about this process going sideways. The process takes between a few days up to three weeks. This means we will potentially lose a lot of income from this process. We can't afford to start the catamaran project if this process fails. Much like the immigration issue, this is something that is, to a large extent, out of my control.

These are just a couple of examples. There are many more. For instance, there is the threat of hurricanes (our insurance doesn't cover us for named storms south of Cape Hatteras) and the general doubt about whether undertaking this massive project is actually a good idea. I'm just a little stressed out. I don't mind sanding for hours, but I struggle with loose ends and uncertainty :)

Again, I'm not telling you this to complain. I'm grateful we have this fantastic opportunity and the support of many incredible people (including all of you reading this). I'm also very excited to live in the US for a while. I'm also excited for things to settle down a little bit - more sanding and less bureaucracy ;) Sorry for the long rambling on - this too shall pass :)

I hope you have a fantastic weekend. Thank you so much for your support :)