Day 44

Guess what? No luck at the library. Demopolis has absolutely nothing online or ran in the classifieds. And after talking to several natives it sounds like people don’t really advertise. Because it is a small town, you just go into a place that you would like to work and ask if they have an opening. Tabbie went to talk to Fred, the harbormaster, about staying long term. The monthly rates here are very low. Only $131 per month plus electricity. Other marinas charge anywhere from $400-750 per month. So that is good news. Also everyone we have talked to has suggested that we should have no problem finding a job. There are a few good banks here in town and places like Wal-Mart are always looking for help. So we decide that tonight we will work on the resume and tomorrow Tabbie will go and talk to the bank in town. There is a bank by the name of Robertson’s, which seems to be the big guy in town. They are rooted in this community and actually have 3 branches in Demopolis. They are very old and established.
Tabbie went to watch Monday night football and complete her x-mas cards in the lounge. Come to find out that there are about 5-6 boats here in Demopolis from the Minnesota area. Another couple pulled in tonight to get their boat ready to sell, however, they will be docking it here long term. Another gentleman came here 30 years ago from Wayzata and never left. Then we have a boat by the name of Finally who is from Afton. They were transients that came into the marina and are stuck here with us while the river is still too high. They will be leaving to go south soon. Another guy with two large boats here, who stays long term, grew up in Minnesota, but is fixing his boats here because the weather is more cooperative. And then there is us. We heard that lots of people like Demopolis for the mild weather. I guess that it is ok if you like the rain. Some nights we still have to put our heater on, and some days it gets warm enough to wear shorts. But for the most part, it always seems wet. And humid. This is the last actual marina until Mobile, which is more than 200 miles away. So there are no other choices. The people here are very friendly though and the men spend a lot of time out on the docks chatting to each other all the time. At any given point during the day you will see three or four men huddled together talking about anything there is to talk about concerning the river, a boat or the gulf. There are a few natives here who like to just wander the docks and catch anyone who happens to be walking by in conversation. Grant has been “trapped” like this numerous times, sometimes for an hour or more. And he is way to polite to excuse himself if he has something he needs to do. The good thing for Tabbie about being a woman is that they are much to polite to engage in conversation unless she initiates or encourages it, thus she doesn’t have to partake in repeated redundant information. The information is usually very good and helpful information; it is just the same stuff every time. We just always listen respectfully and try to take whatever we can out of it that we have not heard. Some of these men live alone on their boats and use this as their social activity. Maybe they should have a dock mixer with some of the single lady folk in town. A few of these men need some companions……