As of 4:30 this afternoon, the waterfront docks and boat lift are installed and ready for summer 2025. Hurrah! Or, *almost* hurrah. For in fact, the boat lift is in and ready for us to bring the Nautique over from the Essex Marina tomorrow. And the docks are mostly in. Three sections are still on shore, hamstrung until a replacement part — an adjustable leg with wheel base — can be purchased and transported from central New York State.
All things considered, we’re feeling very fortunate. Sure, it would’ve been nice to have everything work out as planned, all dock sections installed, and ready for the season. But there’s always a hiccup. Life is like that. Good fortune is all the sweeter because we know what it’s like when things don’t go to plan.
I’ve chronicled this seasonal ritual often enough to skip it. Instead, a tidy recap from last year will suffice. 
Positioning the dock sections combined dry land manipulation with ropes and bravely wading through 69° water. Section by section, assembling Rosslyn’s dock sections is as much art as science! But little by little our dock system began to take shape. (Source: Docks Are In)
One notable difference this year? The water is not 69°. It’s 55° and even wearing wetsuits, spending any significant length of time in Lake Champlain at these temperatures is challenging. I’m especially grateful this year because I never had to get into the water. First time ever, and I’m thinking I could get used to this!
I’m beyond grateful to my nephews, Erik and Christoph, and to Tony, all three of them spent significant time in the water today. All three were wet suits, but their hands were in the cold water for hours, working nuts, and bolts and adjusting fittings. And all three of them wound up more than once with their heads underwater. Only at the very end, just after I took the photo at the top of this post, did Christoph briefly wear a neoprene hood while diving down to the bottom to adjust the length of a boat lift leg. Not. Fun. At all! But all three of them endured the discomfort and maintained their upbeat, lighthearted morale.
Susan and I are well aware that we won the nephew lottery almost 3 decades ago. And our pride and gratitude grow exponentially with each passing year. We both feel fortunate that these impressive men still to spend time with us even when we lean on them more and more with each passing year. Thank you, Erik. Thank you, Christoph.
And, Tony, thank you. After an incredibly productive morning, tackling project after project, you were nevertheless willing and enthusiastic. Your strength and endurance are matched only by your resolve. This year as last year (and the year before and the year before…) We couldn’t have done this without you. Thank you.
Glen, though you and I were the lucky ones today, performing our tasks from shore and dock, I’m no less grateful to you for once again ensuring the myriad details that make our lives at Rosslyn do remarkable happen. On time. Again and again. Thank you.
And, last but not least, thank you, Pam, for helping sort out the hardware replacement and transport. There’s a reason we call you the air traffic controller! 
What do you think?