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I Heart Column

When a Bachelorette Party & Addiction Collide  Read the Post
What It’s Like to Protest Alone in Montecito, CA Read the Post
Lessons from Powerful Women Read the Post
Self-Love vs. Selfish Love: What’s the Difference? Read the Post
Santa Barbara: Friend or Foe? Read the Post
Millennials & Marriage: Put a Ring on It? Read the Post
Open
Figuring out what to bring as a hostess gift during lobster season is pretty stinkin' easy. And when the season's over, I usually opt for good 'ole flowers in a mason jar. What your favorite hostess gift to give or receive? 🦞 💐⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#wildcaughtseafood #localfisherman #commercialfishingpics #eatlocalseafood #commercialfisherman #pocfisherman
Open
It's a pearl necklace. I don't know what else to call it:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
"After mating, the female stores the sperm for many months. When she is ready to lay her eggs, she turns onto her back and cups her tail. As many as 10,000 to 20,000 eggs are pushed out of her ovaries.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
They are fertilized as they pass through the sperm receptacle, marked by a small triangular shield at the base of her walking legs. A sticky substance glues the eggs to the bottom of the female's tail.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
She will carry the eggs for 9 to 11 months, fanning them with her swimmerets to bring them oxygen and to clean off any debris that might stick to the developing eggs. Finally, when it's time for the eggs to hatch, the female lifts her tail into the current and sets them adrift in the sea. It may take up to two weeks for all of the eggs to be released."🦞😳⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Good Lord, woman. You are a QUEEN! I mean, if humans had to do this...well...how would you finish this sentence? (Yep, we just went there! 😆)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Happy Friday, y'all!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#calobsters #commerciallobsterfishing #pocfishermen #commercialfishingvessels #knowyourfisherman
Open
Many partners of commercial fishermen (POCFs) deal with different struggles at different times in their relationships. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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For example, in the beginning, it’s the longing to be with each other and learning to establish independence while in a long-distance relationship. The second is maybe Fear, though I think the fear is always prevalent at some level. And another level is deal with fluctuating income because fishing is so volatile.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Believe me; you are not alone with any one of those. I'd love to know what challenges you had when you first started dating a fisherman (or, if you are a fisherman, the challenges you had with your partner on land). Let's learn from each other! Please share how y'all were able to overcome those challenges to make your relationship stronger in the comments below! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#partnersofcommercialfishermen #pocfishermen #commercialfishinglife #alaskafishing #lobsterman #commercialfisherman
Open
Q: I discovered that the transition when a fisherman comes home can be kind of a hard adjustment. How did you handle that transition?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Jolene Colomy: "Sometimes, not very well because you’re on your own flow. You got your own thing. With the kids, that was the hardest because it was all being done my way. Then he would step in and would do things a little bit differently. Which he should, because we’re all different people.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We still have that sometimes where I just have my way of doing something, and I get a little irritated at times. I can be snappy, and sometimes I get up and just go, Okay. And sometimes I say, “Don’t forget, I’m by myself doing things a lot. And you need to think about that, too.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It has to be an understanding that just because you drop in, I’m not doing it all your way, and you’re not necessarily going to have to do it my way. Here I was for three months, basically, by myself. And I went from that to him being home every night, because now with his retirement, he gets home by four o’clock every day."⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Once again, our girl Jolene lets it rip with the real talk! Here, she's holding a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), a tracker that Fish and Game requires if you catch certain ground fish. “I use it to see when he’ll be home.” (Don't worry, Jim. I blocked out the coordinates!😁) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
In addition to this trick, she shares how the couple managed a family for over thirty years with seafood prices going way up and waaay down. 💸💰⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Part Two of 36 Years with a Commercial Fisherman is online now. (It’s a juicy one!) ✨ Link in Bio!✨ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#commercialfishingstories #partnersofcommercialfishermen #pocfishermen #knowyourfishermen #knowyourfishermansfamily
Open
This was taken at Santa Cruz Island 6 mos after I met Chris and about 6 months before I moved to Washington to live with him on a sailboat. He won that @hellyhansen jacket at the Pacific Marine Expo that year, and Thank God he did bc it has saved my ass! Windproof, waterproof, and something I don't have to worry about messing up!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This may sound funny, but one of my biggest concerns was wondering what the heck to wear on a boat - any boat - and still look cute. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
AF cute. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Fashion and function were (and still are?) my top first-world problem. (Yes, I'm a little vain. I admit it! 💁🏻‍♀️)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What's your go-to boat gear? I'm putting together a list of "functional boat fashion" and would love to know what your necessary pieces are (cute or not cute) when you're on the seas in nice or foul weather. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Please. Spill it! What do you wear?! 🤔⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#fishingboats #commercialfishingboats #commercialfishermen #pocfishermen #fashionandfishing #letsmakeitathing
Open
“We knew we were having children, so we wondered, Who’s going to be the parent if both of us are not here? One of us has got to be the parent here and raise the kid for both of us.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So, I quit work and went from being a paralegal to being a stay-at-home mom. We knew there would be some rough times financially because my paycheck’s gone, my insurance is gone. Fortunately, we had insurance when we had Amy, but we didn’t have insurance when I had Lauren. She was cash on the barrel of a planned C-section because the insurance wouldn’t cover me.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Long story short, we ate a lot of burritos, we didn’t go anywhere. We didn’t drink any wine. But we just fine. The girls knew their daddy worked and was gone a lot, and that was okay. When he’s home, it was great. And when he was gone, we were still great.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Dude. This candid interview with Jolene Colomy is gold bc she’s been with her commercial fisherman FOR 36 YEARS!!!🤯 Needless to say, she’s got some great advice on managing the ups and downs of commercial fishing and how she handled the home front.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Part One of 36 Years with a Commercial Fisherman is online now. (Part 2 is out tomorrow!) 
✨Link in bio!✨⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#commercialfishing #commercialfishingpics #pocfishermen #fishinglife
Open
🔈 CALLING ALL FISHERMEN: What do you most appreciate about your partner? What do they do on the homefront that you appreciate the most? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I always ask partners of commercial fishermen (POCFs) what their duties entail, but I'd love to learn what fishermen find most helpful. (Also, a great way to give a shout-out to the one you love!) We'd love to know - please drop your thoughts in the comments below!👇🏽⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#commercialfishermen #commercialfishing #pocfishermen
Open
Figuring out what to bring as a hostess gift during lobster season is pretty stinkin' easy. And when the season's over, I usually opt for good 'ole flowers in a mason jar. What your favorite hostess gift to give or receive? 🦞 💐⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#wildcaughtseafood #localfisherman #commercialfishingpics #eatlocalseafood #commercialfisherman #pocfisherman
Open
It's a pearl necklace. I don't know what else to call it:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
"After mating, the female stores the sperm for many months. When she is ready to lay her eggs, she turns onto her back and cups her tail. As many as 10,000 to 20,000 eggs are pushed out of her ovaries.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
They are fertilized as they pass through the sperm receptacle, marked by a small triangular shield at the base of her walking legs. A sticky substance glues the eggs to the bottom of the female's tail.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
She will carry the eggs for 9 to 11 months, fanning them with her swimmerets to bring them oxygen and to clean off any debris that might stick to the developing eggs. Finally, when it's time for the eggs to hatch, the female lifts her tail into the current and sets them adrift in the sea. It may take up to two weeks for all of the eggs to be released."🦞😳⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Good Lord, woman. You are a QUEEN! I mean, if humans had to do this...well...how would you finish this sentence? (Yep, we just went there! 😆)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Happy Friday, y'all!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#calobsters #commerciallobsterfishing #pocfishermen #commercialfishingvessels #knowyourfisherman
Open
Many partners of commercial fishermen (POCFs) deal with different struggles at different times in their relationships. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
For example, in the beginning, it’s the longing to be with each other and learning to establish independence while in a long-distance relationship. The second is maybe Fear, though I think the fear is always prevalent at some level. And another level is deal with fluctuating income because fishing is so volatile.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Believe me; you are not alone with any one of those. I'd love to know what challenges you had when you first started dating a fisherman (or, if you are a fisherman, the challenges you had with your partner on land). Let's learn from each other! Please share how y'all were able to overcome those challenges to make your relationship stronger in the comments below! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#partnersofcommercialfishermen #pocfishermen #commercialfishinglife #alaskafishing #lobsterman #commercialfisherman
Open
Q: I discovered that the transition when a fisherman comes home can be kind of a hard adjustment. How did you handle that transition?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Jolene Colomy: "Sometimes, not very well because you’re on your own flow. You got your own thing. With the kids, that was the hardest because it was all being done my way. Then he would step in and would do things a little bit differently. Which he should, because we’re all different people.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We still have that sometimes where I just have my way of doing something, and I get a little irritated at times. I can be snappy, and sometimes I get up and just go, Okay. And sometimes I say, “Don’t forget, I’m by myself doing things a lot. And you need to think about that, too.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It has to be an understanding that just because you drop in, I’m not doing it all your way, and you’re not necessarily going to have to do it my way. Here I was for three months, basically, by myself. And I went from that to him being home every night, because now with his retirement, he gets home by four o’clock every day."⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Once again, our girl Jolene lets it rip with the real talk! Here, she's holding a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), a tracker that Fish and Game requires if you catch certain ground fish. “I use it to see when he’ll be home.” (Don't worry, Jim. I blocked out the coordinates!😁) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
In addition to this trick, she shares how the couple managed a family for over thirty years with seafood prices going way up and waaay down. 💸💰⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Part Two of 36 Years with a Commercial Fisherman is online now. (It’s a juicy one!) ✨ Link in Bio!✨ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#commercialfishingstories #partnersofcommercialfishermen #pocfishermen #knowyourfishermen #knowyourfishermansfamily
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