Boats won’t be back to the harbors hugging Lake Michigan for a while. Chicago isn’t done with winter; or rather, winter isn’t done with Chicago. Diversey, Belmont and other harbors are deserted but not lonely. The empty slips and pokey water looks relieved, like the guest room post-guest.

I don’t miss the boats so much as I miss their names: “Fanta Sea,” “Flotation Device,” “Anything is Possible,” “Full Circle.” I imagine owners selected the just-right boat name with the care given to naming the newborn, naming the puppy. The NAME somehow IS the owner.

Based on boat names in Chicago, we’re a city of optimism and self-deprecation and a bit silly whoo-hoo! That sounds about right.