On August 27, 2019 Paul and I celebrated our Boat Life 2-Year Anniversary. In so many ways things still feel fresh and new and the learning curve only slightly shrunken. In other ways, we’ve learned a great deal and are certainly more comfortable with many aspects of the sailing life today than two years ago. By no means do we feel like “old salts” yet we’re not complete newbies. We couldn’t possibly be with 7000 nautical miles, 10 countries and about 15 islands under our keel.
We’ve sailed through gales…
and enjoyed the rainbows after the storms.
We’ve made friends that are more like family, and have been lucky enough to maintain and strengthen relationships with loved ones that have supported us, and even shared in our endeavors, whether virtually or by joining us on the Rita Kathryn. A look back over the past two years, it’s been the experience of a lifetime.
We’ve sailed along the bottom of mountains…
and climbed to the top.
Paul and I have fairly different perspectives on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but we have more in common than not, on foundational aspects of this lifestyle for sure. In retrospect, it’s clear to us both how incredibly stressful our lives were before. It’s completely transformative to take away those rat-racy stressors and live a lifestyle that allows you the time and space to move to the beat of your own internal drum. Unfortunately, Paul and I have experienced profound loss, tragedy, and even illness that made this leap of faith seem past due. Life is oh so very short, and having life in a healthy, vibrant fashion is much shorter than that.
We’ve hiked to poignant sculptures on land…
then swam to intriguing sculptures under water.
The sailing life is not stress-free, nor perfect, nor ideal. It’s just very different. Ultimately, it gives what I see as perhaps the two most transformative gifts of all: time and perspective. It’s more of something that can be equated to an acute awareness and presence. Rather than rushing through motions that are often void of depth and meaning, rather than facing parameters and choices that others impose, you make your own plans and fulfill your desires as needed, and in your own time.
We’ve had intimate homemade dinners…
and eaten out with long-lost family.
No, you don’t evade unpleasant ills of society, nor life. And there’s plenty of responsibility properly running and navigating a sailboat. Yet sailing life has allowed us to develop a gratitude for seeing it all very differently thanks to the freedom and time it permits, to truly imbibe life. It’s a gift to live simply yet fully, often transcendent.
We shared ports with mega yachts that had heliports on the aft deck…
and shared ports with boats bringing local delights.
There’s great gratification in doing things unconventionally and developing a self-sufficiency that you would not have had otherwise. It is easy to let life get complicated beyond our own control. Being able to step back and take in the beauty of humanity is a great gift we’ve found this life allows.
We’ve gotten muddy…
and rinsed it all off.
We are human, we are imperfect, there is often beauty in the imperfections that may go unseen and unappreciated. This is not to say that sailing is the only way to develop gratitude and be reflective, but it is certainly a very conducive way of life for allowing it. Maybe it suits us so well because we have the wanderlust and are adventurers at heart. Others may dream of spending their free time home, surrounded by their own ideas of the ideal.
We’ve enjoyed solitude at beachscapes…
and enjoyed cityscapes with family.
It’s far from easy to put yourself out there, often I crave the comforts of not having to deal with the simplest of tasks being seemingly, unreasonably difficult. Then, you come to witness unspeakable beauty, magical moments in nature, find a kindred spirit in someone you would never have met otherwise, or you find yourself faced with a decision you never imagined you’d have the courage, or need, to make. We’ve found unbounded charms by embracing the journey and often humbled by taking the road less traveled.
We’ve appreciated cast-iron, masterpiece architecture…
and admired the classic, wooden boat builders that continue the craft.
Sound like life, no matter where you are, land or sea…? It often can be. And more often than not you find it’s your attitude that determines whether you’re going to make it an ordeal or an adventure.
Here’s to more adventure!
Congratulations on two years! It flew by so quickly. Wishing you many, many more wonderful years of exploring and adventures.
So nice to hear from you Cindy. You and Mark have always given us such wonderful support in our journey. We will always be super grateful for your help. Hope you two are enjoying Buenos Aires.
Congrats on the Liebster Award!! Well deserved.
Bob, your comment made me smile in thanksgiving as well. It has been a huge blessing that we have been able to get to know each other.
What a fantastic photo essay of your two years. Paul, the picture of you in the galley, with the apron, reminded me so much of your Dad. It made me smile with thanksgiving knowing him, and now you. Thank you!
OMG loved this! Here’s to more adventure (and blog posts) ahead! xo Lisa
Thanks Lady Lee! Coming from a rock star like yourself, that means so much. Love ya.