A Foot in Both Worlds

As our time back on land comes to a close (how did two months go by that fast?) I am constantly asked the question, "Aren't you *so* glad to leave and go back?" It's hard to answer that because - for the last four years or so - Scott and I have remained, more or less, tethered to land. After a year and a half of solo cruising, we came home to have Isla and moved to Florida for six months after that to refit our boat. We then set sail only to return home a little over a year later to give birth to our (surprise!) twins. Two infants at once, as you can probably imagine, was a real game changer and we lived with my parents for a year while we adjusted to live as an insta-family of five. We were, for all intents and purposes, land-lubbers and, for us, it was the only way to be during that (incredibly difficult) season of our lives. We then began the process of buying a business on Tortola which dictated that we move off island for six months while the deal went through, and from now forward, as official "expats", we plan to come back for visits at least once a year to see family and friends and "get off the rock", as it were.

Land life is simply part of our life, and we are grateful for it.

So am I glad to leave? No. This visit has been amazing. Scott and I got away - alone, together - for the first time in four years to attend one of my best friend's weddings in Santa Barbara where (cough cough) Gweneth Paltrow (among others!!) was a fellow guest (my friend is a very successful Hollywood writer and, no, I did not meet her but could have touched her a couple times!), Scott got to spend some quality time with his brother on a motorcycle trip riding "the tail of the dragon" in Tennessee, we spent a positively beautiful week in Northern Michigan with most of Scott's family, the girls and I had countless playdates with wonderful neighborhood kids and kindred spirit mom friends, we got to see all of my immediate family and their families'...there were bonfires, play parks, museum visits and sleepovers...dinners out, talks over wine and spirit-lifting hang-outs with old friends...the list goes on. It was wonderful and went by too fast, and it's precisely why we keep coming back - because there is so very much here for us.

So, no, I'm not "glad" to leave ( though I am happy to be escaping winter!) - it is, in fact, a bit sad. We have a wonderful life up here filled with family, friends and - oh man - the general convenience of the 'burbs cannot be beat. But are we happy to go back to our little boat and little island? You betcha.

***

You see, by having one foot in both worlds, we are offered a unique perspective and one that helps us to appreciate the other world. I've always been one to caution the notion that there is any one single way to live that is better than another (i.e. land life vs. island life vs. cruising) because the fact of the matter is this: it's completely subjective and while many people love the above lifestyles, just as many do not. My best friend in the whole wide world came to visit us last season and one night, as we were sipping rum cocktails gazing out as the sun set over the water she said, "Britt...I totally get why you live here. This place is amazing and it is so totally you. You are clearly in your element. But me? No. This wouldn't work for me." It was not an insult and I was in no way offended.  I completely agreed with her because a) I know her better than I know anybody and, no, it is definitely not her jam and b) I know that our slightly alternative lifestyle is not a one size fits all kind of existence.

On the flip side, how she feels about island/live-aboard life is precisely how I feel about a more traditional, suburban/city life. I appreciate the convenience, the plethora of things to do, the accessibility to great restaurants and shows and of course the proximity to friends and family...but for now, it's just not for us.

And yet, we have an amazing thing up here. We have my family here and Scott's family just day's drive over in Michigan (seriously, the most underrated state in the lower 50 in my opinion. So. Damn. Beautiful.) and we get to spend time with them when we visit, exploring the woods, the shores of fresh water lakes, and - in general - living our days outside in the fresh air. Our girls have a slew of aunts and uncles who adore them and cousins on both sides whom they consider their best friends - these kinds of bonds are the very reason we keep a tether to shore. I have an incredible group of friends - some of whom I have known since I was five - who, despite our distance and once-a-year visits, are truly some of the most incredible people in the world and fill my life, heart and soul with love and joy...My girls adore their grandparents, they love our neighbors, and the relationships they have with these people are important to us. It's a pleasure to be here, not a burden.

We have the same level of appreciation, however, for our little island life. While the roots we have planted are new, we have begun to develop a great and very fulfilling existence. Our business is thriving and exciting to us. We absolutely love our "neighborhood" and cross-cultural community at Nanny Cay, the seeds for great friendships have been planted and are being sowed, the girls thrive like the wild little (often naked) bush children they are and I really love the slower and simpler pace of day to day living. Everything feels a little less rushed, everyone has a little more time and I like that. Our choices for everything from what to do to what to eat are most definitely limited compared to what is available up here, but what we do get is constant and close access to jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring natural beauty day in and day out and that, to me, is priceless. The water, specifically, is truly a salve to my soul and, man, I'm excited to get back and dip my toes into it. I need it..

***

There are also some very exciting changes on the horizon that if you follow our >>Facebook Page<< you already know... Scott was only back for a short while during this trip (we kept our business running year round this year) but his visit allowed us a quick trip to the East Coast to do some boat shopping. Yep, you read that correctly: boat shopping. Scott and I had a sort of "come to Jesus" type talk and decided that we needed a bigger boat sooner than later. Long story short: I am more than excited to announce that we are under contract with a 48 foot three cabin cutter-rigged monohull (more details soon, I promise!) and the boat goes to survey the day after the girls and I return to Tortola. To say we are excited about this new development is a massive understatement, but - like I said - the hows and why's of all this require a whole separate blog post and, until the boat passes survey (which it should) we aren't counting any chickens. Patience, please.

Another amazing change we will be coming back to is the fact that all three girls will attend a little pre-school three half-days a week. While I have been home with all of them as their major care-taker 24/7 for the last four and a half years, the time has come to give myself a little break - not to mention the fact the girls are literally begging me to send them to school. Again, there is a whole post here and I'll delve more into why we made this decision a little later. Suffice it to say, we did a lot of research, talked to a lot of people and decided that at this juncture of our lives - this will be best for everybody. We are all super stoked.

This trip home has been a fantastic "factory reset" - and while we are sad to say "goodbye" - there is so much to look forward to. While having a "foot in both worlds" might, to some, seem non-committal or even limiting, to us it feels like a huge gift and makes life a little sweeter.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have packing to do and lists to make! We are island bound in t-minus three days!

(and here is where I barrage you with a completely random assortment of photos of our visit! I tried as best I could to cut down from the 2K I took, but it was not easy!)

To all our friends and family who made this visit so great, we thank you! To those of you who we adore with all our hearts yet could not see this time around, we are sorry and we'll catch you next time! xoxo

Baby On Board: Cruising with Kids and Dangerous Parenting

By now you have heard of the unfortunate events surrounding the rescue of Rebel Heart and her crew.  It has, quite literally, exploded into a media firestorm with just about every news source, local and international, covering it.  I have absolutely zero interest in recounting the story of my online friend and fellow boat-mama, Charlotte, nor do I feel like speculating on what went right or wrong but one thing I have noticed following this story is the fact that it has morphed from a "rescue at sea" saga into a pretty ferocious debate on parenting.

I have already vehemently defended our lifestyle on this blog before, and I have also learned that arguing with ignorant, closed minds is pointless.  But what I would like to say to the many people out there who are not closed-minded but simply uninformed, is to look before you leap onto this bandwagon of judgement and hatred because there is another side to this story...

Thousands of children live very happy, healthy lives on boats with their parents. For many years before the Kaufmans, and for many years to come, families with children (yes, even babies) have embarked on journeys across the worlds oceans without incident.  We don't hear these stories of course, because they are not what make headlines...No, instead we hear of those that fail, because those are the stories the masses want to hear.  Torre DeRoche, one of my favorite bloggers and author of the fantastic memoir, Love with a Chance of Drowning, said it best in her response to media frenzy:

All the people who never had the courage to live their dreams and do something meaningful and inspired with their lives are having a field day right now. Charlotte dared to do something amazing with her family, which evokes furious jealousy in those who are committed to living out fear-ridden and inane existences. But oh how delicious it feels to those types when the dreamers fall down. "See?" they say. "The easy and mediocre choices we made were the right ones". - Torre DeRoche

As someone who spent a significant amount of time living on a boat raising a baby, I feel compelled to show that boating with a child (or children) is not, despite what the masses may believe, inherently dangerous, selfish or irresponsible.  In fact, many of us who sail with our babies are incredibly capable, self-sufficient and mindful parents.  Before we embarked with Isla, Scott and I (having cruised as a couple for almost 2 years prior) had a very good idea of what to expect from a life at sea with a little one and we took what we saw as the necessary precautions:  we bought a boat that was easy to single-hand, we made the choice to stay "coastal" and "island hop", and invested in various safety measures (from life line netting to infant antibiotics) to ensure our baby would be safe.  Both of my pregnancies were boat pregnancies and we even cruised right up until the final trimester of my twin pregnancy.  Month after ballooning month passed without incident or complication but had something gone wrong with me or our babies during that time, no doubt I would have been blasted for my selfishness and carelessness instead of celebrated for being the adventuring mama I was.  I took calculated risks by staying on our boat in the islands during that time and I had luck on my side.  It's the type of gamble all of us as make on a daily basis whether we take our kids sailing or strap them into carseats.

I don't think too many people can argue with my belief that the most important thing we as parents can give our children - particularly from the ages of zero to three - is that of our time.  There's plenty of scientific data to back this up. We, along with the Kaufmans and all the other cruising families out there, found a lifestyle that gives this to our children in spades.  Furthermore, our kids spend almost all of their waking hours out in nature, and again - there are loads of scientific articles stating what a profoundly positive effect that has on a child's development. Living on a boat with a baby is certainly not for everyone, but can be an incredibly rewarding way to raise a child and there is no one who will persuade me otherwise. I have seen first hand the results. It's incredible and beautiful and amazing. Of course, it is not without challenges and risks, but raising children - be it on land or sea - is inherently demanding and risky.  I feel very lucky to have been able to live this way, and I know every other cruiser feels equally privileged.  We adventures stand united on this front, and as my friend Behan said so eloquently, "Irresponsible? Crazy? If that’s the bucket we get tossed in, well, I’m proud to be a member of the tribe that’s chosen to raise children differently."  Amen.

We all take risks every single day, whether we know it or not.  Bad things happen that are out of our control on land and at sea.  No one is immune.  We cruisers choose not to live in constant fear over what "could" happen and instead embrace life as an adventure to behold.  Fellow cruiser, freelance writer and boat mama, Diane Selkirk, wrote an excellent piece entitled Raising a Child Dangerously in an effort to restore a little balance to the reporting of the Rebel Heart saga.  Her words are powerful: "I’m not going to lie: Our lifestyle comes with risk. There are storms at sea, illnesses in remote locations, white-knuckle moments, and near misses... But to me, the potential payoff has always outweighed the risk."  The bottom line is this: we all do our best as parents with what we are given.  None of us are intentionally putting our children in harms way, though some of us might be more comfortable living outside the box than others.  But I ask you, who do you think is more at "risk": the solitary child sitting in front of the television eating fast food and playing video games all day or the child who is spending almost every waking hour with one or both parents, outside in nature, with the opportunity to live differently and see the world?

I know my answer.

Sail on, Rebel Heart, sail on.

To read more about our experience boating with a baby, please visit our page Baby on Board. 

If you are a Rebel Heart sympathizer and would like to help, please consider donating to the fundraising page that has been set up by friends.  Thank you.

Enjoy this short video compiled of images of hundreds of boat kids from all over the world put together by a fellow boat mom in support of Rebel Heart.  This is our tribe:

Why Not You?

Because I have made a conscious effort not to get sucked into mindlessly watching television since moving back to land (it is not easy, mind you!), I've continued my habit of reading, both online and in books (okay, and nesting - I'm nesting like a mofo these days.  If nesting were a competitive sport, I'd be Olympics bound).  The other day I came across this poem and it really struck a chord with me in my current self-reflective state.  As the New Year approaches and people begin to contemplate the one gone by and consider resolutions for the one ahead I thought that perhaps it might inspire you as well?  There's some good stuff here...I know it spoke to me.

Today, many will awaken with a fresh sense of inspiration. 

Why not you?

Today, many will open their eyes to the beauty that surrounds them. 

Why not you?

Today, many will choose to leave the ghost of yesterday behind and seize the immeasurable power of today. 

Why not you?

Today, many will break through the barriers of the past by looking at the blessings of the present. 

Why not you?

Today, for many the burden of self doubt and insecurity will be lifted by the security and confidence of empowerment. 

Why not you?

Today, many will rise above their believed limitations and make contact with their powerful innate strength. 

Why not you?

Today, many will choose to live in such a manner that they will be a positive role model for their children. 

Why not you?

Today, many will choose to free themselves from the personal imprisonment of their bad habits. 

Why not you?

Today, many will choose to live free of conditions and rules governing their own happiness. 

Why not you?

Today, many will find abundance in simplicity. 

Why not you?

Today, many will be confronted by difficult moral choices and they will choose to do what is right instead of what is beneficial. 

Why not you?

Today, many will decide to no longer sit back with a victim mentality, but to take charge of their lives and make positive changes. 

Why not you?

Today, many will take the action necessary to make a difference. 

Why not you?

Today, many will make the commitment to be a better mother, father, son, daughter, student, teacher, worker, boss, brother, sister, & so much more. 

Why not you?

Today is a new day!

Many will seize this day.

Many will live it to the fullest.

Why not you?

- Steve Mariboli 

Life, the Truth, and Being Free

For Each Day To Have a New and Different Sun...

"So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservation, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun".

- Into the Wild

I posted this quote on our Facebook page the other day as I am wont to do from time to time...  It spoke volumes to me (I have been rather introspective and pensive as of late) and, judging by the number of "shares" it got, it spoke to many others as well.  Of course a few folks pointed out that the man who scribed this quote in his journal died not long after it was written, which I guess for some justifies living a "safe" life.  But in pointing out this man's folly and demise, they are forgetting the fact that this man died doing something he loved and felt passionate about, and dismissing his very poignant message:  we're only here once, so why not live the heck out of life because the more we experience, the richer in soul and spirit we become.  People can keep their hearts beating for many years and fail to ever truly live (we all know at least a few of these folks) so the fact that this man died - tragic as it was - doing something he felt very passionate about and loved, for him, was probably better than the alternative.  While I do not begrudge anyone for living a "normal" life and know that many do this happily and willingly (I have done it before and will do it again as we find ourselves between adventures), I do find it interesting that so many people fail to see just how many of the people around them are actually living a life someone else wants them to live (be it a parent, a spouse, society...etc.) and are, in fact, dying slow and rather agonizing deaths in their very "safe and responsible" existences.  Obesity, heart disease, alcoholism, self-medication with prescription and/or illicit drugs and depression (among other things) are huge problems in the United States today...so perhaps working for "the man" to attain the white picket fence, the dog and the Rolex aren't exactly fulfilling people like we have been bamboozled into believing?  

Along the same vein, I came across this very interesting article about the Top 5 Regrets of the Dying which has been floating around the interwebz for a while.  They are pretty eye-opening and very much in line with what I am waxing poetic about here:  Live the life YOU want, laugh more, follow your dreams and work less.  (I warned you I have been introspective lately...)

And just to finish off this random post with some more randomness, I leave you with the trailer of what is sure to be an inspiring documentary about an incredible individual who's legacy loudly reiterates the sentiments above:  

I don't think we all need to live on sailboats, become extreme skiers or shed all of our worldly belongings and head off into the wilderness in order to live our lives fully and without regret - but to find something that excites you, challenges you, makes you grow as a person and fills your heart with passion and joy is probably a good start.  To create your own horizon and find your new sun in each and every day.  Thoughts?  

A Little Friday Inspiration

Just a little reminder that your mind can be your biggest obstacle.  Believing in yourself and your dreams is the first step to accomplishing them.

If you like what you see here, be sure to "LIKE" our Facebook Page where there are daily pictures, updates and posts and where you can join in the conversation.  Happy Friday.

The Eye of the Beholder

The sleepy islands of the Exumas are just that, sleepy.  The towns and settlements are often very small and simple, with very few amenities.  There might be a spartan general store, a clinic, a post office, a restaurant...if you are really lucky a laundromat and maybe even gas/diesel facilities.  If you stay in a town for a week or more, it is likely that you will know the faces, and possibly names, of many of the town folk.  "Tourism" as we have come to know it stateside has not really hit the Exumas.  Shoreside 'attractions' are of the natural variety; snorkel spots, blowholes, wonderful people and remote beaches are the gems these islands offer.

One forward thinking Bahamian here in Black Point, however, decided that he wanted to give the visitors a little something else to see, a man made shore-side attraction to delight the visitors passing through.  His name is Willie Rolle and he is the man behind the Black Point "Garden of Eden".  This is no giant rubberband ball, oh no!  The Garden of Eden is actually Willie's front yard which has been transformed into a winding maze of about one-hundred strategically placed pieces of beach wood perched carefully on and between rocks and stones.  Each piece has a story and each has been chosen because, if you look at them right, they take the shape of something else entirely: an iguana, a woman with child, a ballerina, a lion, a spider...None of these are apparent to the naked eye, of course.  But for a small donation of "whatever you can spare", you can get a tour of this garden where Willie will unlock your imagination and show you what he sees.

"I wanted to give people something to come and see.  Something beautiful for them to look at when they came to Black Point" he told us in his slow and steady voice.  "It has taken many years - about thirty to be exact - and is a lot of work...it's always changing, always evolving.  Sometimes pieces change, I move them around and I see something else" he told us.

Then we started the tour.

"Look there" he says pointing at some wood, "You see that. What do you see there?" (silence) "Do you see a lion, sleeping?" (more silence).  "Look closely. There is the head, there's the paw, the tail is swinging behind him..."

"A ha!" we'd say, nodding tentatively, straining our imaginations, "yes, I think I see it...".

Admittedly, we probably only "saw" half the things we were supposed to.  Some of his pieces were very difficult to decipher, but others were dead ringers after Willie gently and patiently guided us through the various features.  It was incredible.  One minute, you're looking at a gnarly piece of wood propped up on a rock, the next minute you're seeing a Native American Indian chief.

"You are a true artist!" I told him "You have really created something of beauty here."

He smiled, "I see things all the time.  I look at trees, clouds...everything, and in them I see something else.  Now that I see you, I can go into the brush and find a piece of wood that looks like you.  It is my gift."  And it is a gift, to use your imagination to be able to see something that isn't apparent at first.

The Garden of Eden is very much the same.  How you see it depends entirely on you.  Some might pass this up as a joke, a mess of rocks and sticks that some old man put together to make a buck...or you can choose to see it as something else entirely.  A magical place created by a true island artist.  A beautiful garden where you can let your imagination run free.  If you choose to, you might just see that it is a carefully thought out, meticulously executed work of art by a man who is ahead of his time.  But that depends on you, and your imagination of course.  As they say...

"Free your mind, and the rest will follow".

An iguana.

A mongoose

A woman washing her hair, bending over the stone

Isla played with his sweet grandson Gentry while we took the tour. 

Isla pointing out an airplane to Gentry (she LOVES airplanes) surrounded by Willie's art.

The Garden of Eden

First You Have to Row a Little Boat

For the truth is that I already know as much about my fate as I need to know. The day will come when I will die. So the only matter of consequence before me is what I will do with my allotted time. I can remain on shore, paralyzed with fear, or I can raise my sails and dip and soar in the breeze...

Every now and then you read a book that you simply adore.  The kind of book you want to hold close to your heart and read aloud for all to hear because it is so beautiful that it must be shared.  On every page there is a treasure, every sentence a poem, words dance effortlessly from between the covers.  The last such book I read was The Last Unicorn  by Peter S. Beagle many, many years ago.  I've read plenty of fantastic books since then, but none have captured my heart in quite the same way.  None, that is, until First You Have to Row a Little Boat by Richard Bode.

We got the book as a gift, and instead of wedging it between a couple other books in our jam-packed bookcase never to be seen again, for some reason I decided to keep it on the little shelf beside our bed.  I believe certain books have a trace amounts of magic in them and way of finding their way to us at precisely the right time, and boy oh boy was the timing perfect for this gem.

I don't think any write up I give it can do it justice, but it must be known that it is not just for the sailor.  I would be doing those of you do not sail and might pass this book up because of it a huge disservice if I did not say that.  Sailing is merely a metaphor.  The book is a small volume whose subtitle reads "reflections on life and living" and it is full of philosophy, wisdom, poetry and inspiration all against the backdrop of Long Island Sound.  It is beautiful and thought-provoking in an almost breath-taking way and, who knows?  It might just be course-altering...

I had to judge where I was headed from where I had been, an acquired perception which has served me well - for the goals of my life, and especially my work, haven't always been visible points of light on a shore that looms in front of me.  They are fixed in my imagination, shrouded and indistinct, and I detect them best when my eyes are closed.  All too often I am forced to move toward them backward, like a boy in a rowboat, guiding myself by a cultivated inner sense of direction which tells me I am on course, tending toward the place I want to be. - First You Have to Row a Little Boat

The Power of Positive People

This little person has effected my life in so many positive and profound ways!

We've all heard about the power of positive thinking:  the theory that your thoughts can shape your life, the idea that whatever the mind expects, it gets.  I subscribe wholly to this mindset and credit positive thinking and visualization for many of the successes in my life (along with hard work and dedication, of course). Also known as the law of attraction it's the belief that like attracts like, and by putting good energy out there into the world, more often than not, good energy will come back to you.  Sure it's a little new-agey and hippy-dippy, but what can I say?  It's worked for me.  But there is more... What about the power of the people around you?  Can they effect you?  Do they have the potential to influence your thoughts?  Steal your energy?  Zap your joy?  You betcha!

We hear from a lot of people who share our dream of cutting ties from a "normal" life and living on their own terms.  More often than not they mention how people in their lives don't support their dreams and aspirations.  I'm not suggesting cutting ties with well-meaning friends and family who simply don't understand your choices, but perhaps it's time to take stock of the people who surround you.  Are they positive people?  Happy?  Do they enjoy life? Are they fellow dreamers who do exciting things?  They say that married couples should spend time with other happily married couples.  That, somehow, spending time with people in healhty and successful marriages will effect your marriage in a positive way.  So it follows suit that if you are a dreamer, perhaps you should spend time with other people who dream?  Or better yet, other dreamers who do...

There are so many people in this world doing incredible things, large and small, and living their dreams in their own ways.  They need not have climbed mountains or circumnavigated the globe to be an inspiration; maybe they started their own small business, trekked the Inca trail, or transformed themselves from a couch potato into a marathon runner - in one way or another, no matter how big or small, these people took a risk and accomplished a goal.  These are the types of people who you want to spend time with - the kinds of people who believe that "where there is a will, there is a way".  There plenty of people in this world who have nothing but positive energy for those around them; they invigorate you, excite you...they inspire dreams and awaken possibilities within. These are the kinds of people who, when you tell them your dreams, they listen excitedly and nod YES.

Of course, you will inevitably meet people that will steal your joy and zap your energy.  They will try to make you insecure, make you doubt your plans and question your motivations.  Some are very obvious, while others are wolves in sheep's clothing.  Beware of these people.  They are fake, disingenuous, insincere and despite what they might think, they are pretty easy to spot.  When you spend time with these folks they don't lift your spirit, they make you feel badly about yourself and they leave you a little heavier than before.  They're passive aggressive and often manipulative.  They're usually some combination of bitter, jealous, angry and/or scared.  I have a few acquaintances of this sort in my life (we all do), and several more read this blog and some make nasty comments from time to time.  I limit the time and energy I spend on/with these folks.  I simply hit "delete" and move on.

There's this popular belief called the "Average of Five" which states that you are the average of your five closest friends.  It's an interesting concept that says the five people closest to you have a tremendous impact on you mentally, spiritually, physically and emotionally.  Of course it goes without saying that we all have our bad days.  No one is perfect and can burp sunshine and fart rainbows all the time, but I'm speaking generally here.... Who are your closest five? Are they making your life better or dragging you down? Are they positive Polly's or negative Nancy's?  An even better question is who are YOU?  Do you enrich the lives of others? Are your motivations positive?  Do you allow the people around you to dream?

A Manifesto to Live By...

I posted this to our Facebook Page a while ago and it got a ton of great feedback, so I thought I'd share it here too because I know not all of you are on Facebook.  This is a manifesto created by the company Holstee which is a project that was started back in 2009 by two brothers and a friend.  Their goal is to "design with a conscience, and offer a place for mindful individuals to find meaningful products".  Anyway, I love this company and their manifesto and think that these words pave a path to a full and happy life.  If you are interested in buying a poster of this, you can find it here - thanks to fellow blogger Verena for finding it's origin!

If you were to create one, how would your manifesto read?

Happy Are Those Who Dream Dreams...

"Do you have any idea how smart you are?" started my dad, "you guys are doing it right.  And thoughtfully.  You are following your dreams.  There is so much power in that.  It's so easy for you to listen to others who say you should be doing something else."  He's proud of us.  He loves what we are doing.  In a way it's his dream too...

His words made me think though; sure we have had plenty of people tell us we're "crazy", we've even had a few friends say "rather you than me", but no one has told us we should be doing something else.   Not to our faces at least.  I guess it's implied in the world around us; people aren't "supposed" to do things like skip the career track and take off for a life at sea on a boat.  People aren't "supposed" to find a way to live outside the status quo and avoid working for 'the man'.  We were supposed to settle down after college, get jobs, grow in those jobs, buy a house, have some kids, continue working and growing, maybe buy a new car every five years and take a much needed vacation once or twice a year.  That's what we "should" be doing according to the general consensus I guess.  It's funny though, not a single person has said this to us.  In fact, most people think it's pretty darn amazing what we are doing and while they might not want this life for themselves, they're incredibly supportive of us.  Why?  Because at the end of the day, I think people like to see people following their dreams.

I know not everyone's families are as supportive of skirting the "real world" as Scott's and mine, but there is still a lot of positive energy out there for people who want to follow their dreams.  Like a current in an ocean, there's a ribbon of strength flowing through the Universe for dreamers who are lucky enough to tap into it.  You might have to swim a little upstream to find it, and it might not always be easy - but the support is out there if you actively look for it.  At the end of the day, you cannot sit and wait for your dreams to come to you, you must work hard to bring them to the surface for air.  They are fragile, they are vulnerable and they can be fleeting.

I don't know if Scott and I are "smart", we're not doing this for any other reason than it's been our lifelong dream and we think this is the very best way to live our life.  This is the path we have chosen; it feels right and we're going to continue on it until it doesn't feel right any more.  Sure, we're following our dream, but in the process our dream has become our life.  Pretty cool how that works.

They say that good things come to those who wait, but maybe it should read: good things come to those who follow their dreams?  While there is something to be said for patience, waiting for something to come to you gives you an excuse to sit and do nothing when there are SO many great things to be done.  I say don't wait, I say go for it!  You're dream might just become your life too.

A Good Question...

Hunter S. Thompson is one of my favorite authors.  He's got lots of great quotes and books out there.  His most famous book, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was turned into a rather lackluster film, as was another great novel of his The Rum Diary.  However, my personal favorite is Fear and Loathing in America (Gonzo Letters) which is a massive volume of personel letters written by Hunter himself (he, knowing his genius, carbon copied everything he ever wrote), from reeming out L.L Bean for false advertising to seething letters to politicians... from sarcastic ramblings to his publishers to rum-fueled diatribes to his 'lawyer' - these letters do not disappoint.  He is caustic, wickedly funny, politically fueled and perfectly irreverent.  I should warn you, his books are rife with foul language and some recreational drug use.  But we're all sailors, right?

Anyway, this is all besides the point.  The point of this post really is to ask the question:  Is your life a living adventure, or are you tucked securely into shore?

If you want more great quotes on pretty pictures, be sure to stop by our Tubmlr Page which I have had for some time, but am breathing new life into daily.  A new creative outlet for me...

Happy weekend everyone!

Love,
Brittany, Scott & Isla

The Big Chill: A Fundamental Difference Between Land and Sea

I often joke I have a master's degree in "chilling".  No television, no music, no distractions.  Just a good book and the birds chirping in the background is all I need to be content.  I can do nothing and I don't feel the slightest twinge of guilt about it.  I wasn't always like this, but after spending a couple years on a boat where you spend a fair amount of time alone with your thoughts in quiet peacefulness, I have, quite literally, mastered the art of chilling out.

I think this skill is one of many positive side effects of a life on the water where a day can pass without doing much of anything.  A while back I wrote how land life is inherently hectic.  I didn't think much about it since then until I looked around during this visit and noticed how so many people in my life simply cannot take a conscious time-out.  For some it's a choice and for others it's circumstance - but the end result is the same.  People too rushed and too busy to make time for themselves.  Most folks have to juggle work, social and familial commitments which create the "perfect storm" for hectic schedules and compelling distractions.  We run out of time. What's worse, we run out of quality time.   You don't have to abandon the rat race and live on a sailboat to get it.  Quality time can be stolen away in chunks.  It can be as simple as a walk around the block, the creation of a piece of art, a hand written letter or an uninterrupted heart-to-heart...It can be a yoga class, a warm bath, a personal meditation, or simple commitment to turn off the boob tube for an hour every night.  There ARE ways in which even the busiest of us can take pause and hit the refresh button.  Like everything else, it's about priorities.

In a world where toddlers have iPads, where teenagers spend more time texting than actually talking and where reality television has become the gold standard of entertainment - it might be wise to take stock of where you are at.  Live differently.  Make time.  Go outside.  Slow down and - while you're at it -  take a big, fat chill-pill.  You won't regret it.  Trust me, I have my masters.

Love,
Brittany, Scott & Isla

Homecoming and the Now

My handsome hubby comes home today. Can you believe it has been four weeks since Scott left?  I can't.  When we first came home to have Isla, this moment seemed an eternity away, a fuzzy spec on the horizon.  Scott returning from Grenada was a milestone for us because we knew that when he finished his work rotation, our time here on land would be coming to an end.  We are now on the home stretch of this visit, the slippery downward slope that occurs at then end of any significant hiatus where time seemingly goes into overdrive by passing even more quickly as the days become numbered.

The other day I took a fantastic yoga class where the teacher talked about the concept of time and how we are always moving from point A to point B, carving up our lives in digestible chunks.  Everything we do has a beginning and an end, it's how we humans create order in our lives. "But..." she continued, "it is just as important to pay close attention to the middle, the transitions - and be mindful that incredible things can happen in the 'in between' as well".  I am not talking about anything new here, being present in the "now" is not a new concept.  It is one, however, that becomes harder to master as the world around us becomes full of distraction. "We're living in a world that contributes in a major way to mental fragmentation, disintegration, distraction, decoherence," says Buddhist scholar B. Alan Wallace, and he's right.  It is hard to be present when we have a thousand and one responsibilities, when we have schedules to keep, when we have places to go and people to see.

This time home, this "transition", has been incredible for us.  "Don't you miss the boat?" people ask.  I always answer that, yes, of course we miss our boat and our life afloat - but this "visit" (even if it was 5 months!) was always a brief rest-stop in between adventures, it always had an expiration date.  That simple fact of impermanency made living on land a pure joy, a time to cherish, a time to take advantage of and appreciate because it was never going to last indefinitely.  I think that if we always look at our lives as constantly changing, if we are mindful that no condition is permanent - perhaps we would all live a little more 'in the present'.  If you knew exactly how many days you had left to live, would you live them differently?  How?  Would you love a little more? Would you exercise more patience and practice more compassion? Would you laugh a little harder and care a little less what others thought?  I think it's an interesting question.

The First thing to understand about the universe is that no condition is “good” or “bad.” It just is. So stop making value judgments. The second thing to know is that all conditions are temporary. Nothing stays the same, nothing remains static. Which way a thing changes depends on you.

Neale Donald Walsch

Scott comes home today which means we are mere weeks away from moving aboard our new boat and starting a new chapter in our lives.   Despite what it might seem to all of you out there in cyberspace, however, our journey never stopped.  We just changed tacks for a little while.

Love,

Brittany, Scott & Isla

Blue Water, Green Skipper

I love a good book.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have been contacted by a few publishers of nautical books and have been granted complimentary copies of these books to read.  I just finished, Blue Water, Green Skipper by New York Times bestselling author Stuart Woods and now I kind of want to race solo across the Atlantic.  Yeah.  It reminds me of the way I felt after I watched a particularly compelling documentary about people who climb Everest.  Buoyed by emotion, I thought to myself as the credits rolled, "I want to do that!!" and for a hot minute there was honestly contemplating how to go about doing so. Obviously my overzealous enthusiasm faded...  I will not, most likely, climb Everest and I probably will not sail solo in a race across the pond (but you never know?)... My point is, I was inspired.

Having never before owned anything so much as a row boat, Woods decided to pursue the peace of the open sea as he set out to single-handedly navigate the Atlantic during the 1976 Single-Handed Transatlantic Race...

The book covers Stuart's two year evolution from total newbie to full-blown solo sailor.  Rather than a dry, run of the mill "sailing memoir", this story has a definitive arc and the pages are colored with Stuart's natural charm and sharp wit.  His metamorphosis is (obviously) not without foibles and from embarrassing mishaps while learning to sail a dinghy (the only crew that would have him was a twelve year old) to a misbehaving wind vane (appropriately named "Fred", like his dog), the self-deprecating, dry humor peppered between the pages will make you chuckle.  Humor aside, what Wood's sets out to do is no small feet and his book is the perfect illustration of where a crazy idea, unwavering determination and a little luck can take you.  This story has all the guts of a true adventure tale (as it should, Wood's is a prolific author and has written fifty novels!) from controversy to tragedy, from inspiration to triumph, you best beware: Wood's memoir might just make you want to sail solo across the Atlantic...

And once again, I believe a good book is better if shared!  If you would like a chance to win this book, do the following: [Note: This contest is over, sorry!]

1. Comment on this post with something you have done that might seem crazy to the outside world (you will notice I have removed captcha and made it easy for you!)
2. Share our blog with like-minded family and friends; you can either share us in your own blog in the form of a post or send a link to our blog in an email (make sure you copy us on the email so we know you did it and can enter you!) AND/OR Share our Facebook Page by clicking "SHARE" on the link to this post and commenting below it. (Don't forget to comment or else I might not see that you shared us!)

BONUS:  If you do all three (i.e. share by email, blog post and share our FB page, you will be entered three times and therefore increase your odds of winning!)

Once you do one or both of those things, you will be entered to win.  I will select TWO winners on Friday morning and ship the books shortly after. 

Happy reading!

Love,
Brittany, Scott & Isla

Are You a Traveling Sailor, or a Sailor Who Travels?

When we went to Ft. Lauderdale a couple months ago, we had the pleasure of meeting and enjoying a meal with some blog followers, fellow sailors who are off on their own journey in a couple months. As it does when sailors get together, talk turned to cruising and sailing and what makes us tick about floating around on boats.  "Would you consider yourself a sailor who travels, or a traveling sailor...?" they asked, "...because there's a difference" they added.

I thought this was a very interesting question that was further punctuated by a recent interview we did (coming soon) when the interviewer asked "What made you decide that this was the lifestyle you were going to pursue?" The conversation with our friends in Ft. Lauderdale resurfaced in my memory...

For me, it has always been about the travel.  I have been plagued by wanderlust all my life and some way, some how I was going to make travel a huge part of it.  I backpacked across Europe at 18, moved to Tanzania at 24, backpacked solo through South East Asia at 27 and did another solo trip to South America at 29.  In between those larger trips are countless smaller trips to equally compelling destinations around the globe.  While these quenched my thirst for expedition for a spell, I found my appetite for adventure insatiable.  Staying in one place with a two week vacation every year just to keep me from going insane wasn't going to cut it.  My love of travel combined with my passion for sailing and the ocean made it a no-brainer.   I'd live on a boat.  I'd sail around the world and make travel my life.  The logistics of making this happen were inconsequential.  I would find a way.  Now that we're actually living this life, I am still driven by the travel component.  For me, making landfall is the rush.  I get all giddy inside like a child on Christmas morning but instead of presents,  meeting the locals, shopping their markets, walking their streets and eating their food are my surprises.  While I thoroughly enjoy the sailing, it's the travel that drives me.  I am a traveler who sails.

For Scott, it's about the sailing.  Being one with the boat.  He fell in love with sailing at a young age and for him, it wasn't where he was going but the act of sailing that was the escape.  Tweaking the sails, feeling the rush of the water over the rudder, registering the wind on his face and making his little boat go.  He can sit on deck patiently and quietly for hours and hours on end, watching the water, checking the sails, adjusting the jib cars, plotting our course.  His innate sense of calm and inquisitive nature lend themselves well to a life at sea.  He doesn't need books or music to pass the time.  He can sit contentedly in the cockpit - making little adjustments as he sees them, considering ways to make our boat go a tenth of a knot faster.  He doesn't get frustrated when the wind dies.  A flapping sail is simply an invitation to do something better.  The sea fuels his ideas and his dreams.  The destination, for Scott, is simply an added bonus.  Sure he loves to see new places and Scott is no stranger to travel himself having lived more or less like a nomad since college. The real adventure for him, however, begins not when we get to shore, but when we head back out to sea.  Scott is a sailor who travels.

Whatever the motivation - sailing, traveling, or some combination of the two - our end goal is the same:  To take our lives into our own hands.  To write our story the way we want it written and not the way someone tells us to write it.  To take time to enjoy every minute of every day.  To spend as much time as we can in nature - breathing fresh air and feeling the daytime sunshine on our skin.  To become self-sufficient and self-reliant. To learn not to sweat the small stuff and revel in life's simple pleasures.  To be healthy and fit.  To meet, be inspired and learn from others.  To dream freely and openly and live the truth that less really is more.  To remain far outside the "status quo" and not to become another cog in the wheel.  To teach our children that there is another way.  To live a life less ordinary.  To live a life extraordinary.

So we live on a boat.  We sail around.  Who knows where the heck we're going but gosh-darnit, we're doing it.

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Spring has Sprung!

Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as the sunny spring day. 

~ W. Earl Hall

It's official.  Spring has sprung up here!  "Unseasonably mild" has been the name of the game this entire winter and Scott and I have experienced but one little snow storm since we've been home in February. It has been...lovely.  The sun has been shining, temperatures have been in the 60's and I for one am grateful.  

I don't think there is a more invigorating time than spring.  People everywhere seem to let out a collective sigh of relief as they fling open their windows, open their front doors and stretch out their weary limbs in the spring day sun.  Smiles are bigger, eyes are brighter, friendly greetings are offered just a little more readily... Every day brings a new sprout, a new flower, a visual change in the earth...new life.  It's a time of awakening, of renewal, of hope and of growth.  This particular spring is extra special to us because it is bringing with it the best gift of all; our baby.  Our little springtime sailor girl is officially less than 10 days away from her due date.  In the meantime, it's business as usual as we wait patiently (and excitedly!) for when she's good and ready to join us on the outside.

Love,

Brittany & Scott

Wisdom of Dr. Seuss

"You have brains in your head and feet in your shoes

You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

You're on your own and you know what you know.

And you are the one who'll decide where to go." 

~Dr. Seuss

Don't overcomplicate it.  It really can be that simple.

Love,

Brittany & Scott

Food for Thought...

To desire and strive to be of some service to the world, to aim at doing something which shall really increase the happiness and welfare and virtue of mankind - this is a choice which is possible for all of us; and surely it is a good haven to sail for. 

-Henry Van Dyke

A New Year, Every Day

Time has no divisions to mark its 

passage, there is never a thunder-storm 

or blare of trumpets to announce the 

beginning of a new month or year. Even 

when a new century begins it is only we 

mortals who ring bells and fire off 

pistols.

 ~Thomas Mann

I  cannot believe it is New Years Eve, I only just got used to writing 2011 and lo and behold, 2012 is coming full speed ahead.  Crazy.

I'm not a big "New Years" person.  To me, life is about forging ahead towards goals, dreams, and aspirations every day of every year.  A new year is just that - a new year (and a time for me to spend three to six months trying to remember exactly what year it is).  It doesn't feel any different to me, I don't feel the need to mark it with a special occasion and I'm probably more inclined to spend New Years Eve with a few close friends or family than at a club or a bar (yes, even back in my "party" days).  I've never been huge into "resolutions", I don't think much of "putting another year behind" me, I've never said anything like "this year is going to be different" or "this next year is going to be my year" and the process of my own evolution is something I strive for throughout the year.  If I feel I need to practice my patience - I don't need a resolution to do it.  If I feel I need to work on being more tolerant - I'll start right then and there.  It's a never-ending, constant process for me.  As the writer Anais Nin once said, "I made no resolutions for the New Year.  The habit of making plans, of criticizing, sanctioning, and molding my life, is too much of a daily event for me." I'm with her.

I know many think very differently than I do, and that is fine.  I think it's great that so many people use the New Year as a benchmark for where they are in life and where they want to be in the next year.  I fully support my friends and family who blaze into a New Year full of resolutions and intentions.  I have had my fair share of fun at black tie New Years balls and, truth be told, I do like my bubbly.  I'm just saying that I don't use New Years specifically as a time to reflect and make changes or goals.  To me, every day is the beginning of a new year.  Every day is a chance to wake up and make your life amazing or work toward a particular goal.  Every day is a day to be grateful for.

That said, a new year is upon us and of course I am aware that this year in particular will yield many, many wonderful changes; not the least of which will be a tiny, magical little person who was created by none other than us.  We cannot wait and think that our lives are not only going to change completely for the better, but that the greatest adventure of our life is about to begin.  We have a lot to be thankful for, and believe me - we thank the Universe every day.

I got an email today from "Uncle Al" and it brought a big smile to my face and made me think.  I'm sure he won't mind that I quote him directly:

Without trying to get all gooey, as someone who is nearing the twilight of their life, your thoughts, quotes, and observations are instructive and/or create a longing for what could have been.

To us oldsters, they tell us to stop living according to our ordinary usual day worries, but to recognize the inevitable, and thus, to "live like you were dying" to quote Tim McGraw. To the young people out there, to not compromise too soon, but to grab your dreams and go with it, whether it be your life long passion, whether that is financially lucrative or not, and to go forth and explore the world in any number of ways.

The sentiment that Al echoed made me happy, and drove home the point I'm trying to make.  Though I don't have any "resolutions" set - I do hope with all my heart my life continues on the trajectory I have set it.  I hope that I continue to live like I was dying, this year and every year after.  And I hope the same for you, too.

Happy New Year.