Carolyn

About Carolyn

http://Waywardlearning.com

Posts by Carolyn C:

From Stormy Waters To Tranquil Shores: Discovering Hidden Anchorages

From Stormy Waters To Tranquil Shores: Discovering Hidden Anchorages

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Hey there, adventurers! We’re back with another fun tale from the sea. Our week-long stay on Cumberland Island is over, but fret not,  we’ve got an incredible three-day journey to share with you. Join us as we sail northward, encountering stormy seas, breathtaking sights, and hidden anchorages along the way. Get ready for an adventure!

Jason enjoying the open ocean
Jason enjoying the open ocean

Racing the Storm, Witnessing the MV Golden Ray

As we bid farewell to Cumberland Island’s peaceful shores, we set sail towards St. Simon’s Sound. The ocean welcomes us with a soothing breeze, creating the perfect backdrop for our voyage.

Osiris loves watching the waves
Osiris loves watching the waves

Little do we know that Mother Nature has a surprise in store for us. Dark clouds loom on the horizon, and a storm begins to brew. With hearts racing, we maneuver our way to an anchorage, hoping to find shelter before the tempest arrives. 

Storm clouds gather on the horizon
Storm clouds gather on the horizon

Before we reach our safe haven on Jekyll Island, we spot a magnificent sight—an enormous wreck known as the MV Golden Ray. Due to a miscalculation in it’s ballast they started taking on water while heading out to sea. They chose to leave the channel and ground the boat in the shallows to avoid blocking the navigation channel. It’s a humbling reminder of the power of the sea.

The wreck of the MV Golden Ray
The wreck of the MV Golden Ray

A Serene Passage and the Sand Mountain Hidden Anchorage

Our northward journey continues, now traveling inland along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). Unlike the storm yesterday, today is all about relaxation. We leisurely motor through the calm waters, taking in the scenery that unfolds before us. 

Heading north up the ICW
Heading north up the ICW

The engine’s rhythmic hum sets the pace as we glide along. And then, like a hidden oasis, we stumble upon a remote anchorage we fondly call Sand Mountain. It’s unlike anything we’ve seen in Georgia—an island of sand nestled amidst the vast salt marshes. 

Sunset in the Sand Mountain hidden anchorage
Sunset in the Sand Mountain hidden anchorage

Embracing Morning Delights, Anchoring Under a Starlit Sky

The sun rises on the third and final day of our journey. We venture ashore on Sand Mountain, greeted by the warm morning light and the soft sandy shores. It’s a perfect playground for us to have some fun and explore. 

Osiris checking out Sand Mountain as we approach
Osiris checking out Sand Mountain as we approach

With sand between our toes, we bid farewell to this enchanting island and set our sights on new horizons. We motor up the ICW again. As the day turns to night, we navigate towards St. Catherine’s Island.

The boat heeling as we sail
The boat heeling as we sail

Anchoring in the darkness poses a challenge we’ve never faced before. We navigate past bustling fishing boats to find a safe haven deep behind the island. Dolphins serenade us throughout the night, their playful calls whispering to us from the dark.

Deirdre enjoys driving the boat
Deirdre enjoys driving the boat

Our three-day escapade from Cumberland Island to St. Catherine’s Island is  a whirlwind of adventure, serenity, and unforgettable encounters. From racing against the storm to witnessing the MV Golden Ray and finding hidden anchorages, each moment reminded us of the untamed forces of nature and the sheer beauty that surrounds us.

Osiris enjoying the sunset by St. Catherine's Island
Osiris enjoying the sunset by St. Catherine’s Island

Don’t forget to check out our YouTube page, where we’ve captured some moments of this incredible journey. And if you want to stay up to date with our daily adventures and exclusive content, make sure to connect with us on Instagram and Facebook and check out older posts here. So, my friends, let the currents carry you towards new horizons, and may every discovery leave a lasting imprint on your soul.

hidden anchorages and beautiful sunsets
hidden anchorages and beautiful sunsets

Uncovering The Secrets Of Cumberland Island: Georgia’s Hidden Treasure

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A Remote Wilderness

Cumberland Island is a hidden gem off the coast of Georgia. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we sail to this remote wilderness. The island can only be reached by boat, and with the ferries temporarily suspended, we are in for a unique experience. We find ourselves entirely alone, except for the incredible wildlife that greets us at every turn.

A rainbow off the bow, over Cumberland Island
A rainbow off the bow, over Cumberland Island

On our very first night, we find the perfect spot to anchor our boat to the southwest of the island. We hop onto our dinghy and make our way to a sandy beach. The untouched beauty of the beach is awe-inspiring, with towering erosion banks and enchanting driftwood trees. Our kids have a blast on this natural playground.

Exploring the beach after the rain.
Exploring the beach after the rain.

We later learn that the mud flats approaching that beach are an important part of the habitat and best left undisturbed, so we don’t land there again. Instead, we use a dock farther to the south for the rest of our explorations.

Ferry dock at the south end of the island.
Ferry dock at the south end of the island.
Wildlife Encounters

During our week on the island, we see many creatures including: sea stars, deer, armadillo, manatees, countless birds, and the island’s famous wild horses. The kids even try to adopt some hermit crabs from the beach!

Deirdre watching the wild horses.
Deirdre watching the wild horses.

The island is home to around 150 horses, making it one of the few places in the United States where wild horses can still be found. They are believed to have descended from horses brought by Spanish explorers in the 16th century. The horses have adapted to the island’s unique environment and climate over time, becoming feral and thriving in the wild. 

Wild horses wander the island.
Wild horses wander the island.
Exploring the Island’s History

We stroll among the crumbling ruins of the island’s former mansions.. Several wealthy families built grand mansions on the island in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The isolation and harsh environment eventually made it difficult to maintain these large estates, resulting in their abandonment.

A bird flies over some ruins.
A bird flies over some ruins.

Today, no one lives on the island. The National Park Service manages Cumberland Island, which is now a protected national seashore.

Walking to the beach
Walking to the beach
The Unique Shapes of Salt-Stunted Oaks

We love the salt-stunted oaks that decorate the island with their unique shapes. The salt makes it difficult for the trees to absorb water, causing them to grow more slowly and with a distorted shape. The major branches of the trees tend to grow along the ground, creating a characteristic “candelabra” shape that is both beautiful and eerie.

Salt-stunted oaks decorate the island
Salt-stunted oaks decorate the island
A Beachside Adventure

One of the highlights of our trip is walking across the island to visit a beach on the Atlantic coast. We traverse past the important mud flats, salt-stunted oak forests, and towering palm trees before reaching the sand dunes and the Atlantic coast. Each of these habitats is vital to the island’s ecosystem. It’s a rare opportunity to be able to experience such a variety of habitats in one walk.

Osiris on the beach
Osiris on the beach

Our time on Cumberland Island is incredibly grounding. The peacefulness of this place has a way of soothing our souls. And oh, the sunsets! They are absolutely breathtaking, painting the sky with vibrant hues of orange and pink. The isolation we experience here is a welcome break from the stress of the time. Cumberland Island truly is a hidden treasure, and we feel incredibly lucky to discover its magical allure.”

Rana in the anchorage.
Rana in the anchorage.

We’ve created a video capturing some of the calm beauty of this trip, which you can watch on our YouTube channel. Join us in uncovering the secrets of Cumberland Island and experiencing the beauty and tranquility of this hidden gem.

Jason on the beach
Jason on the beach

You can also read about how we got here in our older blog posts and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram for more updates and adventures. 

Walking under the oaks.
Walking under the oaks.

We’ll be back with more exciting adventures soon! Until then, keep embracing the salty spirit, my friends.

Deirdre in the dinghy in the fog.
Deirdre in the dinghy in the fog.

Sailing Journey From Jacksonville To Cumberland Island

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Ahoy, friends! Gather around and let us tell you about our sailing journey from Jacksonville to Cumberland Island, from a while back. We bid farewell to Sisters Creek Free Dock and set sail into the vast, open ocean on a calm overcast morning in June.

sailing journey, boat kid, ocean,
Deirdre drives us out into the ocean.

Deirdre takes the helm as we head out of the inlet, but quickly having had enough of the sea spray and salty air, she promptly buries her face in a book.

boating, wayward learning, boat kid
Her Hermione is showing

Meanwhile, Osiris dutifully keeps watch on the waves, ever vigilant for any signs of sea creatures. Jason and I work together to hoist the sails and catch the wind, feeling the exhilaration build with each passing moment.

keeping watch, boat kid
His favorite part of boating

We continue on, enjoying another day of sailing, taking in the sights and sounds of the ocean. Even Puppins, our furry first mate, takes a nap while we sail – is there anything more adorable than a dog snoozing on a boat?

napping pup, sleeping dogs, sailing journey
Princess Puppins takes a nap

As we sail into St. Mary’s Inlet, we can’t resist a stop at Fernandina. Even from the boat, we are greeted by some impressive mega yachts and a cruise ship on the horizon. We scan the area and find a good spot where we can anchor when we return at the end of the week for provisioning.

cruise ship, sailing journey, Fernandina
This one is a baby cruise ship!

As we continue north towards our intended destination, we suddenly hear a splash! Our foghorn has fallen off the boat! It had been a foggy morning when we left, and we needed it for safety reasons. Thankfully, we quickly spin the boat around and use our trusty boathook to retrieve it from the water.

sails open, sailing journey, ocean
The sails billowing, and the open ocean

Soon enough, we anchor at Cumberland Island for a week of adventure. But we’ll save those stories for another post – trust us, it involves mud, manatees, and wild horses!

bow, sailing journey, ocean, boatlife
Jason on the bow

Thanks for joining us on this trip down memory lane, friends. We hope you enjoyed reading about our adventure on the open ocean, and we can’t wait to share more stories with you soon. If you want to read more about our sailing trips, be sure to check out our previous posts here. And don’t forget to connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube to stay up to date on our latest adventures. Fair winds and following seas!

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Jason and I at the helm
Setting Sail on a New Adventure: Dolphins and Sunsets

Setting Sail on a New Adventure: Dolphins and Sunsets

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Setting off on a new adventure

We embark on a new adventure from St. Augustine on a cloudy June morning, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation. The whole family is on deck as we set off through the Bridge of Lions. After months in lockdown we are headed north for hurricane season and the start of a new adventure. 

Our journey begins! Passing through the iconic Bridge of Lions in St. Augustine, Florida as we set sail for new horizons.
Our journey begins! Passing through the iconic Bridge of Lions in St. Augustine, Florida as we set sail for new horizons.
A refreshing change in weather and scenery

The day starts with a light drizzle, which keeps the heat down and makes for a refreshing change from the Florida sun. As we navigate out of the Ponce De Leon Inlet the water is a bit choppy, but soon calms down once we are in the open ocean.

Jason keeping a sharp lookout on the horizon with his trusty binoculars
Jason keeping a sharp lookout on the horizon with his trusty binoculars
Embracing the freedom of the ocean

We take advantage of the peaceful conditions and open up the sails. We relish the sound of the wind in the rigging and the feeling of being miles away from anyone else. The sense of freedom is exhilarating as we cut through the waves, making our way north.

The world is a beautiful place, especially from the bow of a boat.
The world is a beautiful place, especially from the bow of a boat.
An unforgettable encounter with playful dolphins

Later, as we enter the Jacksonville Inlet, we are struck by the vastness of the river, which seems to stretch out endlessly before us. A pod of playful dolphins joins us and seems to enjoy the company of our boat. Watching these beautiful creatures frolicking in the water is a magical moment for all of us. 

Making friends with the locals 🐬👋
Making friends with the locals 🐬👋
Just around the river bend

We make our way upriver to the Sister’s Creek free dock, where we decide to stop for the night. It is a peaceful journey, with the kids enjoying the ride and soaking up the views of the water.

Osiris watching the water
Osiris watching the water
Finding peace and tranquility at Sister’s Creek

The kids are thrilled to find a nearby park where they can play and burn off some energy. Meanwhile, we take a moment to relax and soak up the peaceful surroundings. Afterwards, we cook up a quick dinner on board and settle down to watch a truly breathtaking sunset.

Docked and ready for the next adventure - Rana and crew at Sister's Creek free dock
Docked and ready for the next adventure – Rana and crew at Sister’s Creek free dock
A breathtaking sunset to end the day.

We drift off to sleep feeling content and grateful for the experiences we have shared. We look forward to the journey ahead, little knowing of the adventures yet to come.

Sunset viewed from the cockpit
Sunset viewed from the cockpit

We invite you to continue following along as we navigate our way north for hurricane season. There are plenty more adventures and challenges along the way, and we can’t wait to share them with you. So stay tuned, and let’s keep sailing together! Check out our YouTube page with some clips from this trip. Or check out some of our older blog posts here.

Reigniting the Spark: Our Renewed Commitment to Water Adventures

Reigniting the Spark: Our Renewed Commitment to Water Adventures

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Hello friends, we’re back to our water adventures! After a hiatus from blogging, we’re thrilled to announce our return. Over the past months, we’ve embarked on unexpected journeys and we’re now ready to get back to what we love: sharing our exciting and unique water adventures with you. We can’t wait to reconnect with our readers and update you on what we’ve been up to. Stay tuned for more updates and new content!

Chasing the horizon, sailing towards new adventures.
Chasing the horizon, sailing towards new adventures.

We have a lot of catching up to do, and we’ll be sharing our past experiences as well as new ones with you. From our daily routines on the boat to our favorite destinations, we’ll be posting every week. Whether you’ve been following us for a while or are new to our blog, we’re excited to have you join us for the journey.

Nothing but calm waters and endless horizons ahead.
Nothing but calm waters and endless horizons ahead.

We are eager to get back to sharing our experiences with you and we hope that you will continue to follow along with us. Thank you for being a part of our journey and we can’t wait to reconnect with you through our stories.

Anchored in paradise, surrounded by the beauty of the sea and the warmth of the sunset.
Anchored in paradise, surrounded by the beauty of the sea and the warmth of the sunset.

We will be aiming to post every Wednesday. Can’t wait? Check out our other blog posts here while we work on more for you! Or check our our social media pages on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Fair winds and following seas,

Carolyn, Jason, Deirdre & Osiris

Making memories and living our best life on the water with our crew.
Making memories and living our best life on the water with our crew.
Our New Home has PIRATES and Chocolate!

Our New Home has PIRATES and Chocolate!

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Our New Home

St. Augustine is a beautiful city with a hopping local scene and a lot of history. There are even pirates on our dock! We read about the history of St. Augustine, then we went out to explore our new home! There is a lot of beautiful of architecture, a variety of museums and even chocolate! To see how we got here check out our last post!
 
neighbors, pirates, pirate ship
I think our neighbors might be pirates!

St. Augustine is Old!

It was founded in 1565 by Pedro Menéndez de Aviles and is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States. St. Augustine has been under Spanish, English and American control since it’s founding. We spent a great deal of time walking around town just reading about the history of the local buildings. 

statue, Florida, Ponce de Leon
Statue of Juan Ponce de Leon the Spanish discoverer of Florida.

Downtown

Downtown is a very quaint area rich with history and also modern charm. We enjoyed browsing the local art galleries and finding some beautiful churches and buildings many of which were funded by Henry Flagler.

Flagler, Church,
Flagler Memorial Presbyterian Church built 1889

Henry Flagler’s Influence

St. Augustine in its modern form primarily exists because of Henry Flagler. Most of the beautiful churches and hotels in town were funded by him. He even had railways built to allow people to travel down to Florida and all the way to the Keys. He viewed Florida as an ideal destination so he made it one!

Flagler, Lightner Museum, Alcazar Hotel
The Lightner Museum formerly Flagler’s Alcazar Hotel

Impenetrable Fort 

The kids have become more interested in Spanish as we explore the strong Spanish influence here in town. They really enjoy visiting the Castillo De San Marcos, a fort built to protect the Spanish trade route to South America. The fort was made out of a locally occurring shell limestone called coquina. Coquina turned out to be impenetrable to cannon balls and thereby protected the fort from pirates and invaders!

Castillo de San Marcos, Pirates, Impenetrable, Coquina
Castillo de San Marcos

There be PIRATES in these here parts!

With all of that Spanish gold traveling past, the area was well known to Pirates! Just across from us on the dock are the Black Raven and the Queen Anne’s Revenge pirate ships. It has been fun to get to know the pirates and we have learned so much about pirates here they may need there own post!

pirate, Black Raven, Pirate ship
The Black Raven pirate ship

Fun for Kids too!

With all of the historical charm and modern boutique vibe, St. Augustine was surprisingly interesting to both kids. We arrived in town just in time for O’s 4th birthday and we had a great time celebrating at Adventure Landing a local fun park. 

go carts, racing
Osiris and Deirdre racing go carts

Tourist for the Day

We decided to play tourist for the day and took a Red Train tour around town. The tour was full of interesting facts and let us hop on an off visiting different local sites. This is a fun way to see around town especially if you are visiting by boat and don’t have a vehicle. We particularly liked the Whetstone Chocolate factory tour and tasting!

Red Train Tour, tourism, St. Augustine
Osiris was very excited for the Red Train Tour!

Sharks!

The kids found sharks teeth on a local beach and learned some fascinating things about them. For instance you are much more likely to find black sharks teeth than white. The black teeth are fossilized and there are many more of them in the sea than freshly lost white teeth.

shark, teeth, shark teeth, sailboat, origami,
Shark teeth from the beach

With so much to see and do, St. Augustine is worth a longer visit. We look forward to spending much more time here!

Boatschool with a 4th grader and a preschooler

Boatschool with a 4th grader and a preschooler

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This year we are homeschooling or boatschooling Deirdre who is in 4th grade and Osiris who is preschool age. We have been homeschooling since Deirdre was preschool age and have tried various different styles over the years but have primarily been relaxed homeschoolers or unschoolers.
We provide an environment rich in books, games and toys that inspire our kids imagination. They learn from everyday experiences and interactions. We spend a lot of time reading together and visiting libraries. We haven’t had formal lessons though we do sit down together to explore topics that some or all of us find interesting.
This style has worked really well for our kids at their young ages. With no regular or formal lessons Deirdre has learned most if not all of the standards through 3rd grade. She learned to read and reads voraciously. She has learned basic math up to multiplication. She makes up stories, poems, and songs. She enjoys hearing stories from history. She creates art on an almost daily basis and enjoys programming with Scratch and Scratch Jr.
We will continue to learn in this very relaxed style with Osiris for the next few years. We believe free play and self directed learning are the best means for brain growth and developing a love of learning, especially at early elementary ages. So what has changed with Deirdre?
Nothing. I find it very easy to organically interact and incorporate early elementary learning into everyday life. Over the past year or so I have struggled to interact with Deirdre as much as either of us would like (can you say toddler?) I have also struggled to incorporate higher levels of learning into everyday living.
At the end of last year we did an annual evaluation of 3rd grade, as required by local homeschool law. In preparing for the evaluation I could see that our learning typically bounces all over the place but it tends to revolve around certain regular subjects.
I identified 7 subjects; History & Cultures, Writing, Math, Science, Spanish, Art, and Coding. We will continue with these subjects and I think we will introduce Music this year.
To build on the themes we already like in a deeper way we are trying to add a bit more structure and intention to our learning, while still maintaining a playful learning environment.
For this year Deirdre and I sat down and discussed what her goals are related to each subject. She decided she would like to learn about; Europe, writing a fiction story, more math, chemistry experiments, art on her own, and she wants to do more programming with Daddy. Deirdre has no goals for Spanish or Music and so we will mostly explore them at Osiris’ level because she enjoys them.
Based on her goals I have set up a more structured linear way for us to work through the year. We already sit down and have some ‘school time’ after breakfast until about lunch time where we work together. We added this in third grade to try to add more structure to our days.
Building on that existing structure we have decided that we will do Math on Mondays. For Math we will be using Beast Academy Level 3 as our framework and adding games and math picture books that are relevant to each Chapter. When we get through level 3 we will work on Level 4. The Beast Academy guide books are one of the only curriculum’s we purchase. The presentation is fun and engaging and the math is presented in intuitive ways rather than by rote memorization. Even outside of “school” Deirdre and Osiris enjoy reading them for fun.
On Tuesdays we will work on story writing. Since I have learned a lot about story writing myself I have created a year long program for us to work through the stages of creating, writing, and revising a story. To supplement this framework we will use story dice and some pages from the Brain Quest 4th Grade workbook.
On Wednesday we will explore cultures and stories from Europe. We are starting with the United Kingdom because we have some friends who just moved to England. We will use picture books, the Atlas, and an Orboot globe to explore the countries. We read Story of the World and other chapter books from around the world at bedtime. We will watch the Spanish immersion show Salsa by Georgia Public Broadcasting. It is available for free online and provides an early introduction to Spanish with fairy tale characters. We will add Spanish books as they are relevant.
Thursdays are when we will explore Chemistry. This is the subject that has been most difficult for me to get my head around. I considered buying a subscription to Mel Chemistry because it is a monthly box with real Chemistry experiments already to use. It is some pretty serious science which is awesome but it is also expensive and we aren’t sure if Deirdre is ready for that level of learning yet. Right now she says she just likes mixing things to see what happens. So I have done a lot of research online and came across the website thehomeschoolscientist.com she has a page with links to Chemistry experiments at progressing levels of difficulty and so I am using that as our framework for the year. We are going to try to do one of those experiments most weeks (assuming I remember to get the supplies). We also have games like Chemistry Fluxx and Valence Plus to explore some more ideas.
Deirdre has one more goal for the year; that we should go to more fun places this year. We regularly visit the library and the park in the afternoons but this year we are going to add Field Trip Friday. In the morning on Friday we will play games. In the afternoon we will visit local museums, children’s museums, trampoline parks, and indoor playgrounds, or parks.
Hopefully this added structure and planning will help us add more depth to our learning. Our goal is always to make learning fun and meaningful.
These are our goals for the year and we have started to implement them as best we can. Homeschool is awesome because of it’s flexibility. So far this school year we have had: a hurricane, a business trip (we went with Jason) and have been sick for almost 2 weeks twice already…
Luckily even when school gets away from our plan for the year the kids always have a fun and educational environment to play in. They learn so much from self directed play and the planned structure for the year lets us know exactly where to pick up from when we get back to school!
What Kind of Life is This for Kids?

What Kind of Life is This for Kids?

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Boat work has felt all consuming lately. We have been working on the boat a lot. As I was looking at pictures for our last several blog posts it made me wonder, what kind of life is this for kids? Actually it is one that teaches competence and hard work… but that is another point. It is a different kind of life than we had in a house but it feels better.
The kids help with work on the boat sometimes but only because they want to help. We haven’t asked them to do any boat work, other than basic cleaning up after themselves, but we always try to make room for them to be involved when they want to be. They have seen how much we have been doing and sometimes it sparks their curiosity so they come over and want to help.
Though we have done a lot of it, boat work isn’t all we have been doing… In the same time period as all the work, the kids have learned a lot! Not just math and English but life skills.
Deirdre has learned how to swim, and swing across monkey bars. She has become more confident in who she is and what she can do. Osiris has learned how to swing. We have played in the ocean and cleaned up trash from the beaches. Osiris likes to save the world anytime she sees plastic on the ground or in the water now!
We’ve gone to parties. Met kittens. Made friends. Made friends with kittens 🙂 Both kids are a bit obsessed with cats. So we have been learning all about cats and kittens over the summer!
We have gone to children’s museums, parks and the zoo. We regularly visit libraries. The kids enjoy making friends with the librarians and participating in art programs and other activities like summer reading program. We have read LOTS of books! Though the kids do play on tablets and watch shows, we don’t make them readily available so when the kids are bored they either play or read books.
We have fed lettuce to the geese that live nearby and we have watched their goslings grow up. We have investigated ladybugs, snails, other water birds, frogs, lizards and so much more!
Virtually none of these learning moments came from a curriculum or even from stuff. Much of our learning grows organically from the things we do not the things we own. Don’t get me wrong the kids still have plenty of toys to play with but even the things we own are used differently on the boat.
We have had to narrow down the possessions in our lives by quite a lot to move onto the boat. The kids had to pick just their favorite toys to bring and they regularly go through what they have to decide what is worth taking up their limited space. This is teaching them to find what is most important to them and to weed out the clutter.
The kids have picked their favorite toys and now they often play with them for long periods of time. It helps that we mostly kept open ended toys like Lego, play food, dress up, and stuffed animals. These toys all allow the kids to imagine their own story. Imagination fuels play. Too many toys acts as a distraction and rather than engaging the imagination they shut it down.
While we have been busy getting the boat ready to sail the kids have learned to play happily with each other, sometimes for hours at a time. They have become much closer and really enjoy doing things together. They play with each other a lot more, even when we aren’t working on the boat. In fact as I was writing this post they were happily working together making fake poop out of mud…
I believe that having a small home is forcing us to do something that we never needed to in a house. We have to put thought and intention into everything we have and how we use it. If it doesn’t add value to our life or bring us joy we get rid of it. This is an ongoing process but it is one that the kids are learning to do also!
So what kind of life is this for kids? One that allows childhood to be simple and free from distractions. It is a life where we can engage in and enjoy life in more meaningful ways. You don’t have to live on a sailboat to live this kind of life but the smaller space has really helped us to see what really benefits our lives and what doesn’t. What activities or things in your life are causing unnecessary clutter and stress? Try getting rid of them!
What’s Stopping You?

What’s Stopping You?

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Over a year ago we sold everything; our house, our cars, toys, books and furniture to follow a dream of living on a boat and travelling the world. That was a monumentally big thing to do. We completely uprooted our lives and that added a lot of pressure to succeed. In a year and a half of owning the boat and a year of living on board we have barely moved it. Why?
It’s weird because I have been onboard with the idea of living on a boat from the beginning. In fact I was the one who pointed out we don’t have to wait for retirement to make it a reality.
Jason loves to sail. I have never sailed before but I love to travel. There really isn’t anywhere I wouldn’t like to visit. I want to go back to Ireland, visit uninhabited islands, experience the cultures of the South Pacific, see the cherry blossoms in Kyoto and the tulips blooming in the Netherlands, I want to see the Parthenon and the Great Pyramids and so many other places. We have been interested in the sailing and traveling life from the start. So what is stopping us?
Well we had some problems with the engine leaking water into the oil. The standing rigging that holds up the mast was 18 years old and in bad shape. One of our through-hulls started letting water seep into the boat from the river. Those were all critical things to fix… but…
I’ve never needed to be handy with fixing things in my life. Because repairs aren’t something I know how to do well, I tend to shy away from trying them. This is a mental roadblock for me. One that I have had to start facing because boats are a lot of work! Often too much for just one person.
I have needed to help more and more with projects. I helped re-bed hardware, remove, refit and replace through-hulls, epoxy and paint repairs, hoist sails, and climb the mast among other things.
I’m still not very handy but I am learning. As I learn and help I am realizing our boat starts to feel more real. Not just a place where we happen to live but something that is truly ours.
Some days it feels overwhelming and like maybe living on a boat was a bad choice and it would be so much easier to live in a house.
Then again… is an easy life what we really want? Or do we want to follow our dreams? Our brains build roadblocks in our path to success. They do this to mitigate the pain of failure. Our brains help us give up on our goals before even trying.
The truth is we have only been half committed to our dream. We have been letting the work that needs to be done become our roadblocks against really living our dream. One of those roadblocks for me has been driving the boat. It is 42 feet long and it is our home. The idea of making a mistake can be paralyzing if I let it.
I recently commented about not feeling comfortable docking the boat. One person replied to add a bunch of extra bumpers on and give it a try. This really resonated with me because what she was essentially saying is ‘face your roadblocks.’ I haven’t docked the boat yet but I did decide to take the helm and back it out of our slip to take it out for our first time actually sailing! This was big for me. It helped me realize that the fears we build up in our heads are usually worse than reality.
The more I do on the boat, and roadblocks I confront, the more excited I become to actually get sailing. It feels real in a different kind of way then just wanting to travel and even selling everything and living on our boat.
It feels a little bit more mine.
What are your dreams? What roadblocks are getting in your way? What can you do to face your roadblocks?
Peaceful Moments

Peaceful Moments

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Life can be stressful and hectic, that doesn’t go away and sometimes it may even be worse while living on a boat

but there are these moments…

small moments…

That make life feel so peaceful…

We have 2 adults and 2 energetic young kids in 41 feet worth of boat. We estimate that our living space is about 300 square feet.

It is understandably crowded.

Toys get spread all over.

It is loud and sometimes difficult to get work done. There are always boat projects to do, which make their own mess and take up space.

This might not sound like much of a life to many people and of course it isn’t right for everyone.

But there are these unexpected peaceful moments that just didn’t exist for us when we lived in suburbia.

It is hard to put into words the feeling when you go outside into the cockpit first thing in the morning (to open the propane valve so you can heat the kettle on the stove) the air is fresh and clean, the water is as still as glass.

There is this moment where you seem to inhale the calmness of the morning and just feel peaceful.

Another unexpected moment is when it rains…

Sitting inside listening to the pitter patter of raindrops splashing on the deck.

Or even better sitting in the cockpit under cover watching the rain dance on the water.

It is amazing when it rains. The water becomes almost perfectly flat with only the ripples from each rain drop spreading out to play with the others.

When life gets stressful, as it does, nothing beats taking a moment to go upstairs and lay on deck.

Looking up at the inky dark sky sparkling with stars or watching clouds drift lazily while the boat gently rocks.

It is almost indescribably calming.

Our days aren’t always full of beauty, but there are days when we eat dinner in the cockpit surrounded by clouds alight with the flaming colors of the sun’s descent…

and afterwards we sit on deck to watch the full moon ascend into the heavens.

There were occasional moments like these in our former life.

In fact, seeing the beauty of a total solar eclipse was a large part of why we made the decision to change our lives and seek more moments like these.

Most of our life was just repetition of the mundane. We still have mundane tasks but we also experience these small moments on an almost daily basis.

The kids are also finding these moments of beauty. They notice the changing colors of the sunsets and the beauty of the moon.

Even the little one points out flowers that he says are “gorgeous!”

These are the moments that feed the soul. And we are just getting started.

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