Happy December!
We’ve been back home for almost a week. It took a few days to get back into a normal sleeping pattern and stop feeling exhausted after our affair at sea. We are all thankful to come away with just a little exhaustion and a couple of colds. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, read my last post about our Coast Guard rescue.) I have much to be thankful for, but since this blog is about me learning to love living aboard, I’ll try to stay focused on that aspect of my life.
First of all, I’m thankful to even be in a position to attempt this lifestyle. This is largely due to my husband, Dave, who has been planning and saving for this for decades, long before we got together. He not only dreams and wishes, he takes the steps necessary to make them come true. I am thankful to Dave for so many things. I’m thankful for his having this crazy idea to live on a boat in the Caribbean for our retirement. I’m also thankful he was willing to adapt his original plan (year-round in the Caribbean) so we can live at home on land several months a year so I can get my in-person fix of family and friends. Dave pushes me to go beyond my comfort zone while at the same time supporting me through it, for which I am also thankful. Oh we argue about living aboard stuff and how far out of my comfort zone I’m willing to go, but we get past the arguing to compromise. I couldn’t ask for a better friend and partner in this life.
We couldn’t have done this without the support of family and friends. I’m thankful to my parents for raising me to have the confidence needed to give this live-aboard lifestyle a try, and for imbuing in me a sense of curiosity that makes me want to explore and meet new people. I’m also thankful that they like to travel on Indigo Lady with us, because I get to take a piece of home with me for a while each year. I’m thankful for my sister, Sarah, for understanding me and keeping me sane (this is no small task). I’m thankful for the rest of our family and friends who are supporting us in this endeavor, including helping us bring Lady home when we bought her, converting her to solar electric, moving her further south, and providing general encouragement and support through the good and the not so good. We look forward to you visiting us aboard!
The enactment of this dream of ours started this past April. I’m thankful for all the people we’ve met along the way thus far, in person as well as online in various cruising groups. You have provided information, advice and recommendations, and have answered our myriad questions. You have offered us your local knowledge, assistance, or simply your company for a few hours. Others of you have befriended us and keep in touch, extending our network of cruising friends and supports. I am thankful for you who follow me on this journey by reading this blog and perhaps following my Instgarm and Facebook; you help me feel connected on this journey.
I could go on, but this is long enough and I wanted to focus on people. I (actually, we) wouldn’t have gotten this far without you all, and for that I am grateful.
“No one who achieves success does so without the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.”
~Alfred North Whitehead
Life on Lady 
So glad you all were relatively unscathed and arrived by home safe and sound. I’m so blown away by your sense of adventure. And that includes your mom and dad.
Hope the next phase of your journey goes smoothly.
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