Day 18, priceless moment

On the bow, sitting atop the spinnaker bag I meditate. Hearing the soft flow of water finding its way past the hull, the sun’s warmth and brightness setting my eye lids a glow and simply breathing. Day 18. Day 18. I sit here wondering about the first two weeks a float and the 2 weeks prior and find myself with many thoughts. My mind flooded with which way to concentrate my energy, which facet I shall allow to surface, to become my center. My mind is like the burst shot on a camera…quickly flashing many incremental images. But I sit, breathing. Being at present with my present moment. Feeling the caress of wind upon the soft hairs on my face and arms, feeling nature surround my senses. Not thinking forward, not thinking backward. I like this moment. And in this moment I was not expecting to find a new realization about this trip, possibly a new way to receive this trip…other than our original reasons, which was to create a space to connect with our family, to find new deep connections with our sons, as well as, with one another. Time, during this change in scenery, that will ignite us and allow each of us to see each other anew, to possibly find in our hearts a softer connection to the beings we have become. That part of ourselves we ignored while distracted by the everyday land locked ‘normality’s’ society molds us into. Just as our boat Nemetona in Celtic means create a sacred space to connect with the divine; in our case this is the space to connect as a family. With all the months of preparing, moving, packing, and provisioning for this trip, I forgot the simplicity of my soul, the centering of my being, I was that without a center, a time not spent bettering my personal journey…but making sure. Making sure we budgeted, making sure to make enough money, making sure kids were where they needed to be, making sure we could find renters, making sure we purged un wanted stuff, making sure everything was packed, making sure I understood what was needed on the boat (having never grew up around boats), making sure bills were paid, making sure all accounts were set up for travel purposes, making sure this, making sure that. During that time, I failed to make sure I was moving forward, that I was moving in a direction organic to my being. One that internally reflected a direction akin to me. So I am happy to say….sitting on the bow today a real flash of desire to connect with my surroundings each and every day, came to me. Then the realization that this trip will exponentially facilitate that desire… lightened my heart and gave rise to a hope I did not know I needed. It is not a new desire to connect with my surroundings, it is an ever present want, but because of the hustle and bustle of land life, it does not always get realized. So the thought of being in the moment - even if ONLY for A moment, and that it can be attainable everyday just by being on this vessel; is priceless. I am excited to think on this, to meditate on this. Gaining strength from nature and allowing it to flow through my being at any given moment, gave me great joy and peace. I am so blessed to have found this thought only 18 days in…not 24, not at 180 days, but now, today. I am blessed, I am centered and it feels good.

View of the bow and the spinnaker bag in beige!

They were sooo excited.

We met in NYC - and went to the top of the world trade building on one of our first dates.

Dolphins following us!  Beautiful Nature.

Our family!

My next post will catch us up on the actual physical journey!

The perfect 10

Tuesday October 6th 2015.
Calan turns 10 and we set sail to embark on our 10 month adventure on the sea.

Getting the house packed up and rented,  the boat safely setup for the long journey, making provisioning decisions - and the waiting for Dave to come home from France....it finally arrived.   DEPARTURE.
No more aquaintances asking why we have not left yet, this is the day!!!
Just before 10am on Tuesday October 6th we threw off the dock lines and made our way under the Newport Pell Bridge headed South. 

Our first stop Mystic/Noank, CT.  Our old stomping grounds when we were first married.  Although we both admitted to not remembering much about the simple beauty it contained, it brought us back in touch with our wonderful neighbors Bill and Jill (from our first house we owned in CT).  They came down for dinner to see us, the boys and my parents.  What a great catch up it was.  Then they even came down the next morning to see our beautiful Nemetona over coffee and tea.

It was the same morning when I came across a realization...the sheer beauty of waking up in a new place each morning.   A sense of adventure, calm and excitement filled me up and the reality that we have REALLY BEGUN our trip set in. 

That day we looked for Kitchen Little, a fun breakfast place we use  to haunt.  Little did we know 3 years ago it moved locations.  But we found it!!

Our boys were still jazzed by the Aquarium visit they did the day before with my parents, so we decided to return and fill ourselves with their combined enthusiasm.  Lucky for us our friend Debbie O'Brien is a penguin volunteer and she met us there.  She gave us a huge amount of insider knowledge of the place and all its lovely sea creatures!  So blessed.

Then back to the boat for a clean up prior to having dinner with our friends Meg and Peb at their house.  What fun it was to visit them all these years later and feel like not a day has passed.   Our kids and theirs mingled as we sat talking over a wonderful meal in their warm home!

Next day, Thursday October 9th we left at 5am to our next destination, Port Jefferson, NY.  This was simply a respite between CT and NYC, but one that brought back memories for me.  Ya see I went to Stony Brook (apart of the State University of New York system).  Also two of our close sailing friends hail from this port, Will and Erica.  So it wasn't necessarily a new port, but familiar one.

Today we also opened up our first gifts from friends.  Before leaving I asked some friends if they would not mind making us a little care package of their favorite food.  And it did what I had hoped, as we shared in their gift - we also felt their presence during our journey! True gratitude is felt and a great diversion from my normal provisions delighted Nemetona crew!!  So, in the morning we were joined by the Museler's with their delicious Zucchini Bread and for dinner the Darminio's joined us with Homemade mac and cheese.  Boy are we blessed!!

We have more pictures posted to our Facebook page about our daily US coastline excursions.  Check us out.
Click on the link to see our Armitage Sailors Facebook page.

https://m.facebook.com/Armitagesailors