One Year from Now...

November 16, 2014

Today we went to Sandy Point Beach in town and walked down this path to the beach on this chilly day.  

We strolled, picked up rocks and sea glass and brought to the boys attention that one year from now we will all be together on Nemetona in the British Virgin Islands strolling a beach in much warmer weather and crystal clear waters.   

It was a great day of reflection and anticipation of things to come.  Taking this moment NOT to think about all that needs to get done and just share in each others company is...priceless.

Moments

November 11, 2014

Moments

Got a call while filming a commercial for Kelly Financial on the 28th of October from the Collision Center that the van was brought to after our car accident.  Hoping it was the results from the appraiser, so we know what direction to move in...I checked voice mail.  Apparently the appraiser cannot do his duty without the keys.

So after our shoot was "A Wrap"...I drove from Braintree to Newport to hand over the keys.  First I went to the van and grabbed the 3 bags of clothes and 4 pairs of shoes we were going to drop off at the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of RI, among other items strewn across the Mom mobile.

One item I found in a tiny space was a small shell I picked up in New Zealand two years ago Christmas from the beach in Tuaranga.  It was not in an obvious spot.  When I leaned over from the passenger seat to peer into the little opening near the steering wheel, I saw it and I felt a warmth in my chest and a smile slowly turning up the corner of my lips.

This little snail shell represents an amazing time in my life When connecting with the universe, connecting with others in a deeper way and self exploration was at it's height.  I was exploring being a student of my life and not taking on the angst or emotions of others - which allowed me to explore and be at peace with who I was at that time.

While vacationing with David's family and taking daily strolls on that beach - I found these tiny shells to be prolific along the shoreline.  I picked up as many as I could - I was like a hoarder of shells. Pockets filled and I would come back to the apartment and clean them for I wanted to bring them home.

Not to add clutter to our home in the states, but to remind me of the most peaceful moments that were evoked in those sandy meditative strolls.    I wasn't collecting shells I was collecting Moments.
And it was those moments I wanted to bring home.  Each shell representing a moment.

A moment of simplicity.  A moment of peace.  A moment of reflection.  A moment of sea spray.  A moment of feeling the earth below my feet.  A moment alone.  A moment with family.  A moment to celebrate me.  A moment to share.  A moment to see the excellence within.  A moment to dream.  A moment to realize.   A moment to meditate.  A moment to realize potential.  A moment to be present. A moment.......

As I walked that beach - the peace I felt and the connection I felt with nature - was paramount.  And these shells represented each thought, each moment I pondered as I strolled with the sea mist on my face.   You can add your own moment to that list...it just takes a moment of turning your attention inward.  Thinking simply.

I look forward to the these moments during our year on the boat.

I cleaned and brought home a bunch of them - and handed them out to an amazing group of women who took a chance and ventured on a journey of Extreme Self Care with me.  This gift from nature from a far away land was a reminder to them and to you - that we always have an opportunity to reflect on our own individual MOMENTS!  

What are your moments?

Total Loss

November 8, 2014

Total Loss to some may seem like a negative outcome.   Total meaning complete and Loss is something you will never regain.

In the light of the sky and the beauty of earth, 'Total Loss'  does not mean that at all for me.
It brings a happy heart to say we have recently been told that we have a total loss.

Let me begin....October 25th driving back from our younger son's soccer game we got into a car accident.  (We are all fine!  Even with the air bags deployed, thank god we were all wearing seat belts!)

This even may seem unfortunate to most people and at least a major inconvenience.  As it turns out it has been a blessing in disguise.

We just decided two days prior that we would Sell the minivan prior to departing on our sailing journey.    We did not want to pay the loan, car insurance and taxes on it while we were away not using the vehicle.  So the plan was to sell the car and pay off the loan next September.  Just keeping Dave's Toyota Tundra (which is paid off) to do the grunt work this next year and when we return. (Paying for insurance and taxes for one car is plenty!!)

I am talking hours after the crash, I felt a real calm through my soul with this realization.  Affirmed that this accident was a blessing.  It opened my eyes up to another option:
1.  Car gets repaired.  We sell it. Pay the Loan off.  Buy cheap used car to drive until we depart.
2.  Car gets totaled.  Get check.  Pay the Loan off.  Buy cheap used car to drive until we depart.

This accident led us to a decision we never even considered!  Sell the Car NOW, pay off the loan and live the year prior to departure Car Loan free!  Thousands saved.

As it turned out - this past week we got the official call from our insurance agent that the 2011 Toyota Sienna has been a TOTAL LOSS.

This is how it looked after the assessor evaluated it.  

A TOTAL LOSS.......TOTAL LOSS.

Great, Implement the NEW PLAN.  Pay off the loan, buy a used car to get us through the year.
And BONUS, now we can even keep it while we are cruising, so we do not have to spend the first few weeks when we return looking for a car while unpacking the boat, moving back into the house, getting ready for school.....etc....etc...)

So here we are - the NEW PLAN in effect.  Below is a picture of our wonderful 'new' to us, used car to carry us through this next year and when we return.

2005 VW Passat Wagon

This car reminds me of my first car out of college I paid cash for - a Dodge Colt hatchback, stick shift, Silver.   This car hugs me the way that one did.  (Plus it has Heated seats and a moonroof!  Bonus.)

I (we) could not be happier - the answer to the car question was answered early.
Thank you Universe for providing!!

Food Saver

October 28th, 2014

Ok you may think I am ridiculous.........but I love my Food Saver.  

And no this is not an ad for the product but simply a raving review of a kitchen appliance I love (soon to be a Galley appliance I love).

Not only do I use it when I make 6 pounds of breaded chicken breasts (like we just did yesterday) but this little air sucking device is going to come in VERY handy on our trip.

Our friends who did the Caribbean trip would catch some of the most amazing fish while trawling to their next destination.   And they used their Vacuum Sealer a lot.  

Not only will it keep our deep freezer from smelling, it will ultimately save space.

Think about that for a minute.....we need to save space.  

Space is a VALUABLE commodity on a boat.  And even if you find space - it may not be in the shape you are looking for.  Some of the smaller compartments are oddly shaped or tucked in an un-accessible space.

Which brings me back to another common theme...STUFF.  I wish we could Vacuum seal all the stuff we are leaving behind so we did not need to rent a storage unit.  We do plan on down sizing and ridding ourselves of everything but the absolute essentials.

For we do plan on returning to RI when our adventure comes to an end, but while we are away we need to rent it out....hence our need to put things in storage.

I have to say I really do look forward to this next 'year of the purge'!  

No better motivation to clear out the clutter than the opportunity to spend many months with the family you love, with ONLY the things you absolutely need.

SIMPLICITY.

Obstacles & decisions

Sunday, October 26th, 2014

Whip Lash aside we are ok the day after the car accident.  

We had our last sleep over of the season and woke this morning to a beautiful Blue Sky!   This will be our last as we removed all the bedding, mattresses and cushions to prepare for winterizing and the installation of our last few items for our long haul trip next year.  

It is such a thing to decide, do we remove all this stuff or keep it on board.  If we leave it and deal with the constant moving of stuff in the middle of winter (brrr) to access the areas we need (while cursing under our breath) to hook up the many parts of the water maker and the 2nd macerator.  Hmmmm....it probably took more time contemplating this decision than actually getting on with it.  And for the minimal effort it took to remove I think it was a wise decision.    All smiles (even with an ice pack on my neck from the accident yesterday)!   



October 25th, 2014

Cheers....
to all the obstacles we will face in the next year......and to OVERCOMING them!!!

Here is the most recent....setback.... which kept us from getting boat related items done earlier in the day.

Looks worse than it is, we are all fine, no one hurt. But this little fender bender definitely helped temper the enthusiasm and yet gave me the broader perspective and reflection that .... we are going to have other moments like this coming up in the next year, the year on the boat and always throughout our lives. 

And it all goes back to that saying:

"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." - Charles R. Swindoll

I think I am the type where it is 90% SILVER LINING or 90% glass half FULL!

We were actually just talking about what we were going to do with the van when we leave, for we cannot afford to continue making payments on it while we are on the water.
Hmm........if the universe had something to say about it, she sure wasn't quiet! Time will tell and it will all work out the way it is suppose to be. 

The road we travel...

October 22, 2014

This past week has been the do or don't time. We actually sat down and looked at budgeting.....this time last year our hopes of leaving Fall of 2014 were dashed at the realization we did not have enough clams to make the trip happen.This week, once we realized we are our own 'cerebral obstacles', we embraced the thought of actually having the funds to get there! Sheer Excitement!

Needless to say there was a lot of joy behind this page. Now to decide if we will go 'all out' with our own webpage, just a blog spot or simply FB. Decisions, Decisions....I might as well enjoy these simple decisions before the really hard and or complicated ones arise in the next year before departing!

We just have to remember to CELEBRATE all of life's choices......even the hard ones. YOLO

You Only Live Once!

October 23rd, 2014

You know you are a sailor going on a long trip when you get SUPER EXCITED to hear....."Just ordered the water maker......we are definitely going now!" WOOHOO!
Solar Panels and water maker.....looks like we can get off the grid for a wee while. 

October 24th, 2014

Duffel Bag and a Bike.

Sounds simple right. Not much to it. 

Well, this is all that David came to America with 20 years ago.

Flash forward to now...and anxiety fills the air over the amount of STUFF that has accumulated. A house full of it. So much stuff that 2 days ago it almost derailed our Joy of going on this trip.

When we started discussing renting the house out for a year the thoughts of emptying the house shot a crippling bolt of lightning down our spines. 

There is a saying "What enters into everyday life, soon becomes an unnoticed part of it". Well it is so TRUE!

Just looking in each room at the things we have gotten use to surrounding us, all of a sudden seemed like a terrible burden. 

This fear hit David hard. The proof of that came while I was at Cub Scouts Leading my Bear Den. I came home to 3 bags of clothes David sorted out of our closet as donations! (Note the Joy meter started to rise again). Phew.

I had not felt the depth of despair David felt that night - for we have an amazing friend who also happens to be an amazing organizer. 2 years ago she transformed my thinking and our house by digging into the depths of my mind and clutter. She gave me the time, love and guidance I needed to jump my own 'mind laden hurdles' and get on with IT! She helped un-clutter my kitchen, linen closet, storage room, Clothes closet, junk drawers (all 7) and most recently my office. 

https://www.facebook.com/erica.a.conway?fref=ts

Thank you does not come close!

So I have to say, David's purge has inspired me to go through my clothes again! And helping my parent's in September unload 46 years from the house I grew up in for their move to Florida, has inspired me to just GET RID of the Minutia! Now I just need to find the time...for my mind is READY!

Donation pile going to Big Brothers, Big Sisters

Summer of 2014

This year we made plans to See if we could manage aboard Nemetona for one month.  Of course - this is a true test for our bigger dream of a year away aboard our lovely Sacred Space!

Happy to say in hindsight....it was a Marvelous Success!

I will add more to this when time permits..just know this is leading to our Bigger Dream come true!

Snuggle time! 

Baby Shark off 3rd Beach!   

 Casual Cal

 Captain Dave!

 My Lovely, wonderful, compact set of Pots and Pans for our boat!  I am in LOVE!

My house never looked so organized!!!   

I was trained well and have a wonderful example in my friend Erica!

Our first summer with Nemetona



After our first summer with Nemetona, our Family is considering taking a sailing trip from our home port of Portsmouth, RI to the Caribbean.

Lightining on board

Hanging out on the dinghy

Fourth of July in Newport

Pizza Friday's

After we delivered the boat up from NJ (First overnighter on the boat),
the boys greeted us with this wonderful sign!

Relaxing.

Cruiser Dave

Enough with the camera already!!

Oliver not liking the boat ife so much.

Happy boys under the Newport Bridge!

Helping our neighbor PUMP OUT!

Lot's of Pizza and Game nights aboard our Sacred Space!

Armitage Family on sv Nemetona October 2013
Our FIRST SEASON