So we're thinking about sailing with our five amazing daughters to ... somewhere across the Atlantic. We've mostly discussed a trans-Atlantic trip than the around the world or other alternatives. I think that would be an amazing event whose preparation, execution, and completion would provide valuable education, information, and general life-motivation.
Will we ever do it though? That seems to be the big question. But, before I go on, let me introduce our family.
Tim - the dad. He'll be 49 years old in a couple months and has had a decades long desire to sail on a big journey. His experience to date is some sailing school time and several years ownership and operation of a 24-foot San Juan fixed keel sail boat. I've now run out of things that I know about sailing, so I'll stop there. Tim is a mechanical engineer by trade, but would rather do something creative and productive on his own rather than work in a manufacturing community that has essentially held him in bondage for way too long.
Debi - the mom. That's me, by the way. I'll be 45 years old in six month. I have 5 kids at home, age 12 down to 1, plus a grown daughter with two sons. I am just ready for anything. I don't see things in the usual way, and, to me, it seems perfectly normal to be planning some big adventure, even though we don't have the "how to" figured out.
Lydia - the 12-year-old. She's sensitive and loves her family. She is artistic and loves to sing, play, and be with her parents. She's kind and fair, but also quite feisty!
Danae - the 11-year-old. Danae is quiet and serious and brilliant. Sometimes she seems surly, but she's absolutely precious. She's a big girl, but she's also my eternal baby. She is a big snuggler, which makes me very happy!
Myria - the 9-year-old. Myria is silly and sensitive. She fits in well wherever she is, as they all do. I think Myria is a thinker. She always seems to have something working in her little mind.
Tayten - the 7-year-old. Tayten is definitely a horse of a different color. She, I believe, is a poster child for distractibility. Her mind is very specific with the way she sees things and gets frustrated if she can't see things through that she's set on. Tayten is good and honest and fun.
Laurel - the 1-year-old. Laurel is definitely the sunshine in our family in that the family definitely seems to revolve around her! She's fun and always a source for entertainment and wonder.
So that is us in a nutshell. I'm starting this diary today because I realize that if we do this trip, then we'll want to have recorded the adventure. When will that adventure start? Well, in my opinion, it started a little over a year ago when we visited the traveling Nina and Pinta museums in downtown Chattanooga. We started seriously talking about getting a boat and sailing for a year at that time. Laurel was only about 5 months old then. In fact, it was after the exhibit at the bottom of the steep grassy hills the girls were cardboard surfing down that Laurel sat unsupported for the first time. It took her a while to get used to it, but that was the day. Since then, we've talked a lot about that adventure that we might someday take. It occurs to me that we need to seriously immerse ourselves in making it happen, or it will be like so many other "one of these days" things that never get done.
Yesterday, the family watched Captain Ron, the Martin Short movie about a family inheriting and sailing a Formosa. It was fun to watch and imagine being us. Today, Tim started looking at a sailing family's blog about their "Around the World" sailing adventure that seems to have ended after 50 days. I think that family's cutting their trip short because "the dynamics of (their) family weren't right for the trip at that time" made me want to start this diary. Currently, I'll be writing this "blog style" and e-mailing it to Tim for him to read, add to, and maybe stay inspired by. Ultimately, I'd like to make it a real blog ... maybe I should start that soon. I'm not super familiar with how they work. Anyway, and ULTIMATE ultimately, I want the information to be available to use to write a book or two about our adventure, if it makes an interesting enough read, and maybe a "how to" book.
Okay, so about our trip ... it's probably years off. I hope only three, but it might be more. We are looking at boats for sale all the time. We want at least a 50-foot boat, but we've seen some 60-footers that have appeal. We're really hoping that, by keeping an eye on it, that the twisted economy might present us with a heckuva deal at just the right time.
Here's a quick "to do" list as part of our preparation:
- Complete basic and advanced first aid classes for the whole family.
- Learn emergency survival techniques.
- Determine the most efficient food items to take on a long ocean journey.
- Take a few sailing classes.
- Practice confined living.
Okay, so that's my first "blog" entry. (What does BLOG mean anyway?) Now to find a place to post it. (OBVIOUSLY, I FOUND A SPOT!)
CHEERS!
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