Reflecting back over the last few months I am amazed at how far we have come in both skill and understanding of our boat, navigation, mooring, anchoring and sailing in general.

August and November had us sailing several times a week, sometimes with friends and often alone. We took a few trips to Capitola to hook up to a mooring ball. Once on the ball we stayed afloat for several days to test some of our theories about trash and waste management. We started to get a sense of how it would feel to live on Pablo for more than an afternoon or an overnight at the dock. In a short amount of time the cockpit became more to our liking than the living room of our townhouse.

And then in November I (Sherri) got the opportunity to go on a week long charter sail in the Sea of Cortez with a group of women whose combined sailing experience was more than we would ever achieve in our lifetime. And that just cinched the whole deal. Those days in Mexico confirmed everything that we had been dreaming about. Yes, we want to cruise. Yes, we want to cruise in Mexico. And Yes, we are totally capable! All of these successes and experiences help to speed us along and encourage us as we continue to prepare.

We are now taking navigation and Spanish classes. As well as checking the “to do”, “to get”, and “to learn” items off the long list as prepare for our September departure. Our financial plan is coming into focus as is the the planning of the first few months of our journey.

In the months to come we will be increasing the time spent on Pablo, eventually shifting the balance from land to boat life. We will spend more time on the hook and will start to venture further from home. Even as I write this, we are anchored in the waters just outside of Santa Cruz Harbor and man does this feel good! Sometimes I just have to pinch myself to be sure I am not dreaming. Or maybe it is in the dreaming that we are creating a new reality. Whatever the case we are loving life!