Winding down our time in Aruba. It’s been fun, but for the most part, this island really hasn’t fit our style very well. It’s a bit too busy (which I know sounds sort of ridiculous), it’s a bit too expensive, and it’s a bit too exposed to have a selection of anchorages. We met some really nice people, and made some friends, but at the end of the day we’re all excited to move on. Admittedly, much of this is due to the fact that we took on a rather monumental amount of work for ourselves the past few weeks, along with its share of stresses, and these things always tend to skew our view. I will say that their nickname of One Happy Island seems to be lived pretty well by the locals. Also, both marinas here on the island are super well run, and the haul-out yard is first rate.
Anyway, we popped on out to the Renaissance Resort’s private island one afternoon. It’s included with the marina, which is a nice little perk. We lounged around while the kids made friends and swam for hours.
You’ll never guess which adult member of the family decided to adopt the local pelicans and let them know that they were more than welcome to use our boat as a staging area for fishing expeditions.
Couple of random shots while walking through town.
For the most part our days were filled with work. This was eighteen hours before we would load onto a plane and be gone. It looks chaotic, but Ali knew where every one of these things would be going. All the rest of us had to do was stay out of the way.
We moved the boat over to the other marina for haul-out. This would be our last night on the Grand Banks together. I say, together, because I’ll be back at the end of hurricane season when a weather window opens up. We sold the boat, but I promised to deliver it to Puerto Rico. Quick two day trip. I just need to watch for weather, have the marina splash the boat again, and jump on a plane. Bumfuzzle will be ready to go.
Last shots the morning we left.
I usually get a little choked up when we leave one of our homes behind. We tend to make a LOT of good memories together as a family, and our boats and motorhomes play a big part in them. After almost five years with the Grand Banks we said goodbye, and while we’ll always remember it as one of our great family homes, none of us felt too bad leaving. We’ve got another boat waiting for us, and a truly epic adventure to look forward to. I can’t wait to teach these two how to sail, and to dive some of the most amazing spots the oceans have to offer, together.
So this is it. Our life’s belongings in eight plastic bins and a couple of carry-on bags. For a couple hundred dollars in luggage fees we were on our way to begin a new chapter. We’ve talked about our minimalism for years, and while eight bins seems exorbitant to us, we also recognize that it’s an insanely small amount of possessions for a family of four to accumulate over all these years. We believe it also plays a huge part in our ability to choose whichever fork in the road we want, whenever we want. A month ago we were waiting on a weather window to cruise over to Panama. That weather was a little too slow in coming, and allowed us the free time to think, “Hell, maybe we should go sail around the world again.” And here we find ourselves.
19 Comments on “Always Another Horizon”
One word: inspiring. Thanks for being y’all!
The ultimate cost of freedom is what we’re willing to let go of in order to maintain that freedom. Eight plastic bins seems a fair cost for your families life experiences and freedom.
Fair winds.
I’m always amazed how quickly you sell.your boats
@ Peter: I think it’s a function of being selective and smart in buying a vessel to begin with, making improvements to it while you own it, always keeping it maintained and seaworthy, knowing what it’s worth and, maybe most importantly, not investing any ego in a vessel’s ownership. Having an inflated view of something a person owns can make it very difficult to part with.
And while I don’t think it pertains to the Grand Banks per se, Pat is also masterful at creating a webpage that extols the virtues of the vessel he’s selling . . . the Spindrift https://www.bumfuzzle.com/1982-43-spindrift/ comes quickly to mind.
In advertising, we call this the Creation of Desire.
I’m not sure what makes me smile more, the pic of the cabin 18 hours prior to departure vs the pic of the empty cabin or the statement of a month ago waiting on a weather window for Panama changed to the decision to sail around the world again. Cheers guys!
If humanity was as minimalist as you are, how much better off would our gravely ill earth be.
Exemplary. Compliment.
Fair winds and smooth sailing on this next adventure. Your kids have to be the luckiest in the world.
Woop Woop…go get’m tiger (s)!
Ali is amazing. Eight tubs. You guys rock!
It’s been great watching the kids grow up, and I look forward to watching them mature and grow as you all go around the world.
Hate to see the Grand Banks go, but excited for what lies ahead. God’s Speed!
I’m not surprised by your decision to move on from the Grand Banks. It was a fine boat but life seemed a tad tame on it. Looking forward to following your family’s growth on the new boat.
Looking forward to reading about the trip around the world again having read the original trip when it occurred.
Can’t wait for the next adventures/explorations!
Smooth sailing!
I love the way your thoughts flow,
A beautiful story teller, makes a person feel they’re right there with you,
Things are just things but, those memories will last a lifetime!!!!
❤️😍❤️😍❤️😍❤️😍❤️😍
I bought property three years ago and am in the last stages of finishing a workshop with a 600sq ft living quarters for myself and the dog. It’s the only time I’ve ever owned my own place. I ditched most of everything I own three years ago when I retired and hit the road. The plan is to use this place as a hub for my various trips. But there is a part of me that really wants the eight tubs of belongings and the freedom to move about as easily as you all do. If this place gets to be a burden I’ll sell it and do so. Thanks for the inspiration and safe travels.
Is it an optical illusion or is Ouest starting to look “down” to you? Don’t they grow like weeds?
Ali
What about the superstition about renaming a boat? Would you allow the new owners to keep the Bumfuzzle name?