A Soft Landing

Two weeks back on land after six months at sea. I'm finally adjusting to life as it was before we launched our big adventure...and coming back hasn't been an easy transition. Everything moves so fast! Yet I feel stuck. But I expected this.

The transitions: From sea to land. From constant movement to stability. From solitude to society. From simplicity to complexity. From few choices to too many choices. From focus on self to focus on others.

All of this gives me a moment to pause and reflect on what is really important. 

After years of traveling back and forth from my previous home in New England to my new existence in sunny, seaside Florida... the struggle to transition gets me every single time. There is a nesting period, where I go through everything with fresh eyes and adjust my surroundings to meet my new, streamlined sense of self, redefining what it means to be home. I just did that--cleaning out closets and drawers, reorganizing my office and arranging heaps of clothes onto hangers by color. Every step of this process brings me closer to my essential nature, more comfortable in my skin.

The hardest shift is moving away from the daily intimacy with nature--the sunrises and sunsets, the power of the wind, the stars at night, as well as the surreal ever-changing hues of the water--it erodes my soul a little. Fortunately, I'm a homebody, so the perks of having a house are rewarding, almost making up for the separation from the sea-- things like being able to cook in a real kitchen, and take a long hot bath, being comforted by familiar objects and cozy couches with colorful blankets and sunlight filtering through the palms outside my window.

At first, I needed to clear space to breathe--we have so much stuff! After boat life, where if it isn't necessary, it isn't welcomed, house living took some adjustment. I have bags and bags of stuff to give away. And so much adulting to do. Bills to pay, a car to purchase, taxes, a business to tend to, doctors, dentists. And so on.

The good news is we are in a beautiful place and can explore around these waters aboard Andiamo anytime. And our friends and family are nearby--that human connection is eternally complicated and wonderfully uplifting, as it should be. 

The most important lesson learned is this:

It's not where you were, or where you're going--it's about getting there with grace.