Before leaving England for our sell up and sail around the world adventure, we need to make sure my father-in-law has a place to live and me, hubby and my daughter need a place to crash. My husband and I were hoping we could kill two birds with one stone – get a home for Keith and a place were we can live until we’re ready to set sail.
Until today everything was going well – a home for Keith and a temporary place for us to live was secured
While sitting at my dining room table (my current office) I heard hubby answer the phone. Within one minute I knew the news was not good. The woman that agreed to sell us the 2-bed flat in Gosport has decided so sell it to someone else.
The buying and selling system in England is terrible
Until the deal is done, and money changes hands, you can’t guarantee a sale will happen.
We agreed to purchase the flat in that specific location because Keith wants to leave near the sea, our daughter would benefit from a good pre-school with the availability we need. Furthermore, the flat was in close proximity to the training school that hubby and I need to attend for a few weeks. We’re getting trained in first aid for boaters, engine repair and maintenance in addition to a few other courses.
Bizarrely, upon hearing the news, I shrugged it off and thought, ‘so be it.’ I carried on working and knew that Simon would simply start looking for another property. We know exactly what we want and we know where we want it so there must be something better out there! Perhaps less expensive too.
An injection of PMA never hurts! (Positive Mental Attitude)
It seems as if there’s a tipping point for my nerves to go haywire and affect me physically – shoulders, jaw, bad digestion, insomnia. And then there’s a tipping point for the stress to just disappear. Perhaps it all becomes so much that it’s laughable rather than serious.
On a daily basis all our plans go from one extreme, like not getting the boat of our dreams or having a base to move to, to another extreme like getting the boat and losing the base. I think I’m starting to learn the Buddhist concept of non-attachment. I think that’s what they call it ?! If you wait a little while things will surely change so don’t get too excited and don’t get too down in the dumps. If you’re not happy just wait a bit – things will change.
If things aren’t going well, just wait a few minutes
We now have to find a flat we can move into in less than 2 months so Simon is searching on vacant properties. And the properties have to be devoid of tenants – renters get 2 months notice to move out so that’s no good.
As I sit here, in the coffee shop, sipping my coffee I feel rather calm and peaceful. A whole world away from how I felt yesterday. Yesterday I thought my body was going to break. Today I don’t really feel much of anything – good or bad.
Simon was up at 3am and of course he woke me up. When I whispered, ‘What are you doing?’ he responded, ‘I’m looking for accommodation for when we go see the boat – for the sea trials and survey. I can’t help it – I’m excited it.’
Seeing him excited is priceless. Buying this boat and sailing around the world with his family truly is his dream come true. I’m not sure how many people ever live their dream? I’d hope that it would be a large percentage but I’m not sure.
Living the dream is hard work
As for me, my dream was to always own a successful company. I did that by the age of 35 or so and when it happened I felt a bit lost. I got my dream and I felt as if there was nothing left to do. Furthermore, I was actually a bit disappointed by the reality of my dream. I thought loads of money was going solve all my problems. In actuality, I think it made my life more difficult, but that’s another story.
I’ve been thinking about our adventures and voyages yet to come. I’m excited. I’m scared. I’m overwhelmed by it all, but I feel that the person I will become by doing it will be transformational. I am essentially handing in one life and exchanging it for another.
I’m getting rid of all my stuff and removing ‘retail therapy’ from my daily diet of life. I’ve started to change the family food diet from fast, processed, ready meals to home-cooking – something I’ll have to do on the boat. And something that’s long overdue. I’m learning how to be a home-schooler rather than rely on pre-school/school to teach my daughter. I’ve stopped wearing make-up every day. This is a weird one…I’m not sure why I’ve felt compelled to do it but I’m just not bothered that much anymore. In fact, I think I look fine without it! (If you knew the ‘old’ me you’d realise that I wouldn’t leave the house unless I was perfectly dressed and beautified).
On a daily basis I’m saying good-bye to my routines
I wake, go to the coffee shop, work, eat lunch, work more, eat dinner, contact friends, sleep. I wonder how much things will change when I’m on the boat? There certainly won’t be such a routine! I’m also saying good-bye to familiar sites. I’m enjoying time with friends as I know I won’t have the luxury of having them close (in distance – not at heart).
And every so often I’m wondering, ‘am I doing the right thing?’ I don’t know. We could get everything sorted and the boat sinks or something serious happens to one of us. These are the things that stop most of us from living the dream.
On the other hand, what if it’s the adventure of a lifetime? What my family and I truly blossom into a life that’s amazing? What if we enjoy new adventures, make new friends, increase our laughs and magical moments? This is the line of thought I must remind myself of.
So, like I’ve already mentioned…I’m scared, I’m excited, I’m overwhelmed, but no matter what I’m going to make this happen and I do expect it to be the best adventure (thus far) for me and my family (and whoever wants to join us). Yikes!
To carry on reading and find out what happens next, read Quick, quick – we need to sell our current boat. We need a place to live. We need to…
