I woke up this morning thinking, ‘wow – the day has come! We leave today. We’re leaving Gosport, England’ The picture of me above is in Spinnaker Tower with Gosport in the background.
After rolling out of bed, I dyed my hair, took a shower, and put the clothes on that I laid out the night before. As I was going about my normal morning routine, I’d pack things in one of the suitcases or I’d stash things in the closet. Everything had a ‘pack’ or ‘stash’ label in my mind. I just needed to complete the final sort. Fortunately for us, the very last remaining items that we own will be housed at my father-in-laws flat.
As I drifted around the flat, I found my mind wandering for a bit, and then I’d think, ‘Woah, that’s the last time I do that!’ Last time in this shower, last time looking at that view, last time I have to clean that sink…
No. It hasn’t hit me yet
I’m numb right now. I’m not excited or scared. I’m focused on one hour at a time. Right now I have a little bit of free time to write. Next I need to create a write-up on Facebook and Skype for Dummies for my father-in-law. I also need to transfer more family photo’s onto the streaming digital photo display. I thought the photos might comfort my father-in-law a bit. I think he’s going to struggle with us leaving today.
Soon it will be time to pack the car, cram ourselves into it and our first stop is to say goodbye to our friends Becks, Steve, and Megan. Fortunately they’re on our way to Gatwick so we’re stopping off one last time to enjoy lunch with them. On reflection, I’m a bit annoyed with myself for agreeing to the stop. I don’t think I’m going to handle it very well.
I already feel myself welling up inside
Becks is an amazing best friend. I’m not sure how I’m going to manage without knowing she’s only a drive away. We’ve been through so many things together and our friendship is so valuable to me. We both know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and we’re able to be truthful and genuine around each other. Our friendship is priceless. I just need to keep reminding myself that there’s Facebook, Skype and of course Becks and her family will fly out and spend a week or two with us this summer. And that goes for all my amazing friends.
After our stop off at our friend’s house, we’ll then carry onto Gatwick Airport and check ourselves into a hotel. Our flight leaves at 7:10 am tomorrow so sleeping in the hotel will give us the ability to enjoy a few hours more sleep.
I just need to remind myself that soon we’ll be on the boat. Soon we’ll be buying food, sorting out our clothes, getting organized, and preparing for our 7 days non-stop sail from Gibraltar to Malta. Soon I’ll not only see the sun but I’ll feel it’s warmth. I’ll relax in the warmer temperatures and be able to take a nice deep breath in and soak up the blue sea, clacking palm trees, and the unique Mediterranean smell. I’ll be able to look at my husband and say,
‘We did it!’ we got ourselves here!’
Next Chapter: 37. Life aboard our new yacht with the BBC, Daily Mail and Times in tow
Previous Chapter: 35. In 2 days we will set sail around the world sailing adventure
Or…if you’d like to carry on reading all about our journey from selling up and sailing away, you can purchase my book, ‘Changing Lifestyles – Trading the Rat Race in For A Sail Around The World,’
 | READER REVIEW "I finished your book this week and absolutely loved it! It was great to read about your early days in many places we also sailed. I loved the way you combined your blogs/real life scenarios with advise on boat maintenance, letting go of your previous life and about your honestly throughout. I enjoy your style of writing Kim, and I loved the little Sienna quotes." Jayne Eames-Thornton, s/v Delphinus |
Hello and congratulations on your wonderful plan! We heard through a friend that you have received criticism for setting off with a child – what a load of baloney! We left Gibraltar in 2007 with a 3 year old and had a fantastic year off from work, sailing to the Caribbean and then Maine. It brought us closer as a family and gave us a new perspective on what’s important in life. In 2011, we picked up where we left off and sailed from Maine to Australia, where we are now, our son having done grades 2, 3, and now 4 on board. I always remind critics that driving on highweays is far more dangerous. Or take skiing, with all the accidents there. Yet people take their three year olds skiing or in the car without a second thought.
Our sailing years have been the healthiest and best of our lives. While crossing the Pacific, we had good company: a German boat with two boys, ages 3 and 5; an Austrian-french with three kids under 12, a British boat with 2 young sons, Brazilian with two girls, etc. In Suwarrow (an uninhavited Cook Island), there were 15 sailing kids at one time, all lealthy, happy, and having a ball. a little like their parents!
We wish you the time of your lives and are confident you’ll have it!
– from Nadine Slavinski (author, by the way, of a book on home schooling on boats titled Lesson Plans Ahoy – it shows how many people do it!).
Hey Nadine! Thank you so much for your comment. I hope the whole world sees it 🙂 I’ll have to get ‘Lessons Plans Ahoy’ as soon as I can. I did a search before we left regarding homeschooling on a boat but I must have missed it. It’s great that you and so many families/children/nationalities all traveled together! What an amazing experience. Big smiles 🙂