We are moving on to our sailboat Ohana in three weeks. I can’t believe I’m writing that. We’ve planned this move for five years. Years of pouring over budgets, spreadsheets, maps, boat listings, weather routing sites, vision boards… And now the BIG move day is almost here. Wild!
The plan is to move aboard the boat on July 1st and then take July to settle in. Our oldest daughter, eleven-year-old Josie, will fly to Canada (my homeland) to go to camp with a family friend. Jeff, six-year-old Louella, and I will take the time to move in and make the boat our home. at the end of July, the three of us will fly to Toronto to meet Josie and spend time with my family. Side note – I’m really excited to return to Canada – it’s been almost three years since we’ve been home due to the pandemic. Way too long to be away from my family – and from all of the butter tarts and poutine.
We will return from Toronto in early August, but via Vancouver. We’ll make a quick jump across the border to visit Jeff’s sister Diana’s family in Friday Harbor, Washington. Can’t wait! And then we’ll finally return to Los Angeles by mid-August to for our final preparations for the first leg of our voyage.
The general plan for now is to head north from Long Beach towards the Channel Islands off the coast of Santa Barbara for about three weeks. We want to take our time exploring the beautiful anchorages and use the time to help us get acclimated to living “off the grid.” Truthfully, I’m almost as excited for this part of our trip as I am for heading south of the border. Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa and supposed to be magical. We hope to stop in Santa Barbara for a few days as well, and then begin slowly heading back down the coast towards San Diego by October. Homeschool will begin then – exciting! – as well as taking care of any final boat maintenance and preparation.
Let’s do this! Ready Aye Ready!