Airabess Life

We are no longer in travel mode.  We are rooted.  And LOVING it. Making our house a home. Nurturing relationships.  Experiencing life in one place.
So, the nature of this space has changed.  And while I am not going to abandon it forever... it's just not about the travel right now.
So, until travel is in the forefront again,  I have started a new blog.  The focus is less on Airabess life, and more on the things I am doing.  Yoga, writing, homeschooling, vino, food...You get the idea. 

If you are so inclined, check it out.  If not... until we meet again.

http://findingmywaylivingthisdream.blogspot.com/

My Cup Runneth Over

The lack of blog posts is due to the fullness of life living. 

This crew has been adjusting to life in one place and enjoying everything that involves. 

Still not taking ourselves too seriously though. And that's how we like it. 

Decisions, decisions

This last year has been so amazing.  But if you had told me a year ago that I wouldn't be living on our boat in a tropical local, well I would have been really offended.  I mean we worked so hard to get to that place.  We had spent years and years planning and making shit happen.  So, how could we NOT be 'there'.  
Well, 'there' is a funny concept.  For some people it's a very specific destination, be it financial, spatial or mental.  For me it's been about finding myself.  I am so fortunate that I get to go on the journey with my love, my partner and that we have been able to show our kid that changing your perspective really can take you places; financially, spatially and mentally.  

And while the journey is never really over, it's time for this crew to put the wanderlust on the breaks for a bit.  It's really hard to travel for extended period of time.  Even if you take your house with you.  Even if you had every intention of that destination tropical local LESS than a year ago.  Especially when you sell one travel home for another.  I mean we had plans.  We acted on them and well... Life just says, "Try this... see what happens."
What can I say?  There IS something to be said for a full size kitchen (we love to cook) and level floors with a roof (can I say Yoga!).  And doors.  Doors are really nice.  From sea to the road... doors.  Don't shut a door in your house for just one week and see how it changes you. 

We are currently hanging out on the Oregon coast.  We are enjoying our freedom, but we are also ready to plant ourselves and make some roots.  Our biggest decision is deciding where we want to grow, where we want to be.  Because we are really ready to just be in one place.

Well,  I'm pretty sure we've got it.  We have seen enough to know where we fit, and what fits for us.    And, though we put it out into the universe on a many different levels, it's not here.  We found viable employment (thank you so much for the pats on the back~you know who you are).  We imagined ourselves in so many different homes that were so perfect for us.  Just.  Just not here.  We so wanted it to be.  We sort of planned on it.  Well, damn.... plans. Lesson learned.  Again.

You can tell when you visit a place if it will work for you.  You can feel it.  We felt it in Morro Bay, unfortunately the amount of work to living life ratio didn't fit.  Just because we want to settle down doesn't mean we want to become slaves to the man. 
So, while we aren't really ready to tell the world, we have decided were we call will home.   

I will say this....  we are selling our house in St. Augustine.  So it's not there.  But it is somewhere we have loved for a very long time.

I'm not trying to be obtuse.  I am just being real... we could change our minds again.  We already did 3 times this week, even after telling part of our world.  

Redrock Canyon State Park

Another long drive, but gorgeous.  Mountains surrounding us most of the way.  We saw the famous Joshua tree while driving, and then again sprinkled around the Canyon.  

Another dry camp in the desert.. the last for awhile.  The temperature

was so nice.  Not too hot or cold.  

We explored the canyon around our site.  All of us agreed the walls looked like the drippy castles we use to make at the beach back home.  

Our first night we had a fire... the first one since Louisiana.  It was an amazing night~ sitting by the fire under the stars.  

After school the next day we hiked to the rim of the canyon.  I am still so amazed at the flowers in bloom here as well as the variety of rocks and minerals in the area.  

Pretty stoked that I was able to get my mat out as well.  Practice on the mat has been more challanging than I thought it would be on this trip.  Yoga as of late has been hiking and reflection and breath work.  But the weather is so nice now, and I can almost always find a semi-level spot.   Live is good. 

 

The Lone Star State Part 1

Our first stop in Texas was League City (just outside of Houston).  Not the normal stop for the average road-tripper, but we were visiting Hub's mom. 

She took us into Galveston where Hub's spent some of his formative years.  It was FREEZING the day we went... We still managed to check out some of Hub's old haunts.  A lot of the places we saw weren't exactly like he had remembered.  Hurricane Ike changed the landscape substantially.  When the town rebuilt, they upgraded in places. 

  Galveston Bay is host to the oil tankers in and out of Texas City.  We tool a quick look, but left quickly as the wind was howling and we had all turned into popsicles. 

While it was great to see family, we were glad to get out of the hustle and bustle of the greater Houston area.   

We took our leave on another rainy, cold morning.  But by the time we made it to our next destination, Guadalupe State Park (just north of San Antonio), the sun was out and the mercury was rising.  It turned out to be a gorgeous couple of days there.  We finally had some elevation and terrain.  Hub's got some serious mountain biking in.  I was able to finally get my mat outside again. Coco and I hiked up and around the Guadalupe River.  She earned a Texas Junior Ranger badge.  
***Guadalupe State Park has a fantastic interactive Discovery Center for kids. They offer many different hands on activities and exhibits.  I highly recommend the park for families.***
  

After Guadalupe River SP was Lost Maples Natural Area.  But first we had to get there.  
It was the first time the good ole RV Airabess had to climb up and with the pedal to the floor she really doesn't have that get up and go.  But she does have some serious momentum going down.  It was by far the most exciting road we have traveled. 
Hubs and Coco loved it.  I did too, after I had a mini anxiety attack during the roller coaster up, down, and around through Hill Country. 

We were parked in the valley and there were cliff outcroppings on both sides.  For this Florida family it was a thrill to have to look up at the landscape just outside our window.  

Lost Maple offered the highest hiking elevation yet at 2500 feet.  Coco was a champ and made it up the steep and rugged inclines with no complaint~ chatting me up the whole way.  Once to the top we got our first really impressive vista.  
At night the sky was a blanket of stars that, even aboard S/V Airabess, were brighter and clearer than we have seen so far.  That alone is worth the trip. 

We are currently in San Angelo and the weather has turned.  There is snow predicted next week... not really something we wanted to see on this trip.... but we will roll with it.  After a couple of days here we (think) the Monahans Sandhills before an extended stay at the Guadalupe Mountains National Park (the highest peak in Texas at 8700ish feet). 

I'll post more pics soon.  Loading them with out enough bandwidth is PAINFUL!

Too Many Adjectives

One more week and Hubs is finished at work. The next day he is heading down to Airabess to do a couple days of prep work on her, then back to the house. When he gets back it's serious crunch time~ last minute home projects, processing our last bit of stuff, logistics, saying our goodbyes... 

And we are outta here!

Oh, and the day before we leave, Coco and I are going to Soulshine.  It's her first concert. She can hardly contain herself. Neither can I for that matter. While she and I are getting our yoga and dance on my wonderful Hubs is going to be packing up the car and prepping us to head south first thing the following morning. Have I mentioned how much I love and appreciate him.  He does take care of us. 😊

www.soulshine.com/

To say we are excited would be an understatement. If you think we are ready, well, you would be right. But ready, and excited really don't cover it. A lot nervous... We are leaving our home in someone else's hands for at least a year, a little apprehensive to set out... um, yeah!  Ecstatic, joyful, eager, terrified, thrilled, hopeful, you name it we've experienced it on some level. 

But it is TIME! Finally.  Well, in 3 weeks. 

Backyard Bouquets

One hundred percent ready to be back on our boat. But, trying to enjoy this time here.  We are so, so, so busy. 

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Paring down our materials to the bare minimum. 

Getting our house ready for our renter... Which is super challenging while we are still living here. 

I'm finishing up my Yoga Teacher Training.

 Hubs is cranking out some serious hours at work. 

Coco heads to sailing camp next week. 

School plans for next year. 

Collecting and purchasing the things we need for Airabess. 

Trying to see all the people we are going to miss while we are gone. 

You get the idea. LOTS TO DO!  

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It's so weird to think someone else is going to be living in our house. And exciting at the same time... Because that means we have taken the leap. 

We have widdled down to only a few material possessions each. It was a process. Now that it's done though... It's so liberating. I can honestly say I'm not missing any of the things that I've already parted with. And it's getting easier to let things go. Some things we donated, a few we sold, and others we gave to friends and family. The only things we've really held onto (besides necessities) are pictures and art work. 

Longing for family dinners and sunset chats. But it's coming. This time we have perspective. This time we have unloaded some financial and mental burdens. This time we are ready.... Well as ready as you can be we when you sell everything and move aboard a 34 foot ancient catamaran with your family of 3 and dog. 

For now, I'll be patient and enjoy what this space has to offer~ backyard bouquets. 

The Next Step

I haven't posted in awhile because we have been readjusting to being on land.  And I'm sad and overwhelmed by it all.  

A sad sight.  But it is temporary.

I am so very grateful to have a home to return too and wonderful friends to welcome us back.  But,  the novelty of a big bed, reliable WiFi, and unlimited water... it's kind of worn off.

We left Airabess patiently waiting for us in the Keys.  And when we return we have a ton of projects to do.   Some before we get her wet, but most we can do while aboard.  I never thought I would be so excited to work on her. 

Unfortunately, we have sooo much to do here at home.  We have decided to go big for our next adventure.  To do that we need to rent our house.  To rent out our house we need to sell most of our belongings and get our little beach cottage ready. It's going to take some time. It takes time to make time... wait that's money.. anyway.  We are busy, busy, busy... again.  

Hubs is in crazy work mode (we hardly see him anymore).  Coco and I are wrapping up this school year.  I am working with the nonprofit I started last year, Earth's Lifeline Global Warriors,  teaching eco-classes around our little town, along with the odd job here and there.  And, because I really don't have much to do, I am working on getting my yoga teacher training certification.  

We have our lists again.  The working ones, the planning ones, the things to go, to sell~ you get the idea. 

All of this and a summer to do it in.  

I'm not complaining though.  I am so very fortunate to have this challenge and the reward waiting at the finish line is even sweeter.  


If you are interested in Earth's Lifeline Global Warriors, Inc.~ what we do and how we do it~ click the link.  It is something I am very passionate about.  I plan on working on expanding it as we travel.  Let me know what you think.

www.earthslifelineglobalwarriors.org

Yoga Aboard

When we first set out on this journey back in November, I was just trying to survive this boat adventure. I had so many things to learn (and still do). There was sooo much to do. And we were in crazy travel mode because we wanted/needed to get as far south as possible  as fast as we could. 

My yoga practice took a back seat for several reasons. Mainly it was impossible to do any type of asana practice while moving. I was co piloting our tank of a boat and when I wasn't on first mate duties I was asleep. We had a pretty rigorous travel schedule down the ditch. And even if I could make it happen before the sun was up (and we were under way) everything was soaking wet. 

I tried a few times on the dock when we were tied up at marinas. In both instances it was really cold so a full practice would have been unsafe for the body. I did work on breathing and trying to just be (and that is just as much a part of practice as the movement). 

Then, we finally made it to The Keys and it was non stop raining and crazy wind. I had no where to practice. On our bow is where it's at. There isn't space to do it anywhere else on board. Well, not without taking out a person, dog, shelf, bulkhead etc... 34 feet people is a decent amount of space for a boat, but by no means is there room to spread out. Spread out... What does that mean anymore? 

I'm pretty confident our 850 square foot house is going to feel palatial after this little journey. 

But I digress~ yoga. 

Mid January I was totally moody and kind of over it. I was over the whole thing- the boat, the rain, the wind, my family (lots of face time in tight spaces with all the weather. I love them, but if you were squeezed into a tin can with the ones you love the most for weeks at a time... You might be over them too). 

Then Hubs reminded me that I hadn't rolled my mat out in awhile. A long while. And even though they were totally legit reasons I needed to start making it happen, for everyone aboard. That's the thing with yoga for me- yes it's great physically, but it is so much more a mental thing for me. And props to my Hubs for recognizing that and then reminding me. 

So slowly, but everyday (unless there was rain) I rolled out my mat.  It took some time to find my groove again.  I started with what I know- Ashtanga. I worked my way through the primary series. Some days I modified because I just wasn't back yet. Sometimes I modified because, while I have the space on the bow, there is wind and boat wakes to contend with. I'm not trying to hurt myself. 

That's something I had to come to terms with too. I absolutely have to be mindful of what's going on around me when I practice on the boat. Mindfulness is part of yoga. But this is different. Take inversions for example. I love inversions. When I'm home or on land I always make extra time to work on going upside down. I can't do that on the boat. I could be upside down in a headstand or handstand and another boat flies by and I flip over the bow and break my back. It's just not worth the risk. So, when I can't make it to land  I focus on seated postures. I have more control there. 

I thought it would hurt my practice. But, the opposite has happened. I am more open to what can happen as opposed to what should happen. 

Sometimes Coco will join me. She will drift up do a few postures, occasionally help with an adjustment, then go back to what she s doing. 

 I use to have a bit of a complex about practicing on the bow  in the full harbor. I'm over that. Admittedly I was a bit of a novelty for passers by in the beginning. Now, I'm just part of the back drop. 

 I am back to practicing 6 days a week.... And everyone onboard is better for it. 

Namasté

Growing Gills

We have been gifted with an almost perfect weather window. Sunny, clear skies, and ideal temperatures (mid 70's- mid 80's). The nights have been calm with just the right amount of a breeze to be comfortable and keep the bugs away.  

The crew aboard Airabess has taken full advantage~ on land and by sea. 

The Marathon Community Park is within walking distance to the marina. So, on the windy days we dingy over. Coco and Hubs play basketball or run around the playground while I roll out my mat. Other times we will take Willow so she can run around. 

But because the water has been so calm we have been snorkeling and swimming our butts off. 

The other day we drove to Baha Honda State Park. I'm not as comfortable under the water as I am on it.  But, Bahia Honda was a great way to ease my way into our marathon of snorkeling. 

The next day we sailed to Sombrero Lighthouse Reef. Coco was in absolute heaven.  I wish (and will soon) had an underwater camera. Although pictures never do things like that justice...

Yesterday we took the dingy off shore to West Sister Rock and swam around there. The clarity and visibility wasn't as good as the previous 2 days... So, after I looked around under the surface for a bit I hopped back on the dingy and just watched my peeps. They are pretty cute those two. 

After rinsing off back on Airabess, Coco and Hubs wanted more water time~ so back on the dingy they  went. This time to fish their favorite spot. And yes, for those who are wondering.... They caught dinner, 2 nice size mangrove snapper (for myself and Hubs, Coco will catch, but she won't eat it).  Apparently they caught a ton more, but threw them back. 

Today is Tuesday. So that means homeschool PE at the city park. Have I mentioned how much I love this place?!  It is perfection for families like us who are easing in to this whole live aboard/cruising thing. 

More fishing for father and daughter once we get back to the boat. For me... I'm planning on rolling my mat out on the bow. 

Fingers crossed we have fish again for dinner. 

“It is good to have an end to journey toward, But it is the journeythat matters in the end.”

Hubs~ Did you look at the hatches?
Me~ Of course I did.  They look great.
Hubs~ Seriously, did you really look at them?
Me~ Yes, I looked at them.
Hubs~ Well… what do you think?
Me~ Babe, they look really great.  Good job.
Hubs~ You didn’t look at them. Did you?
Me~ Yes, they are FANTASTIC.  Truly.  Awesome job.
Hubs~ Whatever, you don’t get it.  It’s like your yoga.  Some pose… it’s cool and all, but… you don’t get it.
He goes outside.  I presume to admire his hatches (that I don’t get).  Two minutes later he comes back in the house with said hatches.
He made me really look at them.  And, well, he did do an awesome job.  He shaped them, sanded them, sanded them again, and again.  Painted them, sanded, sanded, sanded, and painted.  I could see my reflection, and apparently there is another coat of paint to go on.
I’m not going to lie.  I don’t have that kind of patience. 
But, he was right. 
Sunday morning yoga is my thing.  And every Sunday I come home and try to show him whatever new asana I have been working on.  He really doesn't care, but he humors me... every single time.  So, tomorrow, our conversation will just be flipped around.  AND then he will go back out in the garage to his hatches.
It dawned on me when he made the yoga comment, though.  I practice yoga.  And every day I mark my progress.  He is marking progress.  He is taking pride… just like I do when I come home from class and show off, what Coco calls, my new trick.  Me with my yoga, my man and the boat. Neither of us will ever be done.  But, every day we move forward.  It becomes more a part of us.  I will never get there within my practice, but I will always be putting in the work.  Working on, living on, dreaming on a boat are no different.
I get it.