Planning in the rain

Like I earlier mentioned, there has been many days of heavy rain on this island lately. For the past fourteen days it has basically looked something like this. Rain, thunder, lightning and more rain. Sun has occasionally showed up one hour here one other there but there has been no possibilities to plan for any excursions or anything outside the boat for these past two weeks. The rainy period has definitely arrived and the hurricane season will soon be knocking on the door here in the Northern Caribbean islands, as well. Boring in a way that we haven't had the chance to get out exploring more on this beautiful island, but on another hand it has been good for us as we have gotten a lot of other things done. Some boat projects have been done, I have been working on my little projects and Alex have been working with his things. 

When we arrived to the Caribbean we decided that in case we wanted to continue sailing and leading this lifestyle we've chosen also after those two years we had saved money for, we would need to work every once in a while to not have to burn all of our savings. I have my things going on which I get a relatively good income from and I'm looking forward to increase this with time, and Alex have been lucky enough to literally get well paid jobs thrown over him since the very beginning of when we arrived to the Caribbean. A couple of boat deliveries, a few day skipper jobs and also some weeks of composite repairs and joinery on several larger yachts here in Antigua.

There were two ways we could have done this journey, either we could've seen this "world tour" as a longer vacation like many people do and then they return home to pick up with work again when the money is about to run out, that's what we could have done, we could have had the time of our lives for a limited time with no work during the same period but also we would probably get greeted by a great chock that day when we had to get back to the normal civilization - or, second option, we could see this as not an utter vacation, but actually our new life. In order to be able to continue with this life or lifestyle for as long as we wish to we would need to see that it was a sustainable life, which means that we would need to see some incomes coming in every once in a while so that we could continue doing what we love which is to sail around the world in our own tempo, enjoy life on our new found way of living without too many obligations, on our own conditions and basically that is what we've chosen to do.

We have now managed to lay it out in the way that if we continue to love this kind of lifestyle, then we would be able to keep on for as long as we want to and that is incredibly relieving and securing to know. We spend time on working with things that we somewhat enjoy for in average one week per month and then we're enjoying vacation in beautiful islands the rest of the time. This is a way of living which suits us the most and like that we would also be able to return with some cash saved that day when we decide to get back on land. We have many and wide dreams for the future and this way we've chosen to live now have given us a chance to both enjoy life to the max and also save and invest a bit for those future plans, during the very same time.

As for the question what's next? Alex has another work project going on here for a couple of days and thereafter we'll be leaving down South to Grenada to put the boat safe there for the hurricane season. We will be making several stops before we arrive, such as St Marteen perhaps, St Lucia for sure, the Grenadines, St Vincent and Mustique which we look very much forward to and also the Tobago Cays. In case there are any early hurricane alerts on the radio, we will rush down to a safe harbor in a day or two. Hurricanes does usually blow much above the area of Grenada and it is said to be safe down there. Alerts of an arriving hurricane from the Atlantic ocean normally comes in with 2-3 days notice and that should be enough for us to get our things together and quickly sail down to safety. In the meanwhile we will be enjoying our path along the coasts of the islands we've missed down there so far.

If just this constant rain could stop that would make everything a tad bit more interesting. Anyone knows if it is raining much down in Grenada during June-November? /T

The financial side of a circumnavigation

What is our financial situation and how are we be able to do what we’re doing? This must be the most frequently asked question we've received since we started this blog so let me now tell you a bit about it.

We had a bit of money saved when we decided to start this tour. Some parts of our belongings had also to get sold for us to be able to cast off and a part of the money came from savings. Most of the dollars went to equip the boat and get all things we needed for a journey like this. Boat mechanics, vaccinations, diving equipment, expensive satellite broadband and other communication devices, medicines, comfortable and cozy accessories for the boat, new rigging, safety equipment, a good insurance for us and the boat, documentation equipment - cameras etc, new anchors and all kinds of other technical and mechanical stuff we might've be in need of. Our strategy was to try figuring out what exactly in material would make us comfortable and happy living on a boat and we made sure to get everything we could possibly need and have the space for on a small sailing vessel, throw out the rest and thereafter live moderately inexpensive in the paradise. We also calculated to have enough money saved for around two years of traveling on a medium sized budget which would be good for all of our needs plus an extra buffer in case something would happen to us or the boat. Unfortunately we've had quite a few emergency costs already and we must admit that we've spent a bit too much from the original plan so we do most definitely have to think about what is getting spent and we can't go crazy on the shopping part for example. Not that we're in need of it anyway, and we definitely do not have any space left for anything even if we would want to.

We do not worry about the financial part too much though as we know that there are always ways to make money in case we would be in need of it. Besides of the successful mastering engineering carrier he left behind, Alex is also an extremely experienced and skilled skipper and he has the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore certificate. This license could get him a well paid job both here in the Caribbean or anywhere in the world for that matter. And myself will keep on with what I do best and continue my little struggling of a freelance photographer, writer and web designer and there will (hopefully) always be something creative to make some money on. Also we got the blog which is bringing in a few dollars every month. So, although it might seem like we're living a dolce vita, we - just like many other sailors/circumnavigators or other people for that matter, do live by a limited budget and it is all a life of compromises and prioritizations.

We are both pretty used to spend dineros and live a flashy life but we have lately figured that a life without too much things, is a very healthy and refreshing life. Real happiness doesn't come in silky packages and in diamond shapes like we all know, but in genuine and pure joy and love. Add freedom, sunshine, music and good food to that and we're more than satisfied. As long as we have the health and each other, as long as our boat and home is comfortable and cozy, as long as we're able to eat and drink well, able to enjoy music, sunshine, the ocean and inspiring cultures and people - then we're happy and do not need much else. And when the time arrives when we feel like we're done with the ocean to this particular extent, well then we’re always able go back to where we came from if we would want to. Or Europe doesn't tempt much at all for the moment, but I could do whatever I'm doing more or less anywhere in the world and the same goes for Alex, he could always open up a new mastering studio or start working with another well reputed studio somewhere in the world so there are always an endless amount of opportunities for us for that day we decide to say ciao and see you later to the ocean. Or best would probably be to try combining the best of two worlds later on.

For all of you people out there who're dreaming of doing something like sailing around the world or anything involving the meaning of casting off from the normality, we would like to give you some encouragement: Take the chance while you got it, the hard thing is to let it all go but if you don't do it now, when will you? And money is just money in the end, there will always be ways to make new ones. If you decide to take the step into a new era in life and you’re planning on getting beyond your normal security zone, try not to be scared. There will always appear a time and place where you can get back to where you started if you absolutely need to. Nothing is forever and a change in life isn’t that hard after all, just think about it, what is really the worst thing that could happen – and realize it isn’t so hard after all. Then think about all the wonderful, amazing, thrilling new things and experiences you would be able to gain and receive, if you just dared to take a chance.

For us is this part of our lives a very important one and we're willing to leave everything and every kind of security behind just to be able to take part of this wonderful adventure. Cost what it has to cost. The risks comes with the rewards. And would we never had tried this out we would never know what is the best way around. And who wants to die clueless? To dare is to live, like some wise man once said, remember that and get out there now and take some risks.

And hire us when we run out of money please. /T