John Denver is singing “hey it’s good to be back home again” on the stereo and we’re chugging along at 7.5 knots on the Chesapeake Bay, making the not-so-giant passage from Annapolis back to Red Rover’s current slip in Baltimore, Maryland. It’s so good to be home, even though it is temporary.
I haven’t written much on the blog for the last year. I miss it. At first, it was just too painful. I felt like our dream that we worked so very hard for had come crashing down. First world problems, I know. This is not lost on me. In reality, this temporary change in our world has been simply a small speedbump in a pretty glorious life. We have our health and each other, we have been able to reconnect with people we love, and we’ve come to some even more firm conclusions about what matters to us.
Kevin and I landed in Seattle on January 7, 2023 to stand watch on a very different ship – Kevin’s company, Waypoint Sign Company. Kevin’s general manager, Darren, as many of you know, had been diagnosed with Stage III Colon Cancer. Pretty serious stuff. Much more so than my temporary life interruption. Thank you to everyone who cheered Darren on through emails, social media comments and texts. The best thing that happened in 2023 is that Darren beat cancer. And he beat it with the most positive attitude – an outlook that provided me with a good kick in my grumpy pants and a reminder to be grateful for all that I have. Thank you for that Darren. You are truly an inspiration.
For the last year we’ve been bi-coastal, living in an apartment in Seattle, visiting Red Rover once a month and taking a few short little cruises. I’ve temporarily gone back to work, adding to the Diesel Fund. Kevin goes to work every day. It’s been a giant shift for both of us. And for Max, of course, who thinks that the cold and rain in Seattle is ridiculous. But what did we discover through all of this?
Nature, it seems, is our stabilizing force. I used to work with an incredible coach, Julie, who helped me to grow my business and my self-confidence. At one time, Julie and I worked on an exercise where I came up with my three basic needs – to be outside, to be free to explore and to be in nature. Kevin worked through the same process and came up with very similar results. Interesting. I’m not sure how we allowed ourselves to forget this.
Our first few months back in Seattle felt incredibly confining. We lived in a box. It was dark, wet and depressing. In the spring we bought Avocado Toast (our 2008 Honda Element) and Kevin converted her into a mini-camper. The light began to creep back into our hearts and minds. The summer weekends were full of camping, hiking and cooking over bonfires. We fell back in love with our home state and its gorgeous peaks, forests and beaches. We saw Washington with new eyes – choosing to have an explorer mindset even though we had lived here for many, many years. Nighttime entertainment involved watching stars, days were spent adding dirt to legs that carried us up and down mountains. Cell service was blessedly non-existent. We were away from people, mental noise and constant messaging that tells us how we must “buy, have, do, compete.”
Fall came and the rain began to come back. Avocado Toast was disassembled and transformed back into an urban transportation device and our sadness started to grow once more. We needed a solution that allowed us to escape to nature (regardless of the weather), to continue to feed our need for adventure and to be away from the must-consume culture of living in a city. Oh, and of course, maybe Kevin needed some sort of project that involved watts, amps, ground clearance, water systems and building things.
Enter Lola, the newest member of our mini-fleet. Once a brick-laying van in Los Angeles, Lola is definitely a show girl. And now, as we convert her into a Sprinter adventure van, she’s our Pacific Northwest connection to the experiences that feed our soul. One day soon we will introduce Lola to Red Rover. We’re pretty sure they’ll be fast friends – kind of a “one if by land and two if by sea” situation.
It’s New Years Eve, and as usual I’m peppering Kevin with questions about his “intentions for 2024.” I’m a planner. I like to have some idea of what is around the corner. I even read the end of books first – no sense in getting attached to some character who is going to be a disappointment! Cruising works for me because there is so much research involved. 2023 was one of those years that did not lend itself to a plan. This was perhaps the hardest thing for me. But I think I’ve learned to trust that things will work out. Maybe. A little bit anyways.
That said, it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks and I’m of course working on some ideas for 2024. We’re pretty certain that our year will be centered around adventure, time outside and days split between dirt roads and the big blue watery highway. There will be some work too. I might lean into writing that book I keep talking about. Kevin will likely learn how to install solar panels on a Sprinter Van. We’re intending to spend many weeks of the summer with Red Rover in Maine. And hopefully, we’ll get back to planning the next big steps in our cruising life.
Cheers to 2024! May it be a year to remember!
Great post ❤️ This bump in the road is still an adventure! Way to make the best of it! We may just be boating together again one day!
Thanks amiga! I absolutely KNOW that we will be cruising together again. And I can’t wait!
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Happy New Year to you two! You are such a good writer Alison. I enjoyed reading your blog and looking forward to reading your book in the future.😊💖
Aww! Thanks so much Rita! Happy New Year to you two as well! I think this is really the year to start. Thank you for the encouragement!
So great to get an update on you guys and Darren. What a Blessing on many fronts. Stay strong and keep the faith. As you said Alison, everything has a way of working out!!! Happy, Healthy and a Safe 2024. God Bless.
Thanks Steve! I appreciate the support! Happy New Year to you! May it be full of happiness!
Happy New Year, everywhere! So great to read this and catch up on what you all have been up to. Keep on and keep posting when you can. xoxo from some of your Charleston, SC fans
Hey guys!! Happy New Year! I am so hoping to be back your way next fall. We will keep you posted! ❤️
So glad to hear Darren beat it!!! Wishing you guys the best for this year!!! It is hard being away from the water but your camping idea was great!!!
Thanks Kimberley! We too are so happy for Darren. Best news! We will be back out on the water as much as we can this year, but Lola will add in around the edges. 😁
It is so good to hear from you Alison. I glad you and Kevin have been more than making do traveling about and breathing new life into your dreams. I’m also happy to learn Darren is cancer free!
I hope this new year opens up many new possibilities for you both and I hope you will find everything you wish and long for! The call of the sea is hard to ignore for long.
Happy New Year!
Hi Stewart! I always love seeing your comments. Thank you for being such a reader!! I love your comment too. A great perspective. ❤️ Happy New Year to you!
Write the book! You are such a good writer.
Aww! Thank you! I have an idea that is growing so I think I may do it!
Alison,
Thank you for the update blog. We are so glad to hear that Darren has recovered and you have a new grandson. Congratulations! It looks like you have been enjoying yourselves even though it was your original plan to be away from cruising. Our new-to-us catamaran, Cerca Trova, has caused us some ongoing pains, as we’ve had both weather issues and breakdowns along the way. We are currently anchored in Lake Worth, FL, and are preparing to cross over to the Bahamas for the season as soon as we get the outboard running again. See, things seem to be constantly breaking on this new boat. At any rate, good luck and enjoy!
Bruce & Lynette Bayne – Cerca Trova (formerly on No Regrets)
Bruce and Lynette! I am so delighted to hear from YOU!! Thank you for the kind note. I hope we get to see each other (and your new cat!) on the water soon! Happy New Year to you two!
Its really great to have you guys back aboard. We truly missed your adventures on Rover. Life can throw you some curves but it looks like you two have rolled with the punches and come out better. We look forward to more Red Rover adventures this summer. Hope our courses cross some day and we can swap N55 stories.
Russ & Jo Frew
Gray Wolf N55-27
Brunswick, GA
Glad to know you and Kevin are doing well Alison, despite some setbacks this year. It was great to learn Darren has beat the cancer.
I hope this new year brings you closer to answering the call of the sea and fulfilling your dreams!
Best regards,
Stewart
Thank you Stewart! I really hope so too. We will be back to Red in late January for 10 days…not enough but something!!
Aww! Thanks guys!! I am hoping we can connect on the east coast. Are you headed north this spring? So appreciate the kind note! Happy New Year!
‘Twas great hearing from you again and it
Darren’s good news. Seems my last email that I can find is the 12/1/21 one. Could you send me whatever we missed please?
Hi Jeremy and Maureen! Thank you for your sweet note! I don’t actually know how to do an individual story deployment, but you can go to http://www.comeonrover.com and all of the stories back to 2016 (wow that seems like a long time ago!) are there. Happy New Year!
Very inspiring read! Look forward to your adventures in 2024 and beyond.
Hi Jim! Thanks for always taking the time to read my stories! And for commenting. Makes me feel good! Best wishes for a very happy New Year!
Happy New Year, and thanks for including us in your musings about what lies ahead. The fact that you’re actually engaged in creating your future sets you apart from most of the world — you’re not plodding along wishing for things to be different; you’re making them into what you want and need. Congratulations! Looking forward to hearing about more of your wonderful, joyful adventures.
Aww thanks Chris. You simply made my day with this note. We are trying!! I hope to share some more adventures very soon! Happy New Year to you!