Larry holding the Fijian Flag
June 17, 2014

I recently read a German proverb -

Wealth lost, something lost;
Honor lost, much lost;
Courage lost, all lost.

As we slowly make our way from New Zealand to Fiji, in some of the most notoriously known rough waters of the world, this proverb gave me something to contemplate. Too seasick to read or watch movies, too dangerous to cook in front of a hot stove, lack of internet and all traditional forms of communication, and too exhausted from lack of sleep due to the constant motion makes you just want to scream, "Stop! I want to get off!" But that's not an option, so I spend a lot of time thinking, which is probably not a real popular thing to do anymore given society's access to all things electronic 24/7. What I've concluded is that yes, our so called 'wealth' has definitely been lost. Buying a boat and sailing around the world is definitely not something you do as a sound portfolio investment! Putting said boat "on the hard" for a year and moving to one of the more expensive places in the world to care for a loved one is not helpful in making deposits in the bank. Then returning to resume your travels and having to get things all "ship shape" again leaves a deep gauge in the pocket book. But all we've lost in this lifestyle we choose is "something's". We are not wealthy by a Forbes or a Kardashian standard, yet I realize by the average worlds standard we are very rich. And something's are just that...some things. Things aren't memories and friendships and experiences of a lifetime...and I wouldn't trade that for the world.

Honor, well we feel like we've gained honor. We did what we said we would. We did it with patience and love and grace. And as we reflect on the one year anniversary of Larry's mom's passing, as much as we miss her we feel good about the choices we've made, which enabled us to be there for her when it really mattered.

Ahhhh...and last but not least, courage. Courage is the word that inspired me to write about this. Courage is the new mantra that swirls around in my head, as I am paralyzed down in my bunk, too afraid to move as I hear the wind howling and the waves crash around our hull. Courage is my husband who tells me, "don't worry, everything is gonna be fine." Courage is him surviving a nasty divorce, a child custody battle, a broken back, a lifetime of pain...a thirty year career in the fire service, a teenage daughter and now son :) , getting rid of everything and letting go of all his material wealth...and now sailing across this angry ocean. Courage is the best word that I can use to describe my husband. He has never lost his.

For those of you who followed the saga of S/V Rebel Heart recently in the news - the sailing vessel that had to call for help 900 miles off the Mexican coast on their way to the Marquesas Islands, kudos to them! It takes real courage to do what they were trying to do and I am certain that they wanted nothing but the best experience for themselves and their young children. It is a monumental amount of work to prepare for a journey like this. And it's scary stuff out here sometimes, definitely not for the faint of heart and, I have to say, it is about the LEAST glamorous thing any girl could do!