There's no place like home - so they say. Aboard a boat, home can be anywhere in the ocean world. For many sailors we know, their boat is in fact their only home. They have no other.

This is not true for us. Our home is in Kirkland, Washington, USA and we've been here in Kirkland since leaving the boat in Fiji on July 3rd. It's now the end of August and the plane tickets we have in hand are telling us that we are returning to Fiji this week. Are we ready to go? No, not really. When it all boils down to it, we rather like home.


This spring - before we had a bit of "summer cleanup".

Don't get the wrong impression - everything we need for returning to the boat is pretty much packed and ready to go. Repair parts, supplies, new clothes... It's us who are somewhat less than ready.



It doesn't help that the Seattle area has had one heck of a nice summer - at least for the two months we've been here. It's been bright, sunny and in the 70's, 80's and 90's consistently the entire time. It's rained all of one day. The weather has been fabulous, mesmerizing even, tricking us perhaps into thinking this is what home is like all the time. But deep down, we know better.

Perhaps what we need is some good old cold Seattle rain to chase us (and our emotions) back to our boat in the tropics. It's important for us to remember that it was two cold, rain-filled summers in a row that prompted us to begin our warm weather sailing adventure back in 2011.

The days ARE getting shorter here and hints of Fall are in the air. It is definitely on its way. Oddly enough, if we were stay here in Kirkland until October, it would be our second Fall this year - we just went through Fall this April in New Zealand. In returning to Fiji this week, we will escape the coming Fall and instead, head into Spring.

Yes, hemisphere hopping can be a little disorienting.

But the bittersweet we feel about leaving is not just about "home", a physical construction in a specific place. It's also about family. This is where our children live, our parents, siblings, nieces and nephews. Added to that, this is also where our grandchildren live and for those of you who have a few, you know what a pull that can be. This is especially true when they are 6 and 9 - some pretty magical ages for the grandparent set.


Dueling iPads - the modern equivalent of grandparents giving the kids candy.


Yes, it was warm enough to sail on Puget Sound in short sleeves this summer.


These past two months have been special on another level: reconnecting with friends, living with family and visiting those places that we see as our extended home. A big "Thank You" to all of you who have come to visit or have allowed us to come stay with you to catch-up and reconnect these past two months. Yes, the weather has been nice, but being able to spend time with friends and family put this summer over the top, regardless of what hemisphere it was in.


Nephews


Nieces


Sisters