Clean feet, green trees and an ocean view that stays horizontal. I appreciate these things as I look out of my office window. Mark and I are thrilled to be back in our comfortable home, enjoying friendships and the beauty of Willis Point. However, we miss Salacia and we're sad that our adventure is over.

Looking back on the summer, our time in Desolation Sound was an excellent finale to our year. The familiar waters and anchorages quickly reminded us that few places rival the cruising grounds of BC. The anchorages are lovely, safe places to enjoy the lush natural surroundings and tuck in for shelter from the weather. It was great to sleep soundly, without wave motion and without threat of a dragging anchor. No waves over the bow and no overnight passages, it was good to be in home waters!

I savored the summer on Salacia, knowing that my unstructured time was coming to an end. I appreciated having the time and energy (thanks to cooler weather) that allowed us to be active nearly every day - hiking, kayaking, rowing and swimming. Prawning became a favorite activity as well. There's nothing like hauling up the trap and finding 52 jumbo prawns, all ready for a peel-and-eat feast! Certainly, the best part of the summer involved spending time with our friends onboard Salacia. Dave and Deb Tolman were great guests and awesome seafood providers. Finally, the summer and our sailing year ended on a high note when Ken and Trish Smith met up with us in the Gulf Islands.

Now, our boxes are unpacked and our home looks much the same as before we left. I'm back to work at the College and Mark is busy with fire department duties and projects at home and on the boat. In some ways, we've slid back into our old lives with ease. In other ways, everything has changed. Having experienced a different lifestyle over the past year, my perspective and priorities have changed - I appreciate people and simple things that I had previously taken for granted. I'm finding it's easier to discern what's important in life and what's not. Also, after seeing how the Mexican people live, I question the pace of life that I see around me. Mark and I certainly haven't transformed into a laidback, slow moving couple, but we're trying to retain the simple lifestyle and balanced perspective we gained living on our boat.

Looking back at a year of new experiences and 8000 miles of sailing and traveling through the US and Mexican Pacific Coasts and the Hawaiian Islands, I am certain of a few things. I love where I live; I have no question that I have made my home in one of the very best places in the world. On the other hand, I can't wait to travel again, even if it means crossing another ocean on a sailboat. There is something very alluring about the sea and sailboat living. I know that I want to travel and live this lifestyle again.

For now, arriving in Mexico in just a few short hours via plane appeals to us as well. We've booked flights for just after Christmas, and we look forward to revisiting some of our favorite places - Melaque, Barra de Navidad and Tenacatita - by land. Undoubtedly, we'll looking longingly at boats sailing by the shoreline. Who knows, maybe we'll run into some cruiser friends who will take us out for a sail!

Finally, thanks for following and participating in our website. We enjoyed reading all your comments, even those anonymous ones! The connection with family, friends and the cruiser community, through the website, was important to us during our year away from home. Thank you for sharing in our adventures, and we look forward to hearing about yours! Smooth sailing to you all!