Maybe for some we make this life look glamorous, maybe we make it look exciting and possibly you might think we are brave. But what we don’t share is how hard it is. We are dictated to by elements and our decisions have dramatic consequences. Fortunately second guessing is more a thing of the past and our gut feel has kept us safe. But as dry, salty, weathered and wind swept skippers to whom the sea is our home, we don’t complain because while this life is hard and sometimes really difficult it has delivered GypsyDjango to beautiful places and my motto definitely has become ‘wherever the wind takes us’. 👏. 🔱✨💛
Last week I ran a circular route around island Badija and did not even make 5k’s - it was that small. Earliest written reference to this Island dates back to 1737 and hosts a special and interesting history. I was spoilt with an extremely close encounter with the local deer and paused on my run to listen to the singing of the resident monks in the active monastery.
It was with a quickening of my heart that I realized how immeasurable this life of mine is. Time passes very quickly, in fact too quickly on GypsyDjango. I seldom know what day of the week and definitely not the hour it is but I am somehow always aware of the current wind speed 😊. But I digress as I often do. While there is a certain lacking of stability in this lifestyle and I have given up my hold on land and to material possessions, I have discovered a monetary system where the currency is built on relationships and surpasses any of my dreams and goals in life.
Running along I yet again realised I am the most fortunate person I know and wish I could share this lifestyle with everyone. While it’s lonely at times, and Kev must surely be sick of seeing me everyday 24x7, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. And if not this, then something similar and a lot sooner.
It’s been 19 months since leaving our home in South Africa and 14 months living full time as liveaboards on GypsyDjango. Life has become, in the simplest terms, about the migration to Croatia for summer and back to Spain for the winter. If all things are allowed, a visit to South Africa later this year would be perfect.
But it is more than that; it’s about the new learnings and experiences gained along the way in both skills and personal growth. There is no greater moment for self-reflection than the early pre-dawn hours, watching the horizon slowly lighten on your third consecutive day out at sea. It’s a time for appreciation of life and the people that matter to you.
Along the way across those nautical miles we have collected more than a few very special friends. We have realized that neither distance nor country limit relationships built with people that we have encountered and have connected to. Meeting different nationalities with their wonderful cultures has further broadened the experience. Yes, remember the 8 Frenchmen- they were awesome 😉.
We have had the most beautiful sunrises and spectacular sunsets, really scary experiences that fortunately went the right way and weather that at best will do anything but behave as forecast. The hours at sea have built a great respect for people like us that choose this life where every impact has a consequence and nothing is predictable or foreseeable. And whatever comes our way is managed as best as we can and sometimes you just have to say ‘it is what it is’.
Let’s not detract from the adrenaline sailing moments which involved almost being boarded by an unknown and unmarked boat at 2am in the morning while crossing the Mare Ionio (Italy Boot) armed only with a flare gun. After shining their blinding spotlights on GypsyDjango while circling us for 20 minutes, they fortunately decided we were not worth the effort. Maybe it was naked Kevin who came running up on deck after I shouted “emergency” that scared them off 😉. There is something about Italians and boats that keeps life interesting (scary?) Be it this incident, or the motor boat that impaled themselves on our bowsprit last year, or two days ago when a yacht decided to drop their anchor over ours. After they had many failed attempts to release us, Kev had to swim out to untangle us/them to which 6 young Italian bevies, leaning over the side staring at their hero, shouted a cheery “have a nice day” as they sailed off.
And as we discover more locations we discover more about what we want in life. And this is something that is slowly unfolding. We chose this life to maximise our time in Croatia but have discovered other beautiful lands along the way. Croatia is no longer our end goal but rather a destination on our travels to be shared and enjoyed with others. As is Barcelona and the Balearics, our home away from home (if nomads can still have a home?). And so when we leave stunning Croatia in September, to make the migration back to Barcelona, it will be with more than a touch of sadness. But also with much excitement for the journey and nights at sea which, to me, have become rather special. But first, a few weeks in the Greek Ionian islands. So this year is pretty much mapped out but where will we be in 5 years time? No idea, possibly where the winds take us and in between there and now I have goals to live every moment I can with awareness and gratitude creating memories along the way.
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