The Motivation for Voyaging as a Family

by Paula

We feel very lucky to live in an area with an excellent and diverse choice of schools and with a wealth of opportunities for work.  We value the high education level of this area, and the rich and extensive cultural life here. At the same time, we find that the daily life we have lived over the past few years has morphed into a fairly stressful “rat race” existence.  Life is more hectic than we hope it would be, and we seem to be left with little time for leisure, quiet reflection, and fun with our kids.  We are looking to change that.

As you know, time passes quickly.  Assuming our kids go to college, we will be together as a family only five more years.  We are not presuming that our children would want to cruise with us in their mid-teens.  So if we are going to cruise as a family, now is the time.  Additionally, assuming we continue with traditional schools, Cash in only a year (and Nicole in three) will enter high school where “every grade counts” and where they have no time.  This leads them to college where “every grade counts” and they will have no time.  Then … career?  There is plenty of time to get stressed and serious about life.  It shouldn’t have to begin now.

While we truly value the high quality education provided by our current schools, we are not
totally satisfied that our children’s needs are being fully met.  The traditional setting is limited in the ways that it can individualize learning.  They’ve both done some amazing things, but we also find other ways in which we feel the schools fall short.  Both are growing bored with some aspects of school.  Cash is frequently frustrated that his homework schedule does not allow him the time to devote to his other interests.  We do not want their inherent love of learning and excitement for interests squelched by years of drudgery and/or high stress.

We are finding that we do not have the financial resources to do the kinds of things that we think will benefit ourselves and our kids, most notably travel.   We have tried to be modest when it comes to material goods – but our house is the big exception.  We want to trade that in, and enrich our lives with new experiences rather than things. 

We want to live meaningful lives.  We hope to create a life of joy, deep and loving relationships, growth, adventure, productivity, and meaning.  We want to take charge of these goals, and actively pursue them.  It has been hard to keep these ideals in the forefront, as they are easily subsumed by the details of daily existence.  Life here is still very good, and we feel it is important to find meaning and happiness whatever the circumstances, but we feel that breaking free of this traditional lifestyle is a great chance to open ourselves to a different perspective.  We hope this will broaden our understanding of the big world we live in and find insight into other ways to live.  It will offer our kids the chance to participate in their own education in a way that is highly personalized, deep, context-driven, intrinsically-motivated, and fun, while fostering independence, resilience, and responsibility.  This voyage is a chance to truly model the ideals we talk about.  We want to live the life we envision, not just talk about it.

We are all excited for the chance to live and travel aboard a sailboat together as a family.  We are aware of the downside and of the trade-offs it will require.  But we believe the experience will be worth the sacrifice, and we are willing to work to make it a fantastic adventure!