Looking back on the previous year is always enjoyable. Seeing an entire year laid out helps me remember what I accomplished, what I missed, and what I want to change. Here is my 2018 year in review.
2018 was busy — in the best possible way.
One of the biggest changes that made the year so eventful was a lifestyle shift: we went from RVing full time to living on a sailboat. That transition brought a lot of new experiences and challenges, and it made the year unforgettable.
Before we made the switch, we spent time traveling in the RV, climbing mountains, riding our bikes more than ever, hosting family trips, and exploring new places. Then we sold the RV, bought a sailboat, and dove headfirst into life on the water.
Wes did a lot of sailing on his own as well: he logged over 5,000 nautical miles and sailed across Europe and the Caribbean. We enjoyed mountains, coastlines, deserts, beaches, and everything in between. The dogs adapted well to boat life, too.
2018 was full of travel, new friendships, and growth. The sailing community welcomed us warmly, and I couldn’t have asked for a better year.
If you want to see last year’s recap, I wrote one for 2017 that covers where I went and what we did.
Here’s what we did in 2018:
January – Eleuthera, Bahamas
We began the year with a family vacation to Eleuthera in the Bahamas. We rented a beachfront house that easily accommodated our large group and offered incredible scenery and activities. Eleuthera is relatively small, so we drove the island end to end and packed the trip with snorkeling, kayaking, swimming, and visits to spots like Queen’s Bath, Preacher’s Cave, Spider Cave, Glass Window Bridge, Lighthouse Point, and the Ocean Hole.
It was one of the best family vacations I’ve ever had and reminded me how special those trips can be.
February – Arizona and Europe (France, Portugal, Gibraltar, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Germany, and more)
February was hectic because Wes joined a sailboat delivery from France to Croatia, a 3,000-mile journey that included many ports across Europe. I stayed in Arizona, kept working, and spent time hiking and with the dogs while he was away. I was definitely jealous of his trip!
March – Arizona and the start of our cross-country drive to shop for a boat
March included many visitors at the RV — friends, family, and my niece plus Wes’s younger siblings for spring break. We hiked local trails such as Picacho Peak and explored Tombstone. After visits wrapped up, we left Tucson and began our trip east to Florida to start viewing sailboats. We took a detour to see friends and family along the way, and in Phoenix we hiked the challenging Flatiron Trail in the Superstition Mountains.
April – Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Florida
Our cross-country route took us through Colorado to visit my sister in Fruita, then to Missouri and Tennessee to see friends and family. We found a boat faster than expected and already had an offer on the RV, so our travel stops were short. We ultimately sold the RV back to the dealership for nearly what we paid — a huge win.
Our boat’s move-in date wasn’t until mid-May, so we stayed in an Airbnb for about 20 days between selling the RV and boarding the boat. That meant moving twice: from the RV to the Airbnb, and then from the Airbnb to the boat. Even with less stuff than before, it was still a lot of moving.
May – Fort Lauderdale
Moving onto the boat in May was intense. We handled paperwork like USCG documentation and insurance, arranged boat modifications and additions, changed our domicile, and shopped for a dinghy. It was a blur of logistics and small projects as we transitioned to living on a sailboat.
June – Sail to St. Pete
June focused on learning to sail and preparing to move the boat. We took sailing, docking, and safety lessons and worked with a delivery captain who helped us sail from Fort Lauderdale to St. Pete. If you’re learning to sail or need help moving a boat, we had an excellent experience with a professional captain who taught us a lot during the delivery.
July and August – St. Pete, Egmont Key, Tampa Bay, and Puerto Rico
Once insured to sail independently, we had many visitors and spent the summer sailing around Tampa Bay and nearby islands. Wes also helped deliver another sailboat from Puerto Rico to Florida. From July through November, our insurance required us to stay in the St. Pete area for hurricane season, which worked out — we used the time to learn more about boat systems and complete maintenance tasks.
September – Orlando
September reminded us how quickly plans can change. A family emergency forced us to alter travel plans and put some things in perspective. Later that month I attended FinCon, enjoyed a break focused on blogging, and connected with many colleagues and friends in the personal finance blogging community.
October – Annapolis, Rochester, Key West, and more
In October we kicked off a long road trip to attend friends’ wedding in Rochester, New York. We turned the trip into a 1,300-mile one-way drive and stopped at the Annapolis Boat Show and other points along the route. The wedding was one of the most energetic and entertaining I’ve attended — colorful, playful, and full of surprises.
Hurricane Michael threatened the Gulf, so we rushed back to St. Pete to make sure our boat was secured; friends in the marina helped while we were away. Later in October we joined friends on a sail to Key West and then returned by rented car to our boat in St. Pete.
November – St. Pete and Nashville
November was full of boat repairs and installations as we prepared to move after hurricane season: we replaced sails, repaired the watermaker and water heater, and completed many small projects. We also visited Nashville for family time and Wes rode in a Tour de Cure fundraiser supporting diabetes research — a cause close to our hearts.
That month I launched my second course, Making Sense of Sponsored Posts, which received positive feedback from students.
December – Left St. Pete for Key West and beyond!
Our insurance restriction lifted in December, so we left St. Pete and sailed nonstop to Key West — our longest two-person passage at about 200 nautical miles over roughly 33 hours. We kept three-hour watches and enjoyed a beautiful sail.
In Key West we hosted a family visit with seven people and two dogs aboard. We explored the island’s highlights: the Butterfly Conservatory, the Aquarium, Duval Street, the Southernmost Point, Hemingway House, and more. It was a lively and memorable visit.
So, what’s in store for 2019?
2019 looks exciting but intentionally open-ended. We’ll start by sailing the Florida Keys and then head to the Bahamas. After that, we may sail up the East Coast for hurricane season or head farther south in the Caribbean — plans beyond the early season in the Bahamas are flexible. We hope to spend months exploring the Bahamas, which includes hundreds of islands.
I also scored Spice Girls tickets and will travel to England in June 2019 for that concert. We’ll spend September in Colorado for a friend’s wedding and to enjoy the mountains, which we miss.
My personal focus for 2019 is to be more present, work less, learn new skills, and enjoy life on the boat. I plan to read more, become a better sailor, cook more, and adopt a calmer schedule overall. I’ll share more about these goals in future posts and in upcoming business income reports.
Here are my 2019 goals:
- Get at least three months ahead on blog posts. Being ahead gives me freedom to focus on travel and life without worrying about content deadlines.
- Work less than 40 hours per week. I want a better work/life balance so I can enjoy travel, family, and free time without constantly being tied to my laptop.
- Be more present. My top priority is to enjoy travel and relationships more fully and spend less time consumed by work.
- Read six books. I want to read for pleasure again — not only work- or sailing-related material.
- Have fun. This isn’t measurable, but it’s a guiding intention: enjoy the year and make memories.
What are your life, business, and travel plans for 2019?