Family Reflections just over a year in. What do the kids really think?
So far this blog has been written by me (Heather) and so now that we have been living this life and traveling for just over a year (actually cruising and moving with the boat - it’s 18 months since we moved aboard) I thought it would be interesting to interview the kids about what they really thought about the time so far. So we created an interview Q&A for them to answer, unfiltered. And here it is……(they didn’t see each others answers..).
ANNABELLE
What were your first thoughts about the idea to sell the house and move onto the boat?
What the hell guys, that’s so random. But then they started talking about it and showing us videos of this kind of lifestyle and it began to appeal to me. I think I probably had the most reservations out of the three of us, being the oldest and about to go to high school. It felt weird to think about, but the idea of leaving the house and town didn’t really bother me that much. I moved a lot when I was younger, so I found it easier. Being able to text, call, and email people from a long distance wasn’t anything new.
Was there a moment that you thought it was cool to be living on the boat?
In the early days, when we were boat hunting, we watched a lot of videos from other families who were doing the same thing. We watched this one video, where the kids took over for the whole day, and went snorkeling, tubing, and exploring the island for the whole day on their own. This seemed to stand out to me a lot, and was kind of the point where I thought it would be cool.
Being on the boat, it’s probably the days when we get up, swim, finish school by 1, swim, sail, and BBQ off the back of the boat. Being in clear, warm water improves your life and mental being so much. Also, the days when we completed a huge passage, only to come into the harbor and being able to immediately explore the new country.
What has been the worst moment this past year?
Relating to the boat, I think we’ve had a few rough island hops that have just messed around with our stomachs and stuff. Our first big passage out of Hampton was awful and really set us back in terms of confidence. I usually think about what the worst possible situation is, and it usually just relates to boat problems. Despite being near Haiti and Venezuela a lot in the past year, I’ve never felt super unsafe. There’s been a few times where I’ve been super uncomfortable with people, but it’s nothing that couldn’t be handled.
What is the best part about your bedroom on the boat?
The fact that I can relax in there without just sleeping. It feels much more comfortable and cozier than my old bedroom, which isn’t always needed considering it’s hot, but it’s nice, nonetheless. I like having my books with me.
How was the first 6 months living on the boat?
The first three months weren’t great, because we were stuck in the Northeast during winter. We were kind of desperate to get out of the Chesapeake. I loved staying in Annapolis, but they were harder months. By the time we had gotten out of the North, and were down in the Florida Keys, it was a much easier, happier way of life. We were getting into the motions of sailing, after having only a few slipups. When we reached the Bahamas, we were enjoying the easy cruiser life.
How have you found the school that you do on the boat? Better, worse, harder, easier than being in a real school?
I enjoy online school a lot, because it’s super independent. I probably prefer it, and it took a lot of stress off the move to high school. It offers everything I need or want and is super flexible. I will say that I miss being in band, and the genuine interactions with my teachers that are kind of lost between screens.
Favorite thing (object) on the boat?
I would say all the water toys (+ the dinghy). When we had it, our tube was awesome. The Tiwal (sailboat) is something we use constantly and was the best solution to losing our Laser. We have a handle that we use to swing from, and the dinghy is basically a car.
Favorite country so far, and why?
Probably Bonaire, for several reasons. It’s the clearest water we’ve seen since the Bahamas. It’s accessible for boats (minus WIFI). And it’s basically a whole European town, with coffee shops, ice cream parlors, and walkways. It has some of the best diving in the world, interesting history, and really good food. You can get everything here, with real supermarkets.
Top 3 countries so far and why??
Bonaire (for reasons explained), the Dominican Republic, and Grenada. The Dominican Republic was a big culture shock for us, and it wasn’t great from a sailing point of view, but it had good food, interesting people, and beautiful countryside. Compared to the Bahamas, which were sandy beaches and clear water but not really anything else, it was like we were genuinely exploring a different culture and place. We saw some cool stuff there, along with biggest and most impressive waterfall I’ve ever seen.
Do you have a top experience from the whole trip that you can call out??
I’m going to choose five, because I can’t decide. In no order, the Limon Waterfalls in the Dominican Republic (they were amazing, and the food we had afterwards beat everything else), learning to dive in Bimini, Bahamas (speaks for itself), the Aquarium off Johnny Depp’s island in the Exuma’s, Bahamas (the most pretty and brave fish I’ve ever seen), swimming in the middle of the ocean over 18,000 ft of water off Turks and Caicos (the most insane thing ever), and being a counselor for a summer camp in Grenada (met some of the best kids and got to know them really well).
What are the funniest moment you have had?
Going to a donkey sanctuary. It was just weird, because all they did was stick their snot-covered noses in our windows, but there were probably 800 of them.
OSCAR
What were your first thoughts about the idea to sell the house and move onto the boat?
At first it was shocking but, after a while I wasn’t too sad about leaving and I was pretty excited.
Was there a moment that you thought it was pretty cool to be living on the boat?
Most days but especially in Bonaire and the Dominican Republic.
What has been the worst moment this past year?
Probably the long passage around Cape Hatteras.
What is the best part about your bedroom on the boat?
The coziness and all my LEGO and toys.
How was the first 6 months living on the boat?
Nice but I wanted to go somewhere else than the U.S.
How have you found the school that you do on the boat? Better, worse, harder, easier than being in a real school?
Better and easier as we can go at our own pace.
Favorite thing (object) on the boat?
I like my Skateboard and GoPro, but I also like some of our water toys like the Tiwal (And our Dive stuff).
Favorite country so far, and why?
Well, I really enjoyed the Dominican Republic as its culture and its beautiful tall mountains but, also am really enjoying Bonaire at the moment.
Top 3 countries so far and why??
1. Dominican Republic: I really enjoyed the Dominican Republic as its culture and its beautiful tall , towering mountains were very appealing to me.
2. Bonaire: I love its water and the people that live there (And I love the scuba Diving).
3. Now this one ties between two countries: Martinique and Grenada I loved Martinique for obvious reasons (Food and Frenchness). And Grenada for all the fun times and landscape.
Do you have a top experience from the whole trip that you can call out??
Seeing Dolphins, petting nurse sharks in the Bahamas, swimming with Turtles and stingrays in St Johns, USVI, learning different cultures and history, swimming with fish in Bonaire, and generally just being on the boat!!!!!!!!!!!!
BETHAN
What were your first thoughts about the idea to sell the house and move onto the boat?
I thought it was a good idea, it sounded interesting and exciting where we were going to go.
Was there a moment that you thought it was pretty cool to be living on the boat?
Every day.
What has been the worst moment this past year?
For me it wasn’t rounding Cape Hatteras as I fell asleep through that part, it was finally leaving Florida to head to the Bahamas as it was quite bumpy initially as we crossed the Gulf Stream.
What is the best part about your bedroom on the boat?
The best part is all the teddies and squishmallows that I have on my bed and for Christmas I got some light up jellyfish which are really cool, with my pink LED lights round the ceiling.
How was the first 6 months living on the boat?
It was hard initially, especially as we were still in America and it was getting cold.
How have you found the school that you do on the boat? Better, worse, harder, easier than being in a real school?
I have found it easier I think than being in a real school. It doesn’t take me that long each day and I am done by lunch time most days so I can go and swim or play. I am writing my own chapter book at the moment also for kid writing.
Favorite thing (object) on the boat?
My favorite thing on the boat overall is all the Lego that I have on board. I have a load that we play with all the time.
Favorite country so far, and why?
Bonaire, because the water is amazing. We have been doing loads of snorkeling and I know all the different fish types.
Top 3 countries so far and why??
Bonaire - because of the water
Bahamas - because I got to pet a nurse shark.
Dominican Republic - because we got adventure and stay near the big mountains and explore the interior of the island.
Do you have top experiences from the whole trip that you can call out??
Seeing dolphins on passage, petting nurse sharks in the Bahamas, swimming with turtles and stingrays in St Johns, USVI, and swimming with trumpetfish and all the other fish in Bonaire.
So there you have it…. Thats what they thought unfiltered so far. WIll do it again in another year and see what changes :)
