One Month Aboard: Challenges, Joys, and Lessons Learned

It’s hard to believe, but we’ve already been in Grenada for a month. In some ways it feels like we just arrived, and in other ways, it feels like we’ve been living this life forever.

That first week was spent on the hard, getting our boat ready for the water. Since then, we’ve been living aboard for three weeks—adjusting, learning, stumbling, laughing, and sometimes crying our way through this new chapter.

The Learning Curve

Living full-time on a boat is more than just sunsets and sails. It’s homeschooling, making new friends, carving out personal space in close quarters, and learning how to share every inch of life together. It’s fixing things that break, finding things that don’t work, and then figuring out how to troubleshoot them—sometimes successfully, sometimes not.

The truth is, we could work on the boat 24/7 and still never run out of projects. That realization has forced us to step back and accept that not everything can get done right away. We’ve had to learn to prioritize not just the boat, but also ourselves—making sure there’s time for fun, rest, and connection so we don’t burn out.

The Kids’ Adjustment

The kids are adapting in their own ways. For some, the transition has been smoother; for others, the loss of personal space and missing friends back home has been harder. It’s a lot to ask of young people—to uproot, live in tight quarters, and learn how to balance schoolwork, chores, and family life all in one floating home.

But we’re proud of them. We’re all learning together what it means to share space, to be kind, to pitch in, and to make this adventure a positive experience for everyone.

The Honest Truth

It hasn’t been easy. There have been challenges. There have been tears. There have been moments where we’ve questioned what we’re doing. But there’s also been laughter, growth, and a new kind of closeness we’ve never experienced before.

When we look at the big picture, we wouldn’t trade this adventure for anything. It’s messy and beautiful all at once, and we’re grateful to be living it—together.

Where We Are Now

Right now, we’re anchored in Prickly Bay, Grenada—a spot that’s become our temporary home after a memorable Coast Guard rescue (check out our Instagram for that full story https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPDKMUpjHMc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==).

For the next few weeks, our focus will be on polishing our diesel fuel and tackling a few maintenance projects. But it won’t be all work—we’ve rented a car for the month and plan to explore the island by land. Waterfalls, chocolate factories, spice tours, and island adventures with friends are all on the horizon.

This chapter may look a little different than we first imagined—less sailing for the moment, more land-based discovery—but it’s all part of the journey. And we’re excited to share it with you.