Om Sweet Om

Ten weeks was both a long time and the blink of an eye. It seems like a long time ago that we were in a taxi heading from the airport to the Hotel Grano de Oro in San Jose, Costa Rica with the entire trip in front of us. Finding our way to Pavones over the next two days through pouring rain, dirt roads and narrow one lane bridges with no side railings seemed crazy. For the next month, having Laura leave the house before 6AM to climb the mountain to yoga, while the girls and I had school on the porch for half the day and then explored Pavones and Punta Banco in the afternoons became routine even though it was a million miles away from our normal life.

And just when it seemed permanent, we were on the move and going on various jungle adventures every day. Then we were on our way to Miami for the Disney Cruise. There could not have been a bigger boomerang in atmosphere! But it was so much fun! Hanging out with our extended family while being fed, watered and entertained so well... it was a great experience and a lot easier to slide into than I expected it would be.

Then in a blink the cruise was over and we were boarding Peace Out the evening we arrived in Tortola. Even that part of the trip seems long and short at the same time and had distinct phases. Week one was getting to know the boat, sailing in the BVIs and figuring out our routine. It was also time to hang out with Do & Papa which is always awesome.

Watching April, Fiona and Laura figure out how to be the only crew for the second week after Do & Papa left was amazing. The fact that our little family of four was fully self-sufficient on a 45 foot catamaran was a bit awe inspiring. The morning swims around the boat will always be something I miss at least a little every day I don't wake up on a sailboat with my family.

Getting to spend the last week with the Diamond family was as fun and comfortable as it always is. Our families fit together like eight peas in a pod.

As we head home I have a hard time articulating what I enjoyed the most. If I had to distill it down, I would say I enjoyed the slow pace and 24/7 time with our family. We normally see each other in small bits of time before school, after work and dance, on weekends, etc. For seventy days we spent all day and night together and it was beautiful. It will be difficult and probably feel very strange to go back to seeing each other in small bits. I will definitely work hard to stretch those bits out as much as possible and be fully present for every minute of them.

Pura Vida & Peace Out