We have announced to our extended family that we plan to sail for 2 or more years, and homeschool our four children. Reception has been mixed, ranging from sadness to cautious excitement and support.

Gwen Hamlin addresses the question, “How to best tell our family we are sailing away?” on the Women and Cruising website. She suggests assuring family members that you will keep in touch, and provides lots of ways to do that, including Facebook, emails, postcards, and so on.

Acceptance has played a part in our recent downsizing efforts. But, it is one thing to accept that objects you once held dear are now longer needed, to accepting that some relationships will morph when we set sail.  Gwen Hamlin’s article provides a good starting point.