"Settling into Stillness"

The Calm After Motion

From even the best vacations, it always feels like once you finally get home… you need a vacation from your vacation. I definitely had that feeling.

My land legs took their sweet time coming back. Google graciously informed me that “Land sickness… can last weeks or months.” Well, lucky me, I had it almost the whole month we were in Racine and now it rears its ugly head when we arrive home. If I was walking or in a car, I was fine. But the moment I stood still? The world moved like we were still on Lake Michigan. Washing my hair was an Olympic sport: eyes closed, trying not to fall over, clinging to whatever I could grab. Glamorous, I know.

The Great Lakes were truly a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Incredible. Challenging. Unforgettable. But oh, I was so grateful to be home. To hug my daughters. To be back with friends and family. To wake up and not immediately think about weather forecasts, fuel ranges, backup routes, and provisioning plans. Suddenly the grocery store was eight minutes away instead of half a day’s journey. I didn’t have to flip switches to boil water. Lights turned on with zero emotional commitment. The toilet flushed without having to worry about whether we needed a pump out. And air conditioning? Absolute treasure in this heat. I will forever respect cool air.

After 6 weeks of hard work getting us home, Agra2 now rests cozy in a beautiful, hidden little gem of a yacht club in the Thousand Islands. We found it last year when we were just two dreamers walking docks, looking at sailboats, and I knew right then: this was our place. Warm people. Relaxed energy. Welcoming smiles. Not fancy — just real. Full of character, heart, and that easygoing “country” charm that feels like a warm hug.

Two weeks after returning, on a perfect mid-August day, we slipped out to Bostwick Island, the beginning of our Thousand Island Chapter. No big voyage. No agenda. Just peace. The kind of day where the water is calm, the breeze is gentle, and your shoulders finally drop away from your ears.

We dropped anchor.

Tom inflated the floats. Sunscreen on. Hats on. Drinks in hand.

An audiobook playing softly while the sun shimmered across the water.

And then… everything slowed.

No rushing.

No proving anything.

No surviving.

Just living.

In that moment, it wasn’t about adventure anymore.

It was about being present. It was about gratitude.

It was about finally letting ourselves rest — and realizing how lucky we are to have this life, this boat, this chapter, and each other.

And honestly… it felt like exactly where we were meant to be. ⚓💙