Thursday, June 18, 2026
So much of this spring flew by with preparing our ship, our home, our lives for four months away and aboard Reflection. As the preparations came to a close, we stepped off the dock and onto the deck to begin our summer. After planning for that moment for so long it felt surreal. Even before we got Reflection in 2023, we had talked about, researched, and refined the type of boat we would need to move on board for a summer and have sailing adventures on the Great Lakes. We talked about where we’d like to sail, places we’d like to visit. And then when found our Catalina 350, we set right to work getting it ready to sail away.
This is our 4th season with Reflection and we feel we know her well. We know the sound of the engine, the pumps, the rigging, the flapping/creaking and the water slapping the hull from time to time. We know the speed of the wind and direction based on how it feels and how Reflection responds to wind and waves. Over time, we worked to gain confidence in our sail handling, navigation systems, water systems, our diesel engine.
And then, we did it, we cast off the lines and hoisted the sail – living into our new reality. After three weeks on board Reflection, with nothing on the calendar except national holidays, going where the wind blows, and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine, we settle into a new rhythm in a new space, with a totally flexible agenda.
It’s hard to describe what if feels like. I think that the closest I can come right now is living in another realm. I’m not much of a video gamer – actually not at all – but I believe there are different levels achieved based on completing certain tasks or collecting certain things to move up a level or to a higher realm. Living on a sailboat long term feels like we’ve shifted realms. Some things are familiar and somethings are new and challenging.
In this realm, we don’t have appointments or schedules to keep. We can decide (based on weather) when we get up (usually with the sun), when we venture out (or not), where we anchor and other than making sure everything is safe on board, have time to reflect, write, read (already I’ve read 4 books!) We’ve greatly enjoyed walking around Douglas, Pentwater, and Ludington. One highlight when in a port town is wandering around to find the library and stopping in to check it out. In Douglas, there is a brand new library building. Pentwater also has a rather new building and happened to be having a used book sale when we visited. Ludington has a nice library with an amazing new children’s wing. In their entrance, is a collaborative art piece with ceramic fish each on painted by a child in town, fired and assembled by the artist.
We are also enjoying finding the local bakery in each town. Today in Ludington we discovered “Trails End Cafe and Bakery” where we picked up a couple of German Style Pretzels for 10-sies and two Cruffins (combination croissant and muffin – croissant dough baked in a muffin tin and filled with strawberry) we can hardly wait to taste tomorrow morning with our coffee.
Last night, after a wonderful visit with friends in Ludington, we returned to the boat and were treated to a thin sliver of a moon and Jupiter and Venus and Mercury in the western sky.
At the end of another day, we look at each other and say, “We’re doing it!” This feels like living in a new realm.