2025 is just about over and we are sitting somewhere between reflection and restlessness right now. This last post for 2025 closes a nine-year chapter.

Looking back, we have had an amazing adventurous time afloat… so much exploring, some of this where few people have been, such as many of the outer reefs and atolls. We have learned a lot about sailing, about self- sufficiency, about maintenance, about life as a couple, about ourselves.

But we have also had to make many compromises, both deal with serious health conditions, and have lived in an environment which is tough. And in the last two years it became less rewarding and we knew it was time to make some adjustments.

As we settle in Jan Juc with the hardest part of the move behind us, we know we have made the right decision, but the transition is another challenge.

So what are our plans for 2026 and for this blog?

After years of vagabond life, when our activities were dictated by the weather and the boat, living on land with its convenience, easiness but bustle feels odd. It is like facing retirement again, only when we retired from work 9 years ago, we absolutely knew we wanted to run away on our boat. This time we are not sure what we will do with ourselves once the craziness of the move is over, or how alternating from living on land to cruising part-time will work. But we know we want the best of both worlds while we still can: relaxed coastal living, and adventures at sea.

The changes in our life are significant and restlessness dominates: moving from boat to house, condensing two houses into one, dealing with irritations like the crowds in summer on the Surf Coast, sitting with the uncertainty of where we want to end up.

There is the good stuff: rediscovering our furniture and treasures, tidying the garden, seeing the house becoming more welcoming.

And then there is all the emotional stuff, the letting go, and the need to feel settled, but settled where? We know we must allow ourselves time yet there is impatience with it all. 2026 is going to be about adjusting.

It has become evident that life in Jan Juc will be about enjoying a pause from cruising, but not from maintenance! We had thought originally that we needed a six-month land break to get ourselves into better shape physically, have a change of pace, enjoy some home comforts and activities we were unable to keep up on the boat. In reality, we will do all this but first we have to tackle a long list of repairs and cosmetic updates to the house. It was built 40 years ago and after years of rental it needs a lot of TLC! It has good bones though. It was architecturally designed, and is at an easy walking distance to the cliff tops and the ocean. We like its position, its style, its relaxed feel, and although it is Wade’s place, we are making it ours through its furnishings and décor. There is a lot of both of us in it now and that feels nice. Do we stay or go? We just don’t know. But one thing is certain, we will only shift for something significantly better… space, climate, look and feel. So we will keep an eye on the market up north, and see how things evolve!

Part way through the year, we plan to jump back on Anui for a few months and avoid the worst of the Victorian winter. Destination: back to the tropics. Remember how we started to do loops around the Swain Reefs but these were cut short by our mishap at the Capricorn Group? Well, they are on the target list again!

A few of you have enquired about the future of this blog. We intend to keep it going, but differently. Although we will post updates about our life ashore from time to time, Chris wants to focus on photography projects while we are land based, so you will see less ‘journal’ posts and more experiments with creative images, whatever takes her fancy: Long Exposures, ICM, Macro, Birds… After all, photography is what started this blog and attracted many of our subscribers. When afloat on Anui, we will shift back to the usual sailing adventures you are accustomed to. If you have any particular interests or requests, do pipe up!

Happy New Year everybody. See you next week for a new beginning.