The Exumas are so beautiful, I can understand why so many people come back year after year.  If we didn't plan to sell Aquila, we would do that, too.  But we don't want to go to the same place every year.  We still want to travel and explore new places.  Mike and I talked about where do we go from here?  I don't have another ocean crossing in me, so if we stayed on the boat we would just be re-visiting the places we've already been (which isn't such a bad idea considering how fantastic many of those places are!).  But no, we're ready for something new.  We're going to sell Aquila, buy a land yacht (RV) and explore the National Parks of America for a couple of years.

We are currently in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.  We sailed here as soon as the weather permitted.  No overnights.  Just day hops from island to island through the Bahamas.  Then one shot across the gulf stream from Bimini to Hollywood, Florida.  We've been here about 2 weeks now.  Just working on the boat, cleaning things up and making her pretty.  We bought a new car as soon as we got here, and we've been slowly packing it up with much of our 'stuff'.  We also bought an iPhone and an iPad.  We're trying to get ourselves up-to-date with newer technology, since we've been out of that loop for over 7 years.

It's most likely the beginning of the end to my website.  I'm sure I'll transition to the simplicity of a blog.  My next update will be when Aquila sells, so I can close the book on that chapter of our lives.  I plan to leave the website up for a few years though.  I still get feedback from new people who discover my website and enjoy reading about our learning curve in the sailing lifestyle. 

We plan to drive across the country during April and then spend some time in California.  We're very excited to see our kids and grandkids.  We miss them so much!  We are looking forward to the road trip, too.  We enjoy being on the road, and we'll stop along the way to visit family in Texas and Arizona.

We are leaving Aquila with our broker, Scott Duncombe (with David Walters Yacht Brokerage) in Ft. Lauderdale for a few months.  We will return at the end of June to move Aquila to Georgia where she will be hauled out for the hurricane season (July 1-November 1).  Then, if she hasn't sold by January of 2013, we will sail her back to the Bahamas for a few months next spring.