My husband, Harry, and I spent 25 months cruising the Pacific Ocean. We returned to land at Bainbridge Island, Washington. Friends and family gathered on the dock to greet us. They rang cowbells, boomed a cannon and cheered when I expertly slalomed our 44-foot Mason, Oh Joy II, to the dock. It was an over-whelming experience, and that feeling didn’t fade for months.
Before we departed on our adventure, we’d watched videos, movies and in-person presentations about cruising. We’d read books, magazine articles and other stories. We’d talked incessantly about our cruising plans with each other and with other cruisers. The preparation phase was rich and well-supported.
But upon return, there was no guidance whatsoever. No videos with recommendations on how to transition back to land life. No sage advice…