Some of us see retirement as an opportunity to change our lives and fulfill big dreams. In the fall of 2017, Ronna Benjamin and her husband Mike did just that. They sold their home of 30 years and most of their possessions, moved onto their 49-foot sailboat and headed south.
My husband and I always knew that we would do this someday. We’d been sailing for years. All our family vacations were sailing vacations, chartering boats all over the world. The mechanics of daily living are different on a boat—there are always boat chores . We tend to do those in the morning and have our “fun time” in the afternoon—swimming, snorkeling, paddle boarding, fishing, reading, writing, exploring our surroundings.
When we’re cruising far away, I miss my kids terribly, but all have thrived in my absence. What has been hardest about keeping relationships from home strong are the instances when you cannot be there to comfort a family member or friend—a brother with cancer, a friend whose parent has passed away. Those are the moments that are most difficult for me.The biggest challenge has been the long passages.
I say I’d like to do this forever, but I know that if/when grandkids come along, I’ll want to spend time with them. We talk about maybe living six months on land and six months at sea so we can be part of their lives.