By Jennifer

Welcome to our trip. We, Jennifer (first mate), Kevin (captain) and Madeline (12) and Zach (9) invited you along because we wanted to share our adventure with you. When we first announced our trip to family and friends early this spring, the reactions were something like — deer-in-the-headlight stares, befuddlement, Wow!, stunned-to-tears, flyin’ high-five-support, at-a-boys and you-go-girls.

Our reaction to our own decision to take this trip was simply, unequivocably: yes. The thought of not doing it became, speaking for myself, the bigger fear.

Our trip. What exactly is it? On the surface, it is sailing down the east coast of Florida, on to the Florida Keys, the Bahamas and then we’ll see. Looking closer, it’s a family sabbatical. It’s taking hold of the fleeting time Kevin and I have with our children as children. For Kevin, from my perspective, it’s also answering the call that has been tapping his shoulder for as long as I have known him–sailing, voyaging. For me, it’s also embracing an inner challenge, self-discovery, and coveting time as a couple and a family.

We haven’t left yet. But, here is how it is shaping up:

We live in Wheaton, a small town 35 miles west of Chicago. Most of our family lives in the area and our kids attend the local public elementary and middle schools. We plan to begin our trip this August. Meanwhile, we just purchased our sailboat, soon to be named Real Life, a 1985 42′ Brewer 12.8. It is currently in a Fort Lauderdale shipyard getting tweaked for our trip.

There is a lot to do between now and then.