A gentle sea breeze caresses my face as the sound of waves fills the space around me. The sunshine is bright and warm, and the smell of the jungle reaches our cockpit where I find myself writing most of these days. Here in the tropics I am happier than I have been in a while, […] More
I have never been more excited to see a rock in my entire life. It had been a hellacious night passage and tensions were high as the uncertain state of our engine loomed over us. As we approached the Morro Bay Harbor entrance Chris hesitantly turned the ignition key and let our Perkins purr, anxiously […] More
As we quickly approach gift-giving season Chris and I are often asked by loved ones what is on our “wish list”. Living on a boat, I’m sure you can imagine our wish list is not necessarily the most extravagant as space aboard comes at a premium. Some of the best gifts we have ever received […] More
Every year we put a holiday gift guide together, to help pick out something special for the cruisers and cruisers-to-be on your list. This year, the suggestions have a new source. We send an occasional newsletter to coaching clients, and included in each edition are tips/tricks from Totem for the Click here for full post: […] More
This week was a zeitgeist of recipe requests after some of the traditional food preservation techniques (and a fun recipe!) showed up in our social media. These are great for cruisers storing food for passages or remote sailing… and thy’re great for the land-bound trying to make the most of Click here for full post: […] More
“But how will Santa find us?” our children asked with more than a little anxiety. “He has his ways,” we replied confidently. This was 2007: the year before we went cruising, we traded home fires on Bainbridge Island for a small cabin in Washington’s north Cascades for a getaway. It Click here for full post: […] More
Waiting until they’re awake before cranking out the first round of Alice’s Restaurant may not be something our boat teens are thankful for yet, but give them a few hours. I contemplate this while watching the clouds lemon-tinted by sunrise, scudding across an uncharacteristically overcast sky in Puerto Peñasco. Eleven Click here for full post: […] More
The relative simplicity of cruising life changes the way we think about gifting on Totem. Living on a floating tiny home lends itself cautious acquisition; over the years, minimalism becomes internalized. In a holiday season that emphasize family rituals and experiences, however, there’s still very much a place for the Click here for full post: […] More
The cruising lifestyle shimmers with a wide social streak; gathering for cockpit sundowners or beach barbecues is routine, and comes with distinct practices. Using these rituals as a springboard for holiday gift ideas spurred a fun conversation (and opinions!) around the boatyard lounge this morning, one which will probably be reprised around the firepit […] More