Lately, I have found myself lost in nature, enjoying the daily routines of all the creatures that surround us and Oleta: listening to the howler monkeys as the sun rises, watching the blackbirds perform their morning ritual of flying from one side of the bay to the other, and laughing at the squawking parrots overhead—coupled up in pairs for life. I smile when I hear the dolphins go through their breathing routine: surface for a shallow breath in, glide underwater for a couple seconds, surface again for another quick breath, back under, and surface again—this time for a deep breath and a big tail flip down into the depths of the emerald hues to hunt food at the bottom. They repeat this pattern several times as they move through the bay. It is magical and soothing, and it fills me with so much joy and inspiration.
I gaze at the mesmerizing sky of bright blues and puffy clouds due to nearby tropical storms. Listening to music, my writing brain starts to flow, and in the note section of my phone, I try to capture the essence of the moment. The balance between sharing my writing and being present is an ongoing flow I am learning. I continue to lean into the unknown—daring to do, a nugget of wisdom I have found, and spiral along this spinning ball of blue and green on our floating home, currently in Bocas del Toro, Panama.
I want to shout from the mast, “This life is beautiful! Thank you!”
Hodgepodge Gallery of Photos of Boat Life & Nature All Around:
While working on my last blog post many months ago, I noticed the words on the computer screen looked fuzzy. I now have my first pair of reading glasses after a visit to the local eye doctor for an exam that cost $9, a pair of frames under $100, and a follow-up visit at no extra charge! I finally grew a successful batch of sprouts in a jar, adding delicious flavor to our meals. While we can get many items in Bocas, we only anchor by town during the day and then move to a secluded area. When the weather is nice, we dinghy over from one of our favorite spots, grab some provisions, and enjoy a delicious burger from Smash Burgers or try new hot sauces on our tacos at La Taqueria-bdt. The photo of Eric on a dock with the jet ski shows how we pick up our packages while on the dinghy. We added new solar panels to the back arch, and while it was hot and buggy, we did it by ourselves, a theme that will continue in another post.
Grandma Beach
Grandma and Grandpa Beach got their names from Eric, the oldest grandchild because they were the only relatives that lived by the beach.
This summer, our hearts were heavy when we heard the news that Eric’s grandmother, Grandma Beach, wasn’t doing well. It had been several years since we had seen her in person, but we stayed in touch through messages, video calls, and phone calls. Talking to Grandma Beach always brightened our day with her smile, contagious laughter, and optimistic perspective. She was one of the biggest supporters of my writing. I felt so much love when I received a message from her saying that she enjoyed reading my words and felt there with us.
She always told Eric and me to keep doing what we were doing and enjoy life. “It sounds like you two are really living it up,” was a common encouragement she gave us. Her words lifted my spirits during the low moments—to keep believing in the good in the world and to sail on. It is not a topic that I think many people feel comfortable discussing, but out here, I think about death and the cycles of life; I have written and reflected on it a lot. Knowing we will miss moments with our families and friends back in the States can sometimes feel overwhelming, but through my reflections, I find peace.
The following poem touches on our connections and the growth I have experienced on the water. Through it all—highs and lows, I am so grateful to be living this life.
I CHOOSE:
To acknowledge both the light and dark in this world—one cannot exist without the other.
To accept I will make mistakes and fail along the way.
To remember that even though it is human to judge, I can acknowledge those moments and stay open with love in my heart.
To believe that compassion, sympathy, and generosity, the definition of Humanity, are possible.
To spread joy and inspiration with my words and art.
To cultivate compassion in all that I do, however I can, with what I have available.
To acknowledge that the choice to live on the water physically separates me from our loved ones, yet it also clarifies how grateful I am for those relationships. —The threads that bind us together are forever woven together.
To accept that some connections will fade, some will become deeper, and new threads will be woven into my life.
To be grateful for this life on the water.
—For it has revealed hidden layers within me.
To embrace that I cannot do it all, yet I can nurture and cultivate the space around me.
I choose love, an open heart, and a quiet mind.
To remember, I control nothing, but am a part of it All.
Sending hugs & light your way!
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Soulful Mermaid 
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