New Beginnings, Gentle Endings & Finding Our Sea Legs

We’ve had a very eventful week — one filled with both new beginnings and meaningful endings.

On Thursday, we finally handed over the keys to the house. That chapter is officially closed, and just like that, we became 100% boat liveaboards.

It comes with a mix of relief, excitement, nostalgia, and a quiet moment of “wow… this is really happening.”

Now, our home floats.

Today (Saturday), I’m heading off to Sydney to spend the week with Nics celebrating her 30th birthday. Thirty! Where has the time gone? Leaving Mac on the boat feels like a gift to both of us — time for him to enjoy some peace and quiet (and tackle the ever-growing to-do list), and time for me to step briefly back into “mum mode” and soak up a milestone moment.

Mac has been absolutely incredible. He’s been working tirelessly to make our new home safe, functional, and fitted with all the “Tracy needs” that make boat life more comfortable.

Yesterday was a big win — Starlink is installed, which means we officially have Wi-Fi on the boat. It’s amazing how quickly each small improvement makes this floating space feel more and more like home on the water.

Emotionally though… it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster for me.

I’m learning to adapt — not just to boat life, but to a version of myself that looks very different from the land-based Tracy I’ve always known. Mac is a natural at this. A tradie. A fixer. A sailor. For me? Some days I feel like a fish trying to ride a bike… or climb a tree… or whatever that saying is! 😅

But here’s the thing — I want to be more than just the “princess on board.” I want to be the partner Mac needs. Someone who can actively support him so the responsibility of sailing, planning, and managing the boat doesn’t sit solely on his shoulders. I won’t be fixing engines anytime soon (let’s be realistic), but I can learn skills that allow me to help — and even do some things unsupervised (dangerous words, I know, given my occasional chaos 😂).

So we’ve been redefining roles — not as limitations, but as strengths.

One skill set that fits me perfectly? Planning.I’ll be the one mapping our journeys — researching destinations, booking moorings, gathering intel, tracking weather patterns, and preparing for what’s ahead. Mac and I will have regular boat meetings where we talk through conditions and decide our path forward together. I’ll also handle visa preparations and entry requirements for when we start crossing borders and exploring new countries.

Meanwhile, Mac is transforming the boat piece by piece. This week he’s installing new shelving so every tool has its place (a big win for keeping decks and floors clear). He’s also creating a better seating area for when we unwind and watch TV, and preparing everything for our upcoming trip to Mandurah, where she’ll come out of the water for her survey, antifouling, paintwork, new navionics, and a general glow-up.

Every day, this boat feels more like ours.

This season is stretching me — emotionally, practically, and personally — but it’s also teaching me something important: growth doesn’t always come from being good at something straight away. Sometimes it comes from being willing to learn, stumble, laugh at yourself, and keep showing up anyway.

And that, I think, is exactly what boat life is about. 🌊⚓