Squall Girl Blog
Explore my lifestyle blog, where I share advice on navigating life’s challenges. Join me as I share my musings and insights on living life to the fullest.
October 2, 2024
The boat stays in one place, moving only with the current or waves. If you’re a sailor, you're likely very familiar with bobbing. One moment, you're moving along, and the next, the wind dies, taking away your ability to move forward. It’s frustrating, just bobbing along in the sea when you have somewhere to be.…
September 20, 2024
"The Drink" is an informal term for any body of water, especially the ocean. It’s September. The kids are back in school, the leaves are changing, pools are closed, football is on the big screen every Sunday, and the saddest part? The boat is being hauled out. We were out last weekend, and it seemed…
September 5, 2024
“A dog watch is a work shift, also known as a "watch", in a maritime watch system that is half the length of a standard watch period. This is typically formed by splitting a single four-hour watch period between 16:00 and 20:00 (4 pm and 8 pm) to form two two-hour dog watches, with the…
August 22, 2024
So you didn’t listen to me. The anchor was not set correctly, you didn’t put out that stern anchor, and now you have some weather. There’s a good chance you’re going to drag. That’s what happens when you don’t consider all the elements that keep you secure. It’s easy to be cavalier when you’re focused…
August 20, 2024
There are many anchors in our lives. For some, it could be relationships with others, the people in your life who ground you. For others, it could be their physical home, the place where they feel secure and surrounded by things that bring them joy and peace. You may find it in religious beliefs. It…
August 15, 2024
Well, who knew this would be the one that would be tough for me to write? It seems simple, right? The whole concept of an anchor should be one-dimensional. You lay it down, and your boat stays in place. That was my premise for this edition of the blog, but then the rewrites happened, and…
July 25, 2024
Single-handed sailors are impressive. I know this because my father-in-law is one of them. The grit, planning, and peace that come from being by yourself and using your resilience to overcome ever-changing conditions must give you the confidence to take it all on. I assume this because it's not me. I am a cruising club…
July 3, 2024
Knock downs. Pic Credit: Duncan Wells I was 30, six months pregnant with my firstborn, and we decided to move back to the area where I was raised so our kids could grow up around family. It was chaotic. We found a beautiful piece of property, had house plans developed with all the perfect finishes…
June 6, 2024
It is apropos that I am writing this now while pedaling away on my exercise bike. The refit. Shit. Where do you start? You are looking at what some would consider a loss. Just put her on the hard, and then two things will happen. She will sit there and rot, or someone will see…
May 16, 2024
This week, we are heading for a course change. Not for us directly, but for our youngest. He’s graduating college and making preparations to enter life outside academia after 16 years of guidance. While I’m excited for him to enter this new chapter, there’s this sense of melancholy. After he leaves this chapter of his…
April 24, 2024
Definition: Regulate stability and reduce stress loads Ballast is not something routinely spoken about in sailing terms. Sailors talk about performance and comfort. Those new sails provide us with the drive to go faster. A rolling furler would make the sail-take down easier. The depth of the cushions for sleeping. A simple water system. The…
April 3, 2024
I love to cook. In fact, I’m chopping butternut squash as I dictate this passage to my iPad! But I won’t tell you what I’m making just yet. When I’m reading a book and someone mentions that they are eating a beautiful lobster and corn risotto, the book gets swiftly tucked away and I find…
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