Thanks for visiting WanderingOurWay.com! We’re John and Jane, and not too long ago, back in December, 2017, we sold our house of twenty-four years just outside St. Louis, sold most of our belongings, put the important stuff in storage, purchased an RV, and headed south to warmth and adventure.
We intended to spend at least a year travelling around the country in our RV, while slowly and methodically looking for a suitable sailboat for us to live and travel in.
A few weeks after our RV arrival in Florida, we attended the Miami Boat Show where we met several people willing to help us on our journey to boat ownership and the “cruising lifestyle”. We soon found ourselves on Biscayne Bay taking sailing lessons. The day after our graduation from sailing school, we made an offer on a fabulous sailboat. The offer was accepted. Suddenly, we were boat owners!
We quickly returned to St. Louis to put the RV and truck in storage. We rented a van, packed it full of all our stuff and drove back down to the boat to move aboard.
We’re living fulltime aboard our sailboat, Dejarlo, travelling the coastal waters of the eastern U.S. and the tropical waters of the Bahamas. As of the date of this post (December, 2021), we’ve travelled more than 5,000 miles aboard our floating home. We’re currently preparing Dejarlo, and ourselves, to, once again, sail across the Gulf Stream from Florida to the Bahamas for a six-month adventure exploring the southern Bahamas.
This blog is all about that adventure and the adventures before.
In addition to regular travel blog posts found in the Travel Blog section, you’ll find information about us in the About Us section. Answers to the most common questions we’ve received from friends and family as we’ve put this plan into place are found in the FAQ section. We’ve put lots of time into the FAQs as we’ve attempted to answer all those sticky little questions that we’ve struggled to answer over the past few years.
Once again, thanks for visiting us at WanderingOurWay.com!
Hi Jane and John! Matt, Olivia, and I really enjoyed meeting you in Georgetown. You have that new subscriber. Looking forward to watching some of your videos. Happy sailing, see you along the journey!⛵⛵⛵
Thanks, Nancy, Matt and Olivia. It was great meeting you guys and great fun on the beach with Cory and Alicia! Sorry we missed you Tuesday night at Sand Dollar. It was simply too far to dinghy in too difficult of conditions in the harbor.
With the addition of your latest YouTube subscription, we’re on the verge of 50 subscribers! Is there a YouTube award for 50 subscribers? I’m certain that La Vagabonde is nervously looking over their shoulders wondering when they’ll be surpassed by us.
We’ve return the subscriber favor, although our addition doesn’t have nearly the same impact of yours.
Good luck to you guys and we hope to see you again somewhere along the way.
John & Jane
Hi Jane! I was thinking of you today and wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas! I hope this finds you in some tropical port enjoying the holiday season. What a wonderful way to spend your retirement!
Teresa! A Christmas surprise for me…and Christmas wishes back to Missouri, from moderately sunny Florida, yes Florida. We will be in the southern Bahamas in about a month, BECAUSE we can’t get our boosters until exactly 6 months! We decided not to leave without them. So nice to hear from you; yes, it’s still a wonderful retirement, isn’t it?
Can everyone believe they are still at this journey three+ years later?
Congrats to your “ floating” happiness!
💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙
Sis Cathy and John
Hi John & Jane,
How are you guys doing? It looks like you are staying out of the hurricane path. I love that I can track you. I feel a bit like a stalker though.
I miss you guys, stay safe.
Pat Ridgeway
So glad to hear from you! Hoping all is good with you and yours. We think of you often. We’re doing just fine, and so is Dejarlo. We’re sitting here waiting for hurricane season to come close enough to the official end (November 30) for us to put Dejarlo out into Chesapeake Bay. We’ll be sloooowly heading south toward Florida around October 19, slow so we can duck into hurricane holes (very protected waters or marinas) if needed. Then around beginning of December we’ll try again to go across to the Bahamas. Hope, hope. The only hold up would be if The Bahamas close their borders to Americans again. As of today there are very specific requirements (entry test, quarantining, another test) for anyone entering by air or water, and we’re more than fine with that, just don’t close the borders!
PS Stalk on!
So happy to talk with you and FaceTime over the 4th. I have never seen you look better or happier. We certainly miss you but are so glad you are finally on your adventure. Be safe. Hugs.
Hi guys
Enjoyed this last blog that I just read. Where are the pictures of the boat partially capsize and run a ground left over from that hurricane? It’s too bad Taylor was not still living in Jacksonville, he could’ve come out and seeing you guys. He will be leaving here, by the way, July 11.
Truly enjoying reading these… John you are fabulous writer… Keep the pictures coming!
Hugs from Sis Cathy
We are anxious to read about your exciting retirement adventures.
I don’t know who you people are, but color me jealous! Ok I do know a bit about you, and let me just say at the outset: congratulations. You two, I hope, are living the dream. I understand there’s probably a headache or a setback a minute with boat maintenance and navigation. When those moments come, think of us schmucks in the heartland who are getting up and going to work every day, in hopes that one day we can share your dream and when we meet again, you’ll have to take evasive maneuvers to avoid my massive yacht coming in to the harbor at Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We’ll have a few Red Stripes and a couple of Appleton Estate rum shots and commiserate on family, love, and the funny way genetics tie us together in a way that can’t be duplicated or damaged.
In the Jamaican way, I wish John and Jane peace, love and respect.
Web blog is Great!, Really glad to hear that you’ve started on your sailing adventure. The boat is beautiful. We Love the pictures!
We look forward to following your travels and living a little vicariously through your blog. From a couple of land lovers, Blue skies😎
Your site is on our desktop. Thank you for including us on your adventure. Safe travels.
Kevin M. Killian,D.D.S. and staff
Golly Gee–YOU MADE IT!
How wonderful you look and the boat is no slouch either! What an adventure you’re having!
I’m so happy for you and look forward to reading all about your upcoming wonderful happenings! God Bless and Happy Sailing!
So glad to get your email and read your blog! Excited to hear about all your adventures!
So glad to hear from you and to read about your travels thus far. Hopefully you can get back on your way on Monday. We look forward to following your adventures.
So glad to get the update and catch up. I’m sure you’re excited to get under way on Monday. We’ll be watching for your updates and sending positive thoughts for safe travels – with no problems. These darn boats should go from point A to point B with no funny noises or quirky happenings. Have lots of fun and daily adventures. Love you both.
Hi guys. What beautiful pics…
will enjoy following more of this…
Happy for you!
Also….
did you get to see the wedding early this AM?
I baked bunches of breakfast goodies… And had Carol and Karen over at 6 AM to watch the wedding ceremony …
Carol even wore a hat over !
JOHN joined we girls and we had a nice couple of hours !