I stumbled across a quote;
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Mark Twain.
For a while I was a member of a gym. Mostly, I went in the evenings, it was crowded. Upstairs sweaty people pounding on gym equipment, classes thumping in the background, music blasting. Downstairs, the pool had 3 busy lanes, almost always someone was a little bit too slow in the middle lane and the slow lane was just very slow. In the fast lane, where I never ventured, I would guarantee there would be a bloke swimming the butterfly stroke creating waves across the pool and drenching the middle lane with his wake. The spare space was used for lessons. An instructor loudly encouraging children on.
Sometimes, I’d make the effort and get up early. It was an entirely different experience. Occasionally, I would find myself first in the empty pool. I love an empty swimming pool. I’d savour those few moments before anyone else arrived. Sitting on the edge, knowing that slipping into the pool would be cold and I’d catch my breath. Then stretching into strokes, slicing the still water, all the ripples created by me. Swimming first thing in the morning was exhilarating and energizing. Worth the effort of leaving a comfortable warm bed.
I have been redundant over a year. It seemed unimagined at the time and then suddenly the months have slipped by and I’ve slipped into another life. A whole set of seasons has past. We’ve managed better than we anticipated. We have adapted our lives been cash poor but time rich and benefited from that. I’ve spent a lot of quality time with my son. Time gained. The washing gets done, the house is clean and there is always milk in the fridge. Life has been less of a juggling act. A lot has happened; my mother has died and nothing has happened; I don’t have a job. I don’t think I’m a stay at home mother, but I’m not a working mother either.
As a family we’ve had time to think and talk. We could stay in a warm bed and go with the crowds. Sometimes doing something a little different reaps its own rewards. There where times when I got up early to swim and found a few other people and the bloke doing the butterfly stroke had the same idea. That was the gamble. It was disappointing but still good to swim in the morning.
It’s time for a change, to explore, dream and discover. At the beginning of December we relocate 160 miles South. It means new school, new home, hopefully new friends and new jobs at the moment all of that is uncertain. We’ve decided to leave the comfortable and dive into a new pool. Sail away from the safe harbour.
If you could sail away from the safe harbour what would you do? Tell me I’m curious.
Wow, this quote means a lot to me. I found it on a scrap of paper on my friend’s bedside table in 2010 and loved it. My husband and I were in between jobs and about to go travelling on our narrowboat. I started a blog about narrowboating as a family, quoting Mark Twain in my very first blog post. Six months after our travelling journey began, my friend died very suddenly from cancer leaving behind two girls aged under three. She never got around to sailing away from her safe harbour. Meanwhile, I got to travel on our boat, and eventually blogging became my new career.
So, well done for throwing off the bowlines Gemma. Sounds like you’re gonna be living nearer me 🙂
Thank you Peggy. I’m not sure how it’s taken me so long to reply. Am really inspired by how you’ve made a business and the things you’ve done. It’s a great quote.
Yay! Am so excited for you!!! The beginning of a big new adventure xxx
*big smiley face*
It means closer to me! And I think you are doing the right think, life is all about chances and taking them, who knows what tomorrow will bring x
true dat. thank you. you’ve been brilliant.
We’re swimming away from the safe harbour soon too. Sometimes things happen that make you reevaluate your priorities and where you want to be in life. Congratulations on the move – and Jane is right, it means you’ll be closer for the odd glass of wine with the southern lot!
I think life is all about the right priorities but often they get over taken by other things or other people’s priorities. I’m lucky I’ve had the opportunity to take stock and make a change.
Wow! I’m so full of questions like:What were the pull factors of your new destination? Not just being nosy but because I’m fascinated by relocation. If I had the courage I would relocate back to the UK. However, I’m too scared of giving up all the lovely things we have here and what if I find I don’t like it as much as I thought I would? Please keep us posted and good luck with everything. xxx
I think I need to write another post! XXX
Great post Gemma! I would love to have the guts to do what you’re doing and relocate, even to another country, just to have the experience. We nearly did it when our kids were younger but now the eldest is of secondary school age, I couldn’t do it! where are you moving to? what are your reasons for moving? I think sometimes it takes your hand being ‘forced’ in order to go for it.
I am going to write another post about the whys and whats. Now seems the right time but from some aspects its terrible timing. I guess it’s one of those things – there is no perfect time and once school is factored in it becomes so much harder.
Loved your words – and I used to swim a lot and he had swimming pool politics – the fast lane butterfly guy – down to a tee. I always used to swim in the medium lane and get buffeted by the ripples from the fast lane. Sounds like you are about to make a very positive move! Take a deep breath and fly! We are looking to move next year – we were supposed to do it this year, but then life happened – so it has to be 2013! X.
Good luck! and thank you for your lovely words.
I meant ‘you’ not ‘he had’ !.
Good luck. I am sure you are doing what is best for you all as a family and sometimes a change is as good as a rest
exactly, I’ve had the rest and now it’s time for change.
Desperate to ask you so many questions!! How exciting though. It is good to leave your safe harbour. I have done it. It’s good to push yourself, push your limits and of course there will be difficult times, but you gain so much in experience and in life. You will be fine xxx
I appreciate this – especially from you the relocation queen. thank you.
Fab and thought provoking post. I’m hoping this means you’re nearer me! An sure there will be ups & downs, but journeys are always fun and exciting xx
my geography isn’t great but possibly!
How exciting. Good luck. I’ve moved too often lately to crave adventure, so I’ll be dropping anchor for a while yet. But maybe I should join a gym!
A gym?! You might as well clean the house as well and be done with it. I shall have to cut you off!
Yes but imagine the blog posts – “Ageing Matron does the gym. Anna and the Zumba instructor”.
Wow what fabulous news! A brand new start and brand new opportunities – sounds wonderful. I’ve always had wander-lust, since having a family I’ve thought it would be too difficult to up-root again, but your post is making me think otherwise.
Good luck with it all…especially the packing!x
I never thought I’d move again but slowly it crept up on me.
am blocking any thoughts of packing – I may come to regret that!
Oh good luck Gemma. Change is good. I left my safe harbour over three years ago. I won’t say that it hasn’t been hard at times… but it has been worth it.
What a beautifully written, fascinating post. I knew half the quote and it’s spurred me on to exciting things before now, but it’s good to learn the rest. I love swimming so this was particularly meaningful. I wish you the best in your new adventures. Go on, tell us, where are you gonna be?
I think I need to write another post don’t I?!!!
So, whereabouts? South East London? Come and be a neighbour!
thank would be amazing. I could arrive accidentally at dinner time alot!
I am unlikely to move back to London because once you leave you appreciate the benefits of ‘personal space on public transport” and you can’t return. Equally only a lottery win would buy us a flat.
oooh where will you be? I’m not sure where I would go, maybe up North to be nearer family and help, maybe in between, maybe somewhere snowy clean and more empty…
Good luck Gemma x
If you’d asked me 18 months ago I would have had no idea where else I might live – it crept up and sort of dawned on us.
Wow. Beautifully written post. How amazing, wishing you all the best with the move and new direction. I think for us perhaps a move stateside when the kids are older. LA but away from the Lala bit but close enough to dip in. Who knows, not imminent and my folks would have to move with us.
I see you in LA! I think it would be an amazing experience.
I’d move to North Devon, as near to the sea as I could afford (so probably not very near). Sadly I don’t have any practical ideas so it will have to remain a dream.
I’m in Cambridgeshire if you are coming any where near this direction.
I love the idea of some beautiful house by the sea but sadly the practicalities of life mean nothing so wonderful.
Wow, good luck! I wish all of you plain sailing and good hunting in your new waters x
thank you very much X
Firstly I love that quote. I sometimes wish I had taken on more challenges and new adventures as I feel a bit stuck now. OH is currently redundant and trying to start up a new venture. It’s scary, I feel a bit uneasy, I worry about his redundancy money running out soon and not surviving on my wage. I wish I could pack us all up and move to a house by the coast so the sea breeze could blow our worries away. Maybe one day. Good luck with your move and give me a shout when you’re this way?!?
Some of what we are doing makes me uneasy and it is utterly scary but sometimes life throws stuff at you and makes you rethink. I think once kids get bigger it gets harder and harder. Maybe we could both win the lottery and yes I will be nearer you! yay!
Amazing words as always and the best of luck with the move, I hope it works out for you x
thank you Nikki X
Good luck with your move! We did major relocate from London to Exeter in June and it has been the best thing we have done, no regrets.
thank you – I need stuff like this!
Great quote and wonderful post as always! We are thinking of moving, not too far but enough to make a big change in our lives – new school, new friends, new home etc but keep having second thoughts. To be honest I think it is because we haven’t found a house we like more than the house we are in yet! So perhaps we are cosy in our safe harbour! Food for thought….
All the best with the move – I definitely think it is good to have new challenges and opportunities to keep you growing and learning. Exciting times! x
thank you – I think life has a way of working out and like you say maybe not finding the right house is the message.
I missed this post so you are move, 160 miles I am guessing London area especially if there is a chance of a job. Life is funny, our gamble for more quiet and relaxed life paid off while the children were small, now we are somewhat trapped by our decision we made 10 years ago. Regrets, occasionally I do, which I feel cross with myself for feeling like this. I notice in your comments people mention the coast I am about to go for a walk along Rock beach with the dogs but life really isn’t a ‘beach’ all the time 🙂 x x x
I think it’s really hard especially with children to find the ‘right’ decision. There are always other options. I think so many people would love what you have – but equally the practicalities make the day to day difference. I know from spending time with friends who live rurally I couldn’t.
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