Interview with The Salty Dreamers
Here is an interview we did with our daughter, Jemma, aka ‘The Salty Dreamers’ in March 2023. This was a great opportunity to reflect on the life we’d been living, and realise just how much we’re keen to continue and learn more…
https://www.thesaltydreamers.com
SAILING SINGULARITY
It’s been just over a year now since mum & dad hit the high seas… a shift away from the grind of 60 hour work weeks & a looming overhead mortgage, to a simplified life living outdoors catching their own tucker, & having time to reflect on & enjoy the reason we were created to exist… to do what we love & to give back in love. From the humble beginnings of Hillary’s marina to the furthest corners of the Abrolhos Islands & the North West stretch of WA… here is a snippet of their inspiration to let go of everything, & take the leap of faith into the vast unknown.
In late 2021 you sold the house, sold everything you owned & bought a catamaran… What was that process like? Minimalising & letting go - letting go of possessions, of societal expectations, of fears…
PETE // It was a pretty big leap of faith… but these days with social media we had been exposed to some of the sailing videos so we knew what the lifestyle had to offer but it is still a big step to take the risk and let it all go. We spent a lot of time talking about it and also workshopping it out in an exercise book. It is kinda funny because you know how good it will be but to turn your life against all of the norms is difficult. We were lucky in that we had enough money to buy an investment unit and so in our minds the worst case scenario was that if we didn’t like it we would sell the boat and the unit and start again. In saying that I always knew we would love it!!!
One of the more difficult aspects was telling my parents… although my Dad has an adventurous streak to him I was nervous about their reaction to it – of course you want to stay on the right side of your parents!! They were great about it – I was surprised how well my Mum took it – but then next time we spoke she had a whole list of questions. The biggest thing I think with the sailing lifestyle is people don’t truly understand it and how ‘homely’ the boat is. Friends would ask us things like ‘Does it have a kitchen?”; “Do you have beds?” – but that is just people not understanding what a modern yacht is like. A memorable moment for me was when my parents came on board and my Mum said ‘Ok.. now I get it!’.
As far as letting go of stuff goes – at the end of the day it is just stuff. Sure it has memories attached to it but it is all replaceable and most of us are wrapped up in the consumerism world of constantly buying new ‘stuff’. Once the first item was gone, away we went. We pretty much sold or gave away all of our belongings – except what we thought we would need on the boat and some documents, photos and some precious keepsakes.
I think some of our friends thought it was a bit of a mid life crisis or a fad thing and that we would do it for a year and then return to the suburbs – if we hadn’t killed each other in the meantime. We felt that vibe in a few comments and questions but in reality we laugh because we know how good this life is and how good it has been for Nicky and I.
To live life you need to get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself, know that you are really alive. This means taking risks – calculated risks; however the rewards are great.
Then maybe it was a case of karma coming back to us or just the stars aligning that brought us to Singularity. We had been looking all year at catamarans and weren’t sure if we could even afford one… the market was pretty hot because of covid as there was a lack of boats sailing across the Pacific to Australia plus covid was driving people to change lifestyles. The day our house settled Singularity was listed for sale, having spent the last year cruising from Queensland. I was on the phone straight away and lucky enough to be caller number one. The rest is history
NICKY // In the early stages, the idea of selling everything and quitting our jobs to live on a boat didn’t seem so real. I guess there were plenty of questions that kept going through my head; “can we do this?”, “what will it look like?”, “will we be financially secure in our later years?”, “how will this affect our family?”. The turning point came when we took the time to sit down and work through the pros and cons. Literally writing these down and discussing them in detail was the first time we really thought that we could pull this off. It was during this time that we made a commitment to follow through.
Selling the family home, along with all the ‘stuff’ we had accumulated over the years, pulled at the heart strings. Plenty of family memories and milestones were tied up in our little piece of suburbia. Once we’d sold the first few items, it got easier to move things on. Some things obviously had more sentimental value than others, but we realised most of what we were selling was just ‘stuff.’
Sharing my intentions by letting my boss know that I would be finishing up at the end of the year was satisfying, however, done with some apprehension. A truck load of blood, sweat and tears went into getting my Teaching degree as a mature aged student whilst raising two active girls. Was I really prepared to just let that all go by the wayside? Yes, I was. We were both ready to change things up a little (or a lot, depending on how you look at it 😊), and keen to start living and doing things that make us happy. We’d become so intrenched in our working lives, we were missing out on so much.
What inspired you to do this?
PETE // I was ready for a sea-change having been through a few different jobs in the last 5 years and was a bit down on that. Looking around you think ‘Am I just going to keep working for the next ten years until I am 65 and then truly enjoy my life – knowing I probably only have 5 years of good health (mental and physical) if all goes well. I had been inspired by some of the You Tubers – mainly Bryan, Brady and Karen on SV Delos and having grown up based around the ocean it was a natural progression to live on it full time and do the things that you truly love all the time – not just on your 4 weeks annual leave a year! There are a million quotes around this stuff and 99% of the population dream about it – but only a small percentage take the leap of faith and follow a dream. It takes courage and resilience to make the decision and activate the plan but everyday now I have gratitude for the lifestyle we have and for Nicky by my side. I am so lucky to have a true soul mate in Nicky – a lot of partners just wouldn’t take this on. Part of my inspiration was to break Nicky free of her teaching ‘bubble’ which was consuming her for 60 – 70 hours a week and allow us to have the time together to do what we love but also to love each other – not just be passing ships on the eat, sleep, work routine.
NICKY // Pete had been watching a variety of sailing YouTube channels for many years. I didn’t really take much notice at first, but after a while started to take some interest. The crew on Delos were our real inspiration and helped to plant the seed that one day a similar lifestyle may just be possible for us. The fact that we were both working ridiculous hours in our jobs got us asking ourselves some questions; “are we really going to keep doing this for the next ten years?” We were literally living to work!
After just 3 months of living onboard I saw you both drop about 5 years & started to take up old hobbies & passions again. What does an average day look like?
PETE // People often ask us if we get bored but we never really do. In fact we do actually call a chill day where we don’t specifically do anything other than lie around and read books etc.
When we are cruising it is generally waking in a sweet anchorage somewhere… cup of tea and some brekky followed by a quick swim or vice versa – just to get the blood pumping. Our lives are pretty much based around the weather but we spent most days doing what we love.. exploring on dinghy missions – sometimes to go and do a land hike/explore or a dive mission to get some fish/crays/squid for dinner. If there is surf we prioritise that… if there is a lot of good fishing then we prioritise that!
There are the everyday chores and just living of course…. Dishes, cooking, maintenance jobs, cleaning, sorting fishing gear or dive gear… then of course there is kiting and this season foiling… so plenty to do.
Of course we try and enjoy the sunset every night and reflect on our day..
Cruising is a very social thing so a lot of time we are buddy boating with other yachts and so this means a lot of sundowners, dinners, beach catch ups etc etc – to the point that sometimes you just want to lie low and have an early night. We have met so many wonderful people on your journey so far and everyone is super friendly and giving in terms of knowledge and advice.
NICKY // Really depends on where we are and who we’re with. Access to the things we like doing the most; surfing, diving, fishing, exploring are always high on the list. We’ve both enjoyed reading up and learning the history of the places we visit, and having the time to just chill and read for pleasure. We’re usually in bed fairly early and up early too. The wind dictates a lot of what we do and where and when we go. Letting go of the need to know the time (or day of the week 😊) has been liberating. We do things based on how we feel rather than having to follow a schedule. Freedom to do what we want!
Last winter you headed up North… tell us about all the islands & treasures of the WA coast that you got to experience & explore…
PETE // Well it was all pretty exciting and we really just scratched the surface; in summary:
- 6 weeks at the Abrolhos – amazing wildlife and environment;
- 4 weeks Shark Bay including Dirk Hartog – amazing wildlife and beautiful coast – so much more to explore here!
- 6 months on Ningaloo Coast – well what can you say – stunning ocean life both below and above!
The Catamaran is pretty much fully self-sufficient hey?
PETE //We generate our own power – predominantly via solar and we make our own water. We have been growing a few sprouts and herbs and try and source a lot of our food from the ocean where we can.
There is so much to learn from nature & the animals within God’s creation. What are some intriguing things you’ve learnt whilst living a life outdoors?
PETE //We live by the weather so you get in tune with wind, tides, sunrise/sunset times as well as general coastal conditions. No need for a watch – we generally gauge via the position of the sun. We spend a lot of timing walking and exploring along the coast and so we look at plants and the general ecoscape – learning about bush tucker etc. Most of our stuff is remote so you get to experience the wildlife – especially bird life wherever you are – oh and what about the whales, dolphins, sharks etc etc!!!
With all of your senses tuned in you see so many amazing things and feel connected to country wherever you are. We try and read a lot about local history and really learn about a place rather than just take it on face value. Spending a couple of weeks at an isolated anchorage gives you time to do these things…
NICKY // The thing that stood out for me during our trip up the coast was the fact that we really had taken in very little during our annual trips in previous years. During our family holidays, we would be so focussed on getting from A to B that we’d miss all the magic in-between. When you have time to spend exploring, you gain a new appreciation for the places you visit. I was blown away by the richness of the plant and animal life, particularly at The Abrolhos Islands and along The Ningaloo Reef. I now have a full appreciation of the need for sancturary zones and the effect they have on protecting the natural environment. The variety of fish life and diversity in the coral in these zones is incredible!
Kon Tiki, The Boy Who Sailed Around the World, Peter Troy’s biography… have all been people & stories that have contributed to setting sail. Will we see you guys in Indo or French Polynesia anytime soon?
PETE // I think we will journey overseas – probably north into Indonesia and then west into Asia. The problem is there is so much to see!!!! When you pull the map out you start putting your finger on places and realise how much the world has to offer. In saying that Western Australia can be a tough cruising ground but it has some of the most unspoilt wilderness and fishing grounds anywhere in the world – so we have a lot more exploring to do here yet!
NICKY // We’re both keen to explore new places and meet new people along the way. Whilst there is so much to see along the WA coast, it would be good to eventually get out there and explore further afield. I guess for us the timing needs to be right. Family circumstances are a big consideration. At this stage, we’re taking things a season at a time – with a plan to keep doing this until we’re not enjoying it anymore. Travelling overseas, particularly Indonesia, is definitely on our list of to-do’s – it’s just a case of when.
Something you feel compelled to change or impact over the next few years whilst sailing…
PETE // No big plans – but staying tuned into the environment is the first; the next is probably continuing to refine our footprint and keep it minimal. We try not to waste anything and always treat our fresh water and food as precious; so we don’t waste anything. This is one of the great things about this lifestyle – you can strip it right back – using the sea to provide your food, eating basically but healthily, creating minimal waste and using minimal fossil fuels to live.
NICKY // Hmmm…. That’s a tricky one. I haven’t thought too much about this, but I’m sure I’ll be inspired via things we experience along the way. One the thing I am always looking at is how we can reduce our impact on the environment. We work hard to do the best we can in regards to recycling and waste management etc.., but there’s always more that can be done to improve. One thing that really frustrates me is the plastic packaging (vacuum seal) we use to preserve and freeze the fish we catch. There has to be a better way!
In a world where technology & a digital living is becoming more prominent & integrated, can you tell us the importance of simplifying & stripping back to the bare essentials…
PETE // Humans are great adapters. Tuning out of the ‘noise’ is one of the best things you can do for your mental health and in turn your overall wellness. You quickly adapt to a life free of all the clutter that society brings – from the constant search for content to push out to the masses; the suck of consumerism that pulls you into buying more and more ‘stuff’ and freedom from the daily grind of a 9 to 5 life.
From a relationship aspect, stripping and simplifying our lives has really allowed our relationship to reignite. It has given us the time for more intimacy – and from that I mean having time to simply lie in each other’s arms and talk, as well as the fun stuff of course!! (sorry kids!!) Although we spend a lot of time together, I have found it has allowed us to tune into one another – without the work stress distractions etc and so our time always feels like ‘quality time’. I felt that we had lost a bit of this over the past ten years with work influence and stressors creeping into our lives – being tired all the time and thinking about work matters doesn’t make for a great relationship. I think a lot of our friends thought we may want to kill each other but I think we are stronger and more connected together. Getting out of your comfort zone together also builds a strong relationship as you quickly realise you only have one other person to back you up when you are in a testing situation. Sitting through a 52 knot storm at night together talking through the ‘what ifs?’ can only make you stronger right?
As I said earlier I am so blessed to have my true soul mate with me and sharing this adventure together – I couldn’t think of anyone else I would rather be with.
NICKY // I feel it’s definitely important to keep up to date with what is going on in the world, however, the advancement of the online media does make it hard to switch off, or determine what’s truth and what’s not. There’s way too much noise out there now. You can choose to soak it all up and drown in it or live simply and to your values.
What makes you happiest?
PETE // Waking up next to Nicky in a remote anchorage somewhere not really having any great plans for the day but knowing it will be a great day anyway!
NICKY // When the people around me are happy. Family and friends (new and old). Time to appreciate the little things. Time to just be.
Favourite album at the moment?
No album in particular. But loving Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds- ‘We’re On Our Way Now’
