The year is 1995. Nice Jewish girl (Lisa) meets Charming Irish lad (Conor) in Austin, TX. He was visiting in order to attend her company’s software training classes, and he was the sharpest student she ever had. Fast forward 27 years, and they have built a wonderful life together in Northern California and raised two amazing kids. Said kids are getting ready to start graduate school or the second year of undergraduate study, both far away in the Midwest. That has created an extremely empty nest. Enter time for adventuring…
It has never been my dream to live on a boat. However, it has long been Conor’s. He has worked really hard for a long time in the techy world, and I feel he deserves to take this extended sabbatical he’s been dreaming of for so long. Why a boat? It affords us the unique freedom to explore amazing places by sea and is a great way to downsize. We are both embracing a more minimalist lifestyle. We begin in the Mediterranean and expect to do some careful planning along with following of whims as they come up. How could a girl possibly pass up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?! I’ve adopted the mantra “You Only Live Once.” There is currently a YOLO sticker on our refrigerator so I don’t forget! #yolo
While this was supposed to be a full sabbatical, turns out Conor is still working a bit for Plenty where he runs the software and data team. It’s a cool company with a great mission – sustainable farming in a vertical, hydroponic, robotic, super clean, super tasty, super nutritious way. Check them out!
And, as timing would have it, I figured out my “next thing” just a few months before we set off. I’m currently studying online through UC Irvine to become an independent college admissions consultant. Excited to start my next new business in the next year or so!
Sailing Sabática 