One year ago today we finalized the purchase of Camille and moved aboard in San Diego. Thanksgiving 2011 was the first time we woke up aboard. A week later we sailed our boat into Mexico where we have been living and exploring ever since.

We are about to celebrate our first Thanksgiving in Mexico and feel more grateful than ever. Many people worry that they will miss their family while out cruising. My parents live right up the dock on their boat and Mike’s parents spent two weeks with us in May exploring te Sea of Cortez and are planning a trip for January. We have spent more time with family since we’ve been in Mexico than we did the entire seven years we lived in Portland and Alaska.

While we haven’t been able to earn much money we have been able to live (mostly) frugally and simply, yet our daily lives are spent much like others spend their annual week of vacation. Diligent saving and planning got us here but we are grateful nonetheless.

¡Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias!

Incidentally, today also marks the anniversary of the last time I saw the V-berth look like this and the last time we saw the bottom of our lazarettes! 😉

I posted it before, but here is the slideshow of our trek from Portland south to Camille. Click play when you are ready to watch.