As the snow comes down on this Sunday I am sitting in Dallas and it is snowing, cold. But this week I restarted work, and I will be in the US for 2 weeks before moving back to Australia, Tracy and the boys have gone to Colorado to see her friends like she did this same time as she did last year as I sailed down the Baja.

But the biggest contradiction is Ed who sailed with me down the coast left Wednesday from the Rusty Pelican with Connie heading down the identical path we took last year. It brought so many memories back, and as they sail the initial two legs as they are now in Turtle Bay, I look at the weather, and when I speak to them which I have at Ensenada and Turtle provide them with the weather. As Ed did for me a number of times last year. But I feel like I am travelling with them, thinking through the passage, and enjoying engaging.

People ask me are you happy to be back at work, and the answer is yes, the re engagement with the team, and people is great, but my attitude and approach is very different, I am relaxed, and much more attuned to listening and seeing the bigger picture, and certainly this approach is making more efficient.

But our new chapter starts next week as we fly Friday to Australia, the boat leaves Costa Rica on the same day and will arrive in Australia in Feb, speaking with Alex on skype today he wanted to get back on Gijima he misses his boat. It is funny as he spent his whole life on the boat and half of it cruising. It was a great year, but the upcoming one offers such opportunity to sail, to discover and explore and make new friends.

But as Ed and Connie sail down the coast I “pinch” myself that last year happened, and it makes me certain that we changed our lifestyle last year, and while we are in the US, and back at work, that we have moved on to a new lifestyle than the one were were in 2009.

I have my laptop working and I will add entries as we enter Australia and our new chapter