How it all began

I’ve been traveling to Grenada for the last decade, taking every chance I had to plant my feet on its soil. From the very first time I landed at Maurice Bishop Airport and took a taxi to the Port of St. George’s, I recall turning to my mother (who has been my travel buddy for as long as I can remember) and said “I don’t know how to explain it, but I feel like I am coming home”. Every trip after that became a kind of homecoming for me. I remembered and befriended the locals I met and would be sure to seek them out on each trip. They seemed to genuinely remember me and my mom and were always jovial and lively to be around. I never left the island without a renewed sense of love for mankind.

Grenadians are happy, simple people. They work hard, they play hard, they take great pride in their homes and appearance and most of all, they put family above all else. Yes, it has become busier as more and more tourists find this magical island but that hasn’t changed the atmosphere there. I am always impressed on how willing the locals are to stop and take time to engage and help us foreigners. They are friendly and not in a hurry like we are in the United States. They enjoy life and everything life has to offer….they fully utilize all the gifts the earth, sea, and sky have to offer. Known as the Island of Spice, they grow, harvest and export spices of course but also distill some of the finest rum around. Which may be one reason why every time I’m there, I take more time to just relax, breath in the salt air and laugh A LOT…usually from the seated position as this American has yet to build up the proper tolerance for imbibing rum as mighty as theirs and walking sometimes becomes an insurmountable task!

On a trip in 2012, I was excited to sail on the majestic SV Mandalay again with Sail Windjammer. The SV Mandalay has always been one of my favorite ships and happened to be the vessel which took my Tall Ship Sailing virginity in 2004 when I trusted her stately hull to get myself and a full load of other passengers safely from Panama to the San Blas Islands. (BTW, if you ever get the chance to visit the San Blas, DO IT!) For several years, She sat unused (I literally cried real tears when I heard this….fellow Jammers or Seamen will understand the actual, real connection you develop with a ship) until she was put into use again. It was on this trip I met Joy and Hans. Almost instantly, we were laughing and sharing stories like we had known each other for years. Upon disembarking and leaving Grenada, I kept in touch with them and made sure to visit with them on my next trip to the Island in 2014. My mom and I stayed at their resort, Almost Paradise Cottages, a truly unique and wonderful place for several days before once again boarding the SV Mandalay. While there, we were sitting in their on-site restaurant, enjoying the incredible view (and possibly drinking some “tea”, otherwise known as alcohol) when the subject of travel came up. I had casually mentioned that if they ever wanted to take an extended vacation, that I would happily and completely unselfishly volunteer to stay on the property for them. I then proceeded to list all the ways I was qualified: I like rum, I love Grenada, I can pull weeds, make minor repairs, I’m fantastic at sun bathing….I mean, I am clearly super qualified!

Several months later, during a particularly hard transition in my life, I got a message from Joy asking if I was serious. I responded with ‘Um, if you are, I’m SO SERIOUS’, thinking ‘YES! this is exactly what I need right now!!!!’. Turns out that the pair was long overdue for a vacation and wanted to take an extended one this year but needed someone to stay on the property and watch over their animals. So long story short, I sold my house and my car, gave away what I didn’t need and packed everything else into storage and am making my way there in July. I honestly don’t know how to put into words how excited I am to go on this adventure. It’s a little scary….it’s a little crazy….but the Wanderer in me can’t help but become overwhelmed with gratitude and eagerness when I think about the journey on which I am about to embark.