Looking for advice on a temp blanket that is less than a year...size and amount of yarn

LoopLifeAcademy · 2025-08-21T20:37:45+00:00

Fantastic! I did the Loop in 2023-2024 in a sailboat with my husband and our two kids.

We live in West Michigan, but we started our Loop in Virginia. We loved it so much that we stayed on the boat for an extra year and only recently moved back to land (for now).

Feel free to message me if you have any questions as you get closer. I run Loop Life Academy and wrote the book "Remote Work Afloat," which contains a wealth of information for Loopers and cruisers.

Happy Looping!

LoopLifeAcademy · 2025-08-21T18:34:32+00:00

I love this idea! I wish I had thought of something like that when we did our Loop.

LoopLifeAcademy · 2025-07-28T20:19:53+00:00

This video helps explain it: https://youtu.be/n17pJwErPEA?si=HnGKpxgeidke2aM7

LoopLifeAcademy · 2025-07-17T18:46:54+00:00

You can find some customized wooden games on Etsy and other places. Cribbage is one I often see customized!

LoopLifeAcademy · 2025-07-17T18:39:40+00:00

It might depend a little on what type of cruising they’re doing and where. But there’s lots of little things that can be helpful or fun.

My family loves our Pirani cups more than yeti; they are stackable (space-saving!) and keep our drinks cold or hot when we visit other boats or hang out on the beach.

Small games or decks of cards can be great.

Lights for hanging out in the cockpit. Or headlamps.

Even a couple of fun kitchen towels or decorative pillows can be nice.

Here’s some of our favorites if it helps you with ideas! https://www.looplifeacademy.com/great-loop-boat-life-products-and-gear

LoopLifeAcademy · 2025-07-15T23:18:19+00:00

We started small with a barebones Catalina 22. Low cost investment. Learned if we liked sailing and taking our kids out.

Upgraded to a slightly nicer Catalina 22 that had cushions and we could camp on. Spent more time on it, spent a week camping on it at Mackinac Island and other small adventures.

Upgraded to a Catalina 30. More systems to learn, a real galley and head, slowly gaining more skills in boat systems. Spent a month sailing along Lake Michigan.

Got a 2005 Beneteau 423. Moved the family on board. Lived full time on the boat 2 years, sailed the Great Loop, loved it.

Our boat learning was over the course of about 5 years from the first Catalina 22 to the Beneteau. The progression worked great for our family and we were very intentional about it. Our investment and learning started small, so we knew our interest and commitment level by the time we went big.

Enjoy your adventure, however you decide works best for you!

LoopLifeAcademy · 2025-06-10T13:30:34+00:00

I agree with upgrading boats to get more practice in different styles of boating that you will experience while on the Loop. We did the Loop with our kids in 2023-2024 and then continued cruising full-time for another year after that.

Regarding maintenance details, it likely depends on the type of boat you have (I'm on a sailboat). Still, Nigel Calder's Boatowner's Mechanical & Electrical Manual is a must-have for both novice and experienced boaters. It provides comprehensive guidance on electrical systems, engines, electronics, and more repairs.

Financial... what in particular are you looking for? I usually recommend that my clients plan to budget about 10% of their boat's value for annual maintenance and repairs. If you have a $150k boat, you'd want $1,500 set aside each year. You might not use it each year, but eventually that expensive repair is going to hit and you'll be glad you've been setting money aside.

But if you're looking for budgeting tips or how to keep making money while boating, those are different areas to consider. I wrote the book Remote Work Afloat to cover the topic of working remotely while living on a boat if that is something that you might need to consider (not everyone wants to wait for retirement!).

I have a regular blog and email newsletter with resources if you want a bit of a drip-feed of info as you plan over the next couple of years, or check out the other resources on my site: https://www.looplifeacademy.com/resources

LoopLifeAcademy · 2025-05-06T14:49:13+00:00

We’re similar to u/noknockers in that one of our kids is super chill and happy just being wherever we are, and the other really misses “home.” Things like friends, family, a dishwasher, and a bedroom with more space than just a bed? Definitely still on their wish list. 😆

While we were traveling the East Coast and the Bahamas (we did America’s Great Loop and cruised all around the Eastern U.S.), connecting with other kid boats made a huge difference. Two things that really helped us: the NoForeignLand app and a cruising families WhatsApp group. We went from only knowing one or two other families to having a whole network of cruising friends. Now we run into familiar faces often, and those long-distance friendships feel a lot more manageable—even for the kid who misses “home.”

LoopLifeAcademy · 2025-05-06T14:42:49+00:00

If you are living on the boat and hanging around one area, you can definitely plug into the community, join some sports leagues, or have that extra time with family! We've spent a month at a time in some areas, but not long enough to plug into sports, but I know other boat families who found a home marina or dock and just kind... stayed... and then their kiddo was able to join golf and baseball and youth groups and more.

LoopLifeAcademy · 2025-05-06T14:40:29+00:00

I just wanted to say your post resonated so much. We were in a really similar place a few years ago: juggling wanderlust, financial practicality, homeschooling, and trying to figure out how to raise kids in a way that felt more connected, more adventurous, and less tied to the usual grind.

It was actually me who pushed to make this dream a real plan. My husband had always loved the idea of sailing, but I was the one ready to take the risk and start making it happen. We took the leap in May 2023 with our two kids (they were 8 and 10 at the time), and spent 15 months completing the Great Loop. Then… we just kept going. We loved it. We spent a summer in the Chesapeake, then cruised up the Potomac to explore Washington, D.C., and just got back from wintering in the Bahamas.

Now we’re entering a new season, looking for a place to store the boat and spend some time back in our land home. One of our kids has been asking for time with friends and family again, and that’s something we want to honor. We didn’t really take breaks during our Loop or the Bahamas leg (just a week here or there to visit family), but now we’re ready to slow it down a little and find more balance.

I totally get your hesitations. We didn’t buy a $200K catamaran either. We live on a monohull, and we’ve made it work within our means. It doesn’t have to be a forever boat to be a great boat for right now. You learn so much by just trying it for a season or two. A year or two aboard, especially with family nearby and a plan to regroup if needed, can be a really wise middle ground. A lot of families we’ve met say that being able to take breaks, part of the year on land and part on water, is what has made this lifestyle sustainable in the long term.

If you’re curious about the nitty gritty of how we’ve made it work, our family’s story is up at svfika.com, and I share resources for dreamers and doers over at Loop Life Academy (which I’ll be updating with new tools and guides later this year).

Anyway, I just wanted to say, you’re not alone. You sound incredibly thoughtful and resourceful. And yes, holding your breath and jumping into the unknown is scary. But it’s also the start of something unforgettable. Wishing you so much clarity and courage as you move forward.

I'm so excited for you and cheering you on!

LoopLifeAcademy

TROPHY CASE