​A year ago today I – tearfully – handed a typed and signed resignation notice to my boss, at my lovely, safe, fun, well paid City job, and kicked off the three and a half month process to flying out to the Canaries.  This also means in two weeks I will have been here nine months, which is a long time and yet also feels like I’ve blinked and everything’s different.

So, what’s changed?  I’ve changed, certainly.  In one way I’m a lot more reclusive, I live with two cats and can easily spend 48hrs talking to no-one else; one of the comments I’ve had about this decision was that it was a surprise that I would/could do this and enjoy my choice, enjoy being so far from friends and family; in the City I had friends at work, old colleagues, school friends, neighbours – all at hand for a glass (who are we kidding!) of wine and a chat – but out here it’s just me.

On the other hand, one massive and fun aspect of sailing is that a lot of people come to it solo, but it’s rarely – and only for the very brave – a lone endeavour.  You have to work together, which means you have to open yourself up to new people, to becoming a team with people you’d probably never bump into let alone choose to strike up a conversation with, even if you were that sort of person to start with.  Personally, I’ve only been able to start talking to someone new when there’s already something in common; small talk is beyond me, but if someone comes over and says “Wow, wasn’t that Credit Event quite something?” then ice broken and we’re off.  I can talk about Credit Events for a long time.  Sailing is like that.  Sailing stories can get cliché after a while (sorry, I hope that comment doesn’t get my Yachtmaster revoked) but once you get talking you can move onto the stuff which builds friendships.

My life has also changed a lot.  I used to be much more concerned with stuff; I’ve hankered for a Hermes handbag for years and I had a problem with expensive sunglasses.  Now I use canvas bags most of the time – my free Glastonbury bag is extremely well worn – and most of my expensive sunglasses have fallen overboard, so unless I’m certain of being land based I wear the ones from the market.  Genuine designer, of course.

Otherwise, I sleep more (except when on passage!), I run more – I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t take the opportunity to be one of those “kept women” types who do nothing but exercise and “lunch”, even though I’m self funded.  I eat out more, so even though I run more I also weigh two pounds more, but I am sure that’ll change once I actually start working!

And that’s it, the cliffhanger, I’m hoping to start working in May; then the next chapter truly begins.  I’m excited to see what happens!