By Christine Nelson | Observer Contributor
Photo by Brianna Stevens
Would you take a year off and sail to the Caribbean? What about adding your spouse and three young children to life on a small sailboat? Transfer Counselor Todd Bennett, did just that. It was a dream trip complete with beauty, people, and adventure.
Bennett and his family set sail from Virginia in September 2016, then headed to the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and the Dominican Republic. They spent about three months in each location, with one month in the Turks and Caicos. Bennett described the trip as not “touristy.” Since their small sailboat could navigate areas with few tourists, such as beautiful coves, he felt they had more authentic experiences.
“Because you have time, you become close with people very quickly,” said Bennett. He admitted that it was good to be around people that focused on their community. “Here in the United States, we tend to be very independent.”
Bennett was happy to show his kids, ages 5, 7 and 10, another part of the world with different people and customs. He was also pleased to model healthy risk-taking behavior to them.
While the setting was beautiful, the trip was not always easy. “Two of my kids loved it,” said Bennett, “while my older daughter found it difficult.” He and his wife found homeschooling hard.
He admitted things got very stressful when they arrived in the Dominican Republic, a port that has no directional buoys. He was greeted by military commanders that were yelling at him in Spanish. And then there were the days of bad weather when they couldn’t sail and were forced to stay put on their boat. “But,” said Bennett, “I think there is value in feeling uncomfortable.”
Despite the challenges, they would do it again. “We are planning our next trip, but it probably won’t be for a while.”
Bennett credited his fifth grade teacher and a whale-watching field trip for inspiring his love of the ocean. A book about sailing around the world, entitled Dove by Robin Lee Graham, also captivated him. It inspired Bennett to take lessons and voyage his own trips.
“Share your passions, because you never know who is listening,” he advised.
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