Dreaming of owning a boat? Before you even buy one, there are six things I wish I had practiced or studied more. These are skills and habits that would have eased my anxiety, sped up my learning curve, and made the first days onboard far smoother. The best part? You don’t need a boat yet to start doing them—and they can actually be fun. From learning the language of sailing, to studying weather and engines, to the number one tip—practicing knots—these are simple but powerful ways to prepare yourself for life on the water. This isn’t a “how-to” video. It’s more of a “wish I had” video—straight, no-frills, and from experience. #BoatingLife #Buyingaboat #LearnToBoat Are you a Never-T00-Later like me? Check out the Never Too Late Academy at www.nevertoolateacademy.com Drone footage courtesy of @SailingRamona The image of boat terms can be found at this website: https://l-36.com/terms.php

Back on board Wahine after six weeks away. No mold (a sailor’s small victory!) and Buren Bay is as beautiful as ever. In this short, I share a quick check-in and a teaser for my upcoming video: the five things I wish I had done before buying a boat. Whether you’re a beginner sailor or just dreaming of life afloat, it’s never too late to learn something new. #SailingLife #Liveaboard #NeverTooLate

"After six weeks in the city, I return to the island—and am greeted by a sailor’s perfect picture: a calm sea, blue skies, and a squall cloud rolling in. City life has its rhythm, but here the horizon reminds you of raw, quiet power. For sailors, rain doesn’t matter—it’s the wind that can both propel and destroy. Out here, the sky and sea enlarge the soul. A true sailor’s delight." You can follow my travels and writings @PacificSolo also on Instagram and Facebook #SailingLife #OceanViews #NeverTooLate

Walking around the Imperial Palace and heading back soon to the boat. Watch full video here. https://youtu.be/SW0xbYIrxHE?si=X8tr_1u9ErK-Pi1P #imperialpalace #walking #japan

Wahine’s home when I found her was at Yumenoshima Marina — Tokyo’s “Island of Dreams.” Built on landfill, transformed into a marina and park, it was here that my journey with Wahine truly began. On this day off from writing, meetings, and even backgammon with my grandson, I return to Yumenoshima — to reconnect with the place and the people who helped launch this adventure. I meet Robin, a fellow Canadian sailor and former Disney executive, who was the very first guest aboard Wahine years ago. With his help, and the support of others, Wahine was readied for the voyage south. Robin has since bought his own 26-foot sailboat, Figaro, and today, I join him to sail Tokyo Bay. This video is about more than just sailing. It’s about friendships, memories, and the places that leave lasting marks on our lives. As I prepare to welcome my second grandson into the world before returning south to Buren Bay and new adventures, I’m reminded: It’s never too late to pull up anchor… or drop one… to live your dream. #sailinglife #tokyobay #itsnevertoolate thanks to Mackenzie and @SailingRamona for the drone footage of Wahine

July began with a scare caused by a Manga Prediction and an unprecedented earthquake swarm near by. but what followed was deeper—a quiet goodbye. In this meditative video essay, I reflect on what i

Boat life may be good for the soul… but not for the waistline. Back on land, walking every day in one of my favorite valleys in Japan, I’m reminded of when I used to cycle 70 km before breakfast. Now

New Meditative Video Coming soon Lowell here from Pacific Solo and the Never Too Late Academy. I’m back on the mainland, diving deeper into longevity research across Japan—building on Blue Zones and Ikigai. After three days off my feet from blisters, I’m walking again (aiming for 10 km/day) and reflecting on motion, sacred places, and the people who anchor us. A new meditative long-form video is on the way. Mitsu is back in Buren and watching over his boat and mine,. All is well. 🎥 Subscribe for slow travel, long life, and reflections from sea and land.

Hi, Lowell here from Pacific Solo and the Never Too Late Academy, aboard my Gib Sea 402 Wahine, moored in Buren Bay on Japan’s Amami Island. With one typhoon heading toward China (safe travels, friends) and another brewing for next week, I’m prepping Wahine before heading to the mainland for writing and meetings. A small but satisfying win today: my portable air conditioner is working again! It's now helping dry out the inside of the boat while I dehumidify, clean, and secure everything. Just in time. I’ll be away continuing work on my new book—part personal journey, part deep dive into longevity, drawn from life in Japan’s aging heartlands. Boat life teaches patience. Writing teaches perspective. Longevity? Still learning. Over and out—until the next typhoon. #boatlife #writerslife #japan

Living on a boat in remote Japan has its beauty… and its challenges. I’m moored in a quiet bay, in a remote spot on Amami Island, where the bus comes just a couple of times a day. With typhoon season approaching and writing deadlines too, I needed something on land: a shelter, an escape pod, and a way to move. So I took the ferry to Kakeroma Island to check out a $150 car. Something simple, something I could sleep in if needed, especially during storms. Spoiler: I bought it. Sometimes boat life needs a little help from land life. #BoatLife #TyphoonPrep #islandlife #japan

What’s happening in Japan right now? Some tourists cancelled trips over a manga doomsday prediction for July 5th. Social media ran with it. But here in Amami, just south of the Tokara Islands, the sea kayaking festival went on, and the village of 29 where I’m moored carried on, calmly prepping for typhoon season. That’s not to say nothing’s happening. The earthquake swarm in the Tokara chain is real—hundreds of tremors in recent weeks. Scientists are watching closely. People in places like Akusekijima are understandably anxious. Some have even evacuated. But here, there’s no panic. Just preparedness. This isn’t alarm. It’s not dismissal. It’s awareness. 👉 Subscribe for grounded reflections from life on the water and stories from Japan. #japan #islandlife #awareness

It’s not because it’s July 4th that I’m staying on shore — I’m Canadian. But something curious is happening here in Japan. Tourists are cancelling their trips because of a decades-old manga prediction about a disaster on July 5th — and oddly enough, that prediction points to the very region I’m in: Amami Islands and Tokara. Combine that with a swarm of recent tremors and a potential typhoon next week, and… well, I’ve decided to sleep onshore for a few nights. No panic. No drama. Just Japan, being Japan: always prepared. Sharing this not to alarm, but to answer those who've asked if I'm okay. I am. Still afloat, still curious, still listening. 🎥 Watch till the end for what locals do when warnings come. #islandlife #japan #july5thprediction

"This was not just another week. It was a week of sea swims, waterfalls, shared tears, and laughter. Of grief, joy, memory—and meaning. Six years ago, I launched Pacific Solo and moved aboard Wahine. This year, I reflect on where the journey has brought me: not across the ocean, but deep into life itself. This video is about loss, legacy, and love, and what it means to truly age with purpose. It’s also a window into my next book, A Journey Beyond the Blue Zone. Watch, reflect, share." 🎥 Thanks to @SailingRamona, Mackenze & Eli for capturing the moments. #boatlife #lifelessons #Turning70 #milestone

Maintenance My Way. Some people are wired for repairs. I’m… not one of them. Today I’m rowing ashore to get my broken Zero Breeze air conditioner looked at (and its stubborn battery). Thankfully, my friend Martin is an electrical wizard—because my strengths lie elsewhere. Like sunscreen. Thanks to my friends at Dermalogica Tokyo, I’ve learned the importance of skin maintenance—especially when you’re 70+ and rowing half a kilometer in the summer sun. So while I may not fix electronics, I do take SPF 50 seriously. Because hey—it’s never too late to take care of yourself… or ask for help. 💧 I use the Hyaluronic Ceramide Mist and SPF 50 protection from Dermalogica. 🧴 Want to try it? 🔗 https://dermalogica.jp?sca_ref=781255 💬 Use code lowell-dermalogica for 10% off. 🎥 More slow sailing, longevity tips, and reflections from life afloat on this channel. #NeverTooLate #MaintenanceMyWay #SPF50 #SailingLife #PacificSolo #SkincareOver70 #BoatLifeJapan #FixItOrFry #DermalogicaJapan #HealthyAging #RowingToRepairs

25 years ago, I began an epic 3,000 km bicycle journey the length of Japan—chasing cherry blossoms from south to north. On Day One, I rode 125 km to Sakurajima, one of Japan’s most active volcanoes and a symbol of resilience. I turned 70 recently, and although I’m three months late, I’ve returned to this island to reflect on what it taught me. 🌋 I faced my fear—fixing a flat tire 🚴‍♂️ I learned to love the right kind of exhaustion 🎒 I realized the power of traveling light These weren’t just cycling lessons—they were life lessons. Read the full blog here:https://www.nevertoolateacademy.com/post/before-pacific-solo-there-was-a-bicycle #NeverTooLate #CyclingJapan #Sakurajima #Longevity #Volcano #PacificSolo #LifeLessons #SlowTravel #JapanJourney #BlueZoneJapan

Taking out the trash isn’t always straightforward—especially when you live on a sailboat, anchored off a remote Japanese hamlet. In this short glimpse, I row ashore to meet the garbage man and navigate the very local—and very specific—rules of Japan’s waste disposal system. Boar-proof bins, official bags, and friendly locals all feature. Not really an episode… just a look at what happens before breakfast. Filmed near Buren Bay Real boat life in rural Japan 🌊 More at @pacificsolo #boatlife #sailingjapan #cruisinglife

I’m off the boat and getting my steps in—aiming for 10K today while I’m on land. When you live on a sailboat, it’s easy to stay confined, and my doctor reminded me: daily walking is non-negotiable. Tonight’s route takes me past one of Japan’s Coast Guard ships. I have a soft spot for the Japanese Coast Guard.they’ve boarded my boat more than ten times (three times at sea!). Once, they even asked me to be in one of their training videos. I truly respect the work they do protecting these complex, often disputed waters. It’s a peaceful night here at Naze Port. #BoatLife #WalkingRoutine #LiveaboardLife #JapaneseCoastGuard #NazePort #CoastGuardJapan #SailingJapan #StayActive #NeverTooLate #MaritimeLife #10KSteps #HealthyAging #coastguard #japan #boatlife

After four years and 80+ ports, and a failed attempt to realize a dream to cross the pacific Solo before I am 70, I’m charting a new course, for myself, my boat and this channel. In this update, I reveal three big announcements: the future of my sailboat, my creative work, and this growing channel. Plus, a bonus film you won’t want to miss: Obachan – Granny of the Fields: She is in part the inspiration for my next phase. You can see more award winning films and Mackenzie’s work at https://www.mackshepp.com/ Let me know: should I rename the channel? Thanks to @SailingRamona for the drone footage. If you want to find out more about my current book project please click here https://www.nevertoolateacademy.com/p... These videos are made possible by my Patrons and Sponsors. Thank you If you want to check out the Dermalogica products I am using, go to https://dermalogica.jp?sca_ref=781255... . If you choose to order anything, type in: lowell-dermalogica and you will get a 10% discount. #PacificSolo #NeverTooLate #SlowTravel #SailingJapan #BoatLife #Turning70 #BlueZone #AmamiIslands #Obachan #Longevity #Liveaboard #JapanTravel #japan #CreativeAging

Nightly Ritual Aboard Wahine — Peace of Mind Under the Stars Before I sleep each night on my sailboat in Japan, I follow a quiet rhythm—a ritual that brings calm and clarity. First I take a quick outdoor shower under the stars, a reminder of the beauty of this life afloat. and do I then flip on the anchor light and stern light, a simple act that aids with peace of mind as I fall asleep plus its a beacon if I need to go ashore and come back. Then, a few quiet moments with i a newly acquired skincare regime. Something I have never done in my 70 years until recently, Never too late I guess. I quite enjoy the ritual If you want to follow my journey into healthy aging, slow travel, and Japan’s Blue Zones, visit: https://www.nevertoolateacademy.com/p... Thanks to my amazing Patrons and Sponsors who make these moments (and videos) possible. 🧴 Curious about Dermalogica in Japan? Visit: https://dermalogica.jp?sca_ref=781255 💬 Use code: lowell-dermalogica for 10% off your order. #japan #travel #boatlife

I'm up early to row my tender ashore to pick up new glasses before the winds pick up! Life on the water always keeps you moving—and today, that includes braving the swell. Stay tuned: I have some important announcements coming soon about me, my boat Wahine, and what's next for the Pacific Solo channel. If you've been following the journey, you won’t want to miss what’s coming next. Subscribe and tap the bell so you don’t miss a beat on this next chapter. 🎥 Filmed in a remote part of Japan #EarlyMorning #Burien #Rowing #NewGlasses #Announcements #pacificsolo #SailingLife #PacificSolo #Liveaboard #BoatLife #RowingAshore #SailingJapan #CruisingLife #SoloSailing #TenderToShore #OkinawaLife #NewGlasses #LifeOnTheWater