After 18 months away, we’re finally back aboard Spoondrifter. We left expecting a much shorter break, and getting back to life on the boat is taking some work. Come along for our first look inside, the surprises waiting for us, and the reality of moving back aboard. There’s cleaning, unpacking, and a growing list of jobs before we can launch. We’re figuring out what needs doing now and what can wait, while remembering why we wanted this life in the first place. 00:00 Back aboard after 18 months 00:31 The journey back to the boat 00:57 Climbing aboard and our first look 02:14 Inside the cabin 03:24 An unexpected nest 04:01 Three months away became eighteen 06:35 Dirt, mold and deciding what to keep 08:31 Making the bedrooms usable 08:59 More discoveries on deck 10:28 Where do you even start? 12:48 Why the bilge filled with water 14:27 What needs doing before we launch 15:34 Why we still want this life 16:58 Finding our way forward Join Our Crew - http://www.patreon.com/spoondrifters Send us something we need - https://amzn.to/3LGS9CV We participate in multiple affiliate programs including Amazon Affiliates.

How are we going to get all of this to the boat? Six 50-pound checked bags, three carry-ons, three personal items—and a teenager, a puppy, and a bird—all headed to Florida. As we downsize for our return to boat life, we’re figuring out which bags make the most sense, how to use our limited space, and what’s worth bringing. We compare packing options, show how we pack one category of belongings, and talk through the challenges of making these decisions as a couple. If you’re preparing to move onto a sailboat—or trying to fit your life into a smaller space—these are the decisions that come before moving day. Join Our Crew - http://www.patreon.com/spoondrifters Send us something we need - https://amzn.to/3LGS9CV We participate in multiple affiliate programs including Amazon Affiliates.

Forty miles across the Alaska wilderness with everything we need on our backs—what could go wrong? We set out to backpack the iconic Resurrection Pass Trail (nearly 40 miles point-to-point) on the Kenai Peninsula. Carrying 36 to 40-pound packs for a week in the backcountry is the ultimate test of tiny living, but steep switchbacks, unexpected trail detours, relentless rain, and pure exhaustion quickly had me questioning if I had seriously overestimated what I was capable of. Come along with us as we tackle the elevation, navigate backcountry camps, push past the pain, and experience the raw beauty (and brutal reality) of remote Alaska. Have you ever hit a moment on a hike or adventure where you genuinely asked yourself, "What was I thinking?!" Let us know in the comments! 📍 Trail Details: • Trail: Resurrection Pass National Recreation Trail, Alaska • Distance: ~39 miles (plus trail detours!) • Starting Pack Weights: 36 lbs & 40 lbs 00:00 - The Reality of a 40-Mile Alaska Trail 00:36 - Starting Resurrection Pass (36 & 40 lb Packs) 01:30 - Trail Detours & Early Doubts 02:20 - Rain Gear, Wet Feet & Rising Elevation 04:29 - Swarms of Flies & Day 1 Camp Exhaustion 05:18 - "Backpacking Is Not for Me" 06:40 - Brutal Switchbacks & Overheating 07:50 - Backcountry Camp Setup & Hammock Time 09:44 - Recovery Day & Overcoming Dehydration 11:06 - Pushing for the Summit & Forest Service Cabin 12:12 - Reaching the Trail Summit! 13:16 - Water Scarcity & Hiking Extra Miles 15:01 - Wild Blueberries & Beetle-Kill Forest 18:32 - Hiking at Your Own Pace (Key Trail Lesson) 20:50 - Trekking Poles, Cliffs & Balance 23:42 - Bear Signs on Trail 24:08 - Embracing Being a Beginner at Any Age 25:23 - The Fly Net Lifesaver & Tent Hideout 27:32 - Bear Protection & Backcountry Gear Reality 29:26 - Why We Chose This Hike (Todd's Health Wake-Up Call) 31:31 - Final Morning on the Trail 32:58 - The Last 3.5 Miles & Finding Our Rhythm 34:04 - Suspension Bridge & The Trailhead Finish! #Backpacking #Alaska #ResurrectionPass #HikingAlaska #WildernessBackpacking 👇 HOW CAN WE HELP YOU? 👉 Book a one-to-one call with us: https://bit.ly/4yE2acB Join Our Crew - http://www.patreon.com/spoondrifters Send us something we need - https://amzn.to/3LGS9CV We participate in multiple affiliate programs including Amazon Affiliates.

👇 HOW CAN WE HELP YOU? 👉 Book a one-to-one call with us: https://bit.ly/4yE2acB We’re used to living in small spaces, an RV, Skoolie, or Sailboat, but backpacking takes tiny living to the max! As we prepare for a 40-mile hike, we test our gear on Alaska’s trails and head to Rabbit Lake. What do we actually need, which comforts are worth the weight, and how much can we manage? The scenery is amazing, but figuring out our version of “just enough” takes some practice. Join Our Crew - http://www.patreon.com/spoondrifters Send us something we need - https://amzn.to/3LGS9CV We participate in multiple affiliate programs including Amazon Affiliates.

Todd’s medical emergency put our plans to return to the sailboat on hold. Still in Alaska, we’re finding our footing again and finally making time for something we overlooked during all the years we lived here. We’re joining family on a 4x4 trip toward Knik Glacier, where the water decides how far we can go. Back at our 50-year-old school bus, giant painted daisies are turning it into a colorful Alaska home base, and I’m setting my sights on a 40-mile hike. We still hope to return to the boat after hurricane season. For now, there’s plenty right in front of us, and a few things we won’t know until we try. What’s somewhere close to home you keep saying you’ll explore “someday”? Join Our Crew - http://www.patreon.com/spoondrifters Send us something we need - https://amzn.to/3LGS9CV We participate in multiple affiliate programs including Amazon Affiliates.

Tiny Life Reset: Finding What Fits for You In this episode, Todd and Tammy welcome you to this new podcast and share their diverse experiences with minimalist and unconventional living, exploring how to craft a life that truly fits your needs rather than societal expectations. Whether you’re considering tiny homes, sailboats, or off-grid lifestyles, they offer insights into downsizing, overcoming challenges, and embracing the freedom that comes with intentional living. Key Topics Covered: * The distinction between tiny living and living small—it’s about lifestyle fit, not size. * How overload and overcommitment hinder enjoyment and create stress. * The analogy of sailing in different wind conditions to illustrate life management. * Recognizing when your current life feels out of control and making purposeful changes. * The psychology behind scarcity and the desire for “more”—how quality and intentional choices matter. * Practical tips for transitioning between lifestyles, including lessons learned from mistakes. * The importance of community support and honest experiences in off-grid and alternative living. * Hidden costs in unconventional lifestyles—financial, emotional, and relational. * The core goal of gaining freedom—more resources, more time, and more joy. * Encouragement to assess if your current life allows you to breathe easier and suggestions for small, impactful changes. Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome to Tiny Life Reset: Finding Your Lifestyle Fit 02:00 - The chaos of too large a life versus manageable sailing in calmer waters 04:09 - Our journey from Alaska to sailboats and tiny homes 06:14 - Exploring various forms of tiny living—boats, vans, off-grid setups 07:58 - The misconception that tiny living means minimalism or extreme downsizing 09:38 - Recognizing when a lifestyle is overwhelming and making adjustments 10:45 - The importance of quality over quantity and intentional possessions 12:32 - Designing a life that truly fits your needs, not societal expectations 13:41 - Lessons learned from transitioning and downsizing mistakes 15:01 - The value of honest reviews and realistic stories from different lifestyles 16:22 - The true meaning of freedom in tiny living—resources, time, joy 17:43 - How to evaluate if your current life allows you to breathe easier18:29 - Moving forward with purpose, learning, and staying active We hope this episode inspires you to evaluate your life and consider what changes could bring you more freedom and fulfillment. Remember, the goal is a life that fits you—you don’t need to fit into a pre-defined mold. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thetinylifereset.substack.com (https://thetinylifereset.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1) Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: 07RDNWRZKRXKUBRX

We have about 30 days until we fly back to our sailboat after a year away, and honestly, we're not ready. Before we can return to boat life, we have to finish land life and wrap up all the messy bits. In this video we start the countdown and get things organized. We get started on the projects that have to be finished before we leave - like painting the bus! This is the beginning of our return-to-the-boat series. Join Our Virtual Crew - http://www.patreon.com/spoondrifters Send us something we need - https://amzn.to/3LGS9CV We participate in multiple affiliate programs including Amazon Affiliates.

In this week's video I'm talking about the stress and anxiety people often feel while sailing and managing it. I think this is a topic we don't talk about often enough and that it causes more people to give up on their sailing dream because they think they're alone. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Have you ever questioned your decisions after you went all in and it was harder than you expected it to be? Join Our Virtual Crew - http://www.patreon.com/spoondrifters Send us something we need - https://amzn.to/3LGS9CV We participate in multiple affiliate programs including Amazon Affiliates.

The full-time travel lifestyle isn't about the miles you log, it's about the freedom to embrace the obstacles and detours you encounter along the way,. Join Our Virtual Crew - http://www.patreon.com/spoondrifters Send us something we need - https://amzn.to/3LGS9CV We participate in multiple affiliate programs including Amazon Affiliates.

New to cruising? Book a 1:1 consult and get expert help planning, prepping, and problem-solving your way to confident sailing. https://stan.store/spoondrifters/p/consulting-5z9uc4ka Learn about anchoring a sailboat when your motor fails! This video covers boat anchor techniques and provides helpful tips for cruising safely useful for sailboat cruising. We share our experience to help you with get on the water confidently and safely. Join Our Virtual Crew - http://www.patreon.com/spoondrifters Send us something we need - https://amzn.to/3LGS9CV We participate in multiple affiliate programs including Amazon Affiliates.

Join Our Virtual Crew - http://www.patreon.com/spoondrifters We share where we've been for the past couple of months and bring you up to date so we can move forward. Send us something we need - https://amzn.to/3LGS9CV We participate in multiple affiliate programs including Amazon Affiliates.

Get Real Time Updates - http://www.patreon.com/spoondrifters Our time in the Bahamas has been amazing! Come spend a day on the water sailing the Exumas with us. Send us something we need - https://amzn.to/3LGS9CV We participate in multiple affiliate programs including Amazon Affiliates.

Join Our Virtual Crew - http://www.patreon.com/spoondrifters Send us something we need - https://amzn.to/3LGS9CV We participate in multiple affiliate programs including Amazon Affiliates.

Join Our Virtual Crew - http://www.patreon.com/spoondrifters Send us something we need - https://amzn.to/3LGS9CV We participate in multiple affiliate programs including Amazon Affiliates.

Meeting family and friends in Spanish Wells, Eleuthera we find lots of fun things to do including exploring Preacher's Cave, Jumping 25 feet into Sapphire Blue Hole, and swimming with the rays off Egg Island. Join Our Virtual Crew - http://www.patreon.com/spoondrifters Send us something we need - https://amzn.to/3LGS9CV We participate in multiple affiliate programs including Amazon Affiliates.

Our trip to the Bahamas was supposed to take three days, instead it took seven. Getting to the Bahamas from North Florida. Join Our Virtual Crew - http://www.patreon.com/spoondrifters Send us something we need - https://amzn.to/3LGS9CV We participate in multiple affiliate programs including Amazon Affiliates.

It's cold out there! When the north winds blow in December it makes offshore sailing in the winter brutal! We're sailing south from the Cape Fear River, NC to Jacksonville Florida. Join Our Virtual Crew - http://www.patreon.com/spoondrifters Send us something we need - https://amzn.to/3LGS9CV We participate in multiple affiliate programs including Amazon Affiliates. Back To The Wood by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Over the years we've been finding ways to save money and improve our living conditions aboard our sailboat. Having a Bimini, Dodger, a Enclosure have been a few of the best investments we've made. In this video we share how our choices have held up and what we would do differently. Spoondrifter Guides - https://stan.store/spoondrifters Get Our Help - https://stan.store/spoondrifters/p/monthly-mentoring-ymodc7l3 Enclosure Materials: 5 heavy duty shower curtains Zip ties Adhesive zippers - https://amzn.to/3DXKEbU Bungees - https://amzn.to/40q84OK Small boards Command hooks Wrap-it Straps - https://amzn.to/4aoVALW Dodger Materials: 1/16' Poly Carbonate Sheet - https://www.eplastics.com/LEXAN-CLR-0-060AM48X96 Large washers & metal screws 3M Dual Lock Velcro - https://amzn.to/4jqC4D1 Bimini Materials: 1/2' Expanded Foam PVC Sheets - https://www.homedepot.com/p/1-2in-x-48-in-x-8-ft-White-Reversible-PVC-Sheet-H120AWS6/205309788 PVC glue - https://amzn.to/4aFhxGV Join Our Virtual Crew - http://www.patreon.com/spoondrifters Send us something we need - https://amzn.to/3LGS9CV We participate in multiple affiliate programs including Amazon Affiliates.

As we sail south on the ICW from North Carolina we get more than we bargained for with cold weather, bridge closures, night time navigating, and inaccurate charts that leave us high and dry as we run aground. Join Our Virtual Crew - http://www.patreon.com/spoondrifters Send us something we need - https://amzn.to/3LGS9CV We participate in multiple affiliate programs including Amazon Affiliates.

It's high time to move our sailboat south to warmer weather but instead we go further north to check out the Tall ships in Chester town, Maryland. After one last adventure we are finally retracing our path with multiple misadventures all along the way. Checkout the Spoondrifter Guides https://stan.store/spoondrifters Book a Consultation https://stan.store/spoondrifters Mini Scuba Tank https://amzn.to/4a44COm Refill Compressor https://amzn.to/4046vpx Pressure Washer https://amzn.to/41VDtuW Checkout the Spoondrifter Guides https://stan.store/spoondrifters Book a Consultation https://stan.store/spoondrifters Mini Scuba Tank https://amzn.to/4a44COm Refill Compressor https://amzn.to/4046vpx Join Our Virtual Crew - http://www.patreon.com/spoondrifters Send us something we need - https://amzn.to/3LGS9CV We participate in multiple affiliate programs including Amazon Affiliates. Acoustic Guitar 1 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Back To The Wood by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/