Our Story
Rick and I met on the internet and within two years married in 1998. We were retired and neither of us wanted to sit in a rocking chair on the front porch. Eight years later we bought a sailboat, sold our home, and set off on a long-distance voyage. We each want to tell you Our Story of what happened along the way.
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LYNN: My first night at sea was sailing south from San Diego, California. Our destination was the port of Ensenada, Baja California Mexico.
I stood at the wheel in the cockpit as the breeze fluffed my hair. I marveled at my new-found sense of freedom. My world expanded to beyond the horizons.
I gripped the wheel of La Vita, our 15-ton sailing vessel. As I looked to my left, I noticed the town’s twinkling lights on the shore.
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We were not alone. What was that enormous glow of light between me and Hawaii? Later I learned tanker ships anchor off shore. To be avoided by other ships, they are fully engulfed in flood lights.
I was comforted knowing Rick was sleeping in the cockpit right beside me. This was fall in 2006. We were sailing the first leg of our voyage. Our destination was the Panama Canal and onward to the Mediterranean.
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LYNN: When Rick retired from the Air Force, he worked as a civilian in the aerospace world. During that time, he owned, sailed, and lived aboard a sailboat where he accumulated enough sea time to qualify for his captain’s license for both sail and power boats.
RICK: After opting to take a voluntary layoff from the aerospace industry, I retrained to become a marine surveyor inspecting boats.
With more sea-time I earned my 100-ton captain’s license and worked as a captain on various boats in the Hornblower fleet. Several years later, Lynn and I were married on one of dinner cruise boats I drove.
LYNN: I owned a small television production company and produced grant funded pubic service programs. My skills included team work, multi-tasking, and curiosity about technology.
Seeking a stable income and higher future Social Security benefits, I closed my company and went to work for a semi-conductor company. I was responsible for formatting and preparing large technical documents for print. I wanted to write, but HR said, “No” because I did not have a college degree.
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LYNN: I was a risk taker with no sailing experience. Rick’s self-discipline and boating experience gave me the confidence to sell our home in San Diego and take off sailing halfway around the world
Over time, we learned, our strength is in our differences.
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LYNN: I loved the boundless freedom of sailing La Vita. Never did it cross my mind we would encounter near-death medical challenges as we traveled abroad. Along the way, I’d discover the depth of my courage and resilience. Rick taught me self-discipline through action.
Before our bodies tested our resolve to continue, we faced another challenge. Mother Nature decided to pay us an energy-filled visit in the form of hurricane Jimena in 2009. We were in the Gulf of California (aka Sea of Cortez) and docked at marina Santa Rosalita (see map).
Jimena was the second-strongest hurricane that season.
We saw no evidence of any organization providing temporary housing. People sought shelter where ever they could. I admired their stamina as they coped with the loss of their homes and livelihood.
The Red Cross did offer food, water, and cooking and cleaning supplies. The boats in the marina, including La Vita, survived without damage. Water to the docks was cut off. We hiked into town and fill garrafones (5-gallon jugs) with drinking water.
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RICK: When weather reports predicted calm seas, we sailed across the Gulf of California to Guaymas.
From Guaymas, we sailed down to Mazatlan. We arrived in 2010 and stayed through hurricane season. I focused on boat repairs and maintenance.
The anchor light at the top of the mast needed replacement. I stood on deck held the safety line tight. Lynn used the steps to climb to the top of the mast. For reassurance, she gripped the mast in koala style.
High on the list was replacing the toilet. I installed the new one on Lynn’s birthday. That evening we had a proper celebration.
RICK: When no more hurricanes were predicted and after the seas calmed down, we continued en route to the Panama Canal in 2011. “Life” as so often happens, did indeed happen. Long story short, we arrived in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit, Mexico (a bit north of Puerto Vallarta), on Valentine’s Day, 2011. We intended to re-provision, make any necessary repairs, then continue south. We arrived with me not feeling so well.
After going through some medical trials and tribulations, we discovered the cause of my “illness.” Blood clots. Massive blood clots in both legs and lungs. Upon questioning as to the severity of it all, I was given about two days to live.
I was admitted immediately to Intensive Care. To prevent blood clots from traveling to my heart, they installed a TrapEase Permanent blood filter in the inferior vena cava vein. I stabilized in about three days. To pass the time, I played cards with the nurses. Later they transferred me to a private room.
LYNN: Rick settled into his room and I slept on a couch beside him. We both ate the same hospital meals. They were tasty, though often served with a spoon. Naturally, the nurses spoke mostly Spanish. With my brain filled with medical issues, I somehow managed to memorize tenedor, the Spanish word for fork.
Soon after we sailed into marina in La Cruz, Rick was given two days to live. All medical information and decisions were based on Mexican medical procedures. I needed to protect Rick (as if a spouse had any control) and stayed with him to make sure he was fully taken care of.
I left Rick’s side twice to check on La Vita. I’m proud to say I figured out which bus to catch and where to get off. Not easy being new to the area and all signs in Spanish.
Rick was released 11 days after recovering from deep vein thrombosis (DVT), massive pulmonary embolism (PE) and an acute urinary tract infection. He defied the two days to live diagnosis.
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RICK: Obviously, I survived since I am writing this. However, that was only the first of many medical issues that were to befall both myself and Lynn over the next few years. Every time we thought we would be able to leave and restart our travels, one of us would have a medical situation requiring surgery.
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LYNN: Rick’s brain is programmed to solve problems. La Vita loved attention, so they were a perfect match. He was his happiest when improving life on La Vita.
For example, he designed the stainless-steel arch that supported mounted solar panels and a wind generator. He included custom features, such as horizontal bars spaced close together so I could climb to the top with my short legs.
To protect the varnish and help our air conditioner keep us cool down below, Rick designed a full-length canvas cover for our boat. The design survived 40+ knot winds and with minimal effort could be gathered around the mast. This design was handy when at anchor and needing to move the boat.
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RICK: My health had stabilized. I was confident I could manage my INR level (blood clots).
I’d dedicated the past year, 2014, designing and installing major equipment. The solar panels on the custom arch; the wind vane mounted; outboard engine serviced; route to next port planned.
Dinghy Under in Blue Canvas
The last critical piece of equipment was the dinghy. We found the perfect one on sale. It was delivered and fit nicely on the fore-deck. A blue canvas cover protected the dinghy from the hot tropical sun.
I designed a bridle and halyard with a block and tackle 7:1 ratio system. I was positive Lynn had the muscle to lift the dinghy.
It’s time to test the lifting design. I attached the bridle and halyard to the dinghy. Lynn was to turn the winch, which tightened the halyard while I guided the dinghy and outboard as it was lifted out of the water.
Lynn grabbed the winch handle and pushed to turn it. She yelped in pain and grabbed her shoulder.
A medical examination proved she had another torn tendon and required another surgery. Her third. The tendons had been repaired back in 2003, a couple of years before we set sail from San Diego.
The setback was monumental. I was able to move forward but Lynn was not. Surgery was scheduled in the states. Ultimately, both shoulders required surgery and intensive physical therapy. Yet another year passed in our lives as we aged.
We had to come to grips with the fact that we were getting older and our bodies were not working as well as they once did. What to do with that information? The obvious answer was to sell La Vita and move ashore. But we could not reach that decision just yet.
In 2016, we decided to stay on La Vita and modify our travel goals. We’d fly to France and, if possible, on to southern Italy. I wanted to show Lynn where I’d been stationed many years ago.
We both realized sailing La Vita across the Atlantic would be more difficult than we could safely manage. Probably on some level there was a sense of relief.
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LYNN: In 2016, we celebrated Rick’s 70th birthday at the top of the Eiffel Tower and with dinner in a Paris restaurant.
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RICK: While exploring France, another medical emergency surprised me. The stabbing pain in my lower back eventually required hospitalization in France. Strangers helped me get admitted to a French hospital. I was there for a week while they injected pain-numbing medication in a nerve near my spine.
Of course, doctors and nurses spoke French. The medical reports were in French. I didn’t have the luxury of my iPhone with its handy translation feature.
They did make sure I understood that if I didn’t get surgery, I could lose all strength in my right leg.
France has a public health care system. The doctors told me, “Before treatment, you’ll be put on a months-long waiting list.”
Through our contacts in Mexico and California, I was referred to a spinal surgeon. He had a short wait list. My French doctors loaded me up with morphine, which allowed international travel.
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LYNN: I was completely confident the US doctors would fix Rick’s back pain.
Rick forced himself to walk and sit as we traveled by car, train, and plane. He never complained. Not once. I checked schedules and booked best routes to get from Paris to California. Somehow, between us, we managed to handle our luggage. We focused on the immediate task and did not think about the what-ifs.
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RICK: We flew from France to California. As I’m retired military, we can stay at the Navy Lodge on the Navy base in National City, California (USA). The lodge is about 30 minutes from the hospital.
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LYNN: Rick’s back pain prevented him from driving. We rented a car and I was the designated driver. I had a valid driver’s license but hadn’t driven for 10 years. Every possible driving challenge was thrown at me: high speed freeways, on/off ramps, rain, and stop-and-go commuter traffic. Rick was terrified with my apprehensive driving style and offered suggestions at every opportunity.
I threatened to put him in the trunk.
Within a week, Rick was admitted for surgery. We were assured Rick would be released the same day.
When fully awake from surgery he sat on the edge of his hospital bed and tried to stand. Both of us froze when Rick realized he could not support himself with his right leg. He turned and pressed the Help call button. A nurse arrived within a few minutes and called the doctor.
We were filled with disbelief as we realized Rick had walked into the hospital but couldn’t walk back out. All they could say was Rick may never have full use of his right leg. I felt betrayed by these doctors.
Ultimately, we came to understand a nerve in Rick’s back was damaged. Six weeks after surgery and intense physical therapy, Rick’s US doctors released him to return to Mexico and La Vita. They fitted him with a leg brace and gave him a walker for support.
Dr. Rios, our family doctor in Mexico, referred Rick to Itzel, a physical therapist in Puerto Vallarta. She knew the exact exercise Rick needed to perform to regain his independence. Rick dedicated everything he had to rebuilding his thigh muscles and core strength and to recover from nerve damage.
Even so, the pinched nerve required two more surgeries and fused spine to correct. Ultimately, it took two years to transition from walker to cane. He lives with daily pain.
Rick proved to me every day what determination can accomplish. I admired his courage and willingness to exercise day after day with only small improvements.
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LYNN: Three years later, in 2019, it was my turn to face death. Once a year, we return to California for annual medical check-ups. I talked to my US doctor about the silent killer caused by blocked arteries. Even though I had no symptoms, he ordered a test to check my Carotid artery and subsequently declared my left Carotid neck artery was 70% blocked. He said, “It’s OK to return to Mexico. We can fix this next time you come back to San Diego.”
Back in Mexico our family doctor had a different opinion. Dr. Rios said, “If your Carotid is blocked, we need to check your heart.” I had no symptoms other than being tired.
The blockage in my heart measured from 75% to 99%. Five stents were installed in my arteries. Relief and gratitude washed over me as I mentally thanked both my US and Mexican doctors for saving my life. A silent killer had been ready to strike!
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RICK: How time crept up on us, we don’t know. I guess it is something that happens to everyone, but we just kept thinking that we had 5 or 10 more years ahead to live on La Vita and travel. After some lengthy trials, I faced the reality that maintaining La Vita was taking too long and too much attrition to my body. I finally hired local professionals to do the work.
Giving up the maintenance of La Vita was a tremendous loss in my life. Listing her for sale has been one of the most heart-breaking decisions I’ve had to make. La Vita sold March 31st 2022.
Transition
LYNN: A friend told us about a secure 3rd floor condo in a high-rise (seven floors), where we eventually settled in. It is located in Bucerias, about 20 minutes from La Cruz (where La Vita was moored) and 45 minutes to Puerto Vallarta (where our doctors are located).
La Vita was our home for over 15 years. Then we moved ashore. In the condo, Rick has nothing to fix or improve. He misses the challenge. I long to see familiar faces in the marina and engage in friendly discussions. It’s been a huge adjustment for both of us.
RICK: It’s been a tough transition, but we have made it, or rather, are still making it. Neither of us had lived in one home for this long in our entire lives. We’re slowly adjusting to living someplace that isn’t gently swaying in the water.
LYNN: Living on La Vita, we constantly worried about hurricanes. On land, a hurricane caused us a bigger problem than we ever experienced on the sea. In 2022, hurricane Roslyn flooded the elevator in our building. The down-pour filled the bottom of the shaft and the electrical panel shorted out.
Maza, our friend and condo maintenance man, bailed out the flood water by hand. He’d fill a bucket with water, climb a ladder, and dump the bucket. He repeated this procedure until the shaft was dry.
It took the elevator company nearly a month to replace the electrical parts. For weeks, we hiked up and down three flights of stairs. No banister. And people think living on a sailboat is dangerous!
During that time, our kind staff helped us carry our groceries from the car to our condo. We’d thanked them with smiles, cookies, and pesos.
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RICK: From 2012, Lynn has managed LCWG. The group offers constructive feedback on pieces written by their members. Back then, the group met ashore in the marina’s VIP lounge. La Cruz Writers’ Group sitting in the VIP lounge.
When Covid hit, in-person LCWG meetings were no longer possible. Lynn took the group online via Zoom meetings and contact via email. A core group remains active. The primary focus is improving their writing. New members welcome.
If you’d like information about La Cruz Writers Group, please send a message to Lynn via the contact form.
What’s Next?
LYNN: In the meantime, we make new friends. Tony assists Costco shoppers with their purchases. He works for tips. He’s become a good friend and gives us mangoes and other fruit from his garden.
I felt a deep void living in our secure condo and away from our English-speaking friends.
Rick’s entire focus was maintaining and improving our life on La Vita, so he needed a replacement. Ultimately, he shifted his interest to writing. Seeking an individual learning experience, he enrolled in the Story Plan Intensive course offered by Kevin T. Johns. As of March 2023, he’s completed the first draft of his thriller. Last May, he enrolled in the “Final Draft” program. Projected publish date, late 2024.
RICK: For those who have followed us off and on for a few years, you might also notice how our website has changed. That is all due to Lynn’s extensive efforts. It was a strenuous learning curve starting at nearly zero to redesign the old site and transition to a new website host. What she had to go through is not for the faint of heart.
LYNN: With more time on my hands, I poured my energy into building a website featuring special interests. The design includes four independent blogs, Our Story, and an Authors’ page.
Our Story is a summary. I love expanding and sharing our story in my memoir series called Slices of Life. Separate Slices describe our adventures on and off La Vita.
La Vita Website Overview
Lynn’s blog page features chapters in her memoir, Slices of Life.
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Rick’s blog page features his holiday card collection. Hopefully, he’ll find time to update and post articles and stories he’s written.
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Two organizations have been a huge influence in Lynn’s writing. Each has a dedicated blog page.
La Cruz Writers’ Group (LCWG) blog page features stories and poems written by their members.
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Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG) page features their monthly blog hop activity. Members are invited to answer a question. Read Lynn’s answer and visitors’ comments.
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Want something good to read?
Our Story is a summary of our adventures and challenges on and off La Vita.
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The Authors’ page features a collection of books, newsletters, and articles written by LCWG members and others.
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Rick and Lynn continue to love and laugh.
RICK and LYNN: And so, life continues here in Mexico. We expect to be here until…. Well, we don’t know when, or if, we will leave. And, if we leave, we have absolutely no idea of where in the world our destination would be.
Life unfolds as we pursue our dreams.
What a beautiful story and fabulous new website. Congratulations on both!!! We knew parts of your story, since we’ve kept in touch through the years. However, seeing the chronology in both your voices, supported by photos, brings it alive. What an amazing adventure and love story the two of you have had and continue to live!
Bravo and we look forward to continuing to follow your ongoing story!!!
Hi Marion and Richard,
Thank you for your friendship and support. Huge thanks for being the first to post a comment!
Cheers and hugs,
Lynn