A Year in Paradise: How We Lived Our Dream

by Stephen Wright Watterson

What is it like to cut loose and sail away for a year? How do you really do it? Join them in their Adventure! Taking their cat along as a referee, Steve and Margaret Watterson spent a year on their 30-foot sailboat traveling from Cleveland, Ohio to the Florida Keys and back. In this book, they describe their experience--the good times and the bad--in order to share it with those who dream of some day cutting off the phone, canceling the paper, and locking the door behind them. If you have ever wondered how to actually do this, you will enjoy this book. The Wattersons tell how much they spent, how they handled mail, and what charts and cruising guides they used. They cover insurance, how to prepare a boat for this kind of trip, and much more.

184 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2001

Reviews

[NanCy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked up this book at a thrift store and found it a quick and easy read and a captivating story of sailing the inter coastal and the great lakes from Cleveland area to the Florida keys. It is a warm travel story comprised of exerpts from newsy letters to friends and family and lots of the daily detail of undertaking such a trip. It made me want to go too! The people and places that boaters frequent and the ingenious ways they "make do" are amusing and entertaining. Easy to recommend. Also has appendix with detailed how to do it including budget and gear.

[Susan Iverson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this seeking ideas/insight for if/when Yale and I take a long distance boat trip (maybe in retirement). I'm glad we'll have a power boat, not a sailboat, and that Yale is very experienced, as I wouldn't want to experience all the mechanical headaches and running aground that this couple faced. Also, I might bring a cat along like they did!