Pre-vanlife

Meet Kali (the white one) and Darwin (the grey pup). They “introduced” me to Mark in November 2004 and the rest is history. You’ll have to read my travel memoir for the details of that life altering situation, whenever it’s out. 😊

Kali and Darwin

Kali loved the water

Darwin was a special boy

Important to note is that these Australian Shepherd mixes were one (two) of a kind! Mark adopted them as puppies, Kali first, on the West coast of the US, and Darwin two years later, on the East Coast. They were the perfect pair – cute, smart, obedient, healthy, travel-savvy, and happy to be with us. They chilled when left alone, which was never an issue, except for Darwin during his last year on earth, when separation anxiety emerged after his role model and lifelong partner passed away.

These two listened, were well-adjusted, behaved on leash and off leash, joined us everywhere, and had an extraordinary life. We sold our first sailboat because they didn’t like it. Then, traveled to Panama and back in a truck camper instead. And, when we bought our catamaran, Irie, it was with them in mind too. They joined us on our sailing adventures in the US, Bahamas, and Eastern Caribbean until they died.

Adopting Maya on June 4^th, 2019

It took us a looooong time to get over the loss of Kali and Darwin. We love dogs, yet realized from the get-go that it would be nearly impossible replacing these two sweethearts. We also maximized our increased freedom and decreased responsibility level once they departed our world, by making longer sailing trips, transiting the Panama Canal, crossing the Pacific Ocean, and house and pet sitting once back in the US. At some point, we were open to adopting a new dog again; we just never planned on it. Two weeks of volunteering at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah last year, connected us with our newest family member. You can read about that event here.

Family portrait upon adoption

Welcome home!

Part of vanlife

Part of the gang!

Giving Maya her forever home was very different than starting out with a puppy, a clean slate. When you adopt an adult dog, you have no – or little – idea what happened in its “previous life” or “lives” in Maya’s case. A hurricane Harvey survivor from Texas, she experienced a turbulent eighteen months in different homes and shelters before joining our household at four-and-a-half years old. Adult dogs come with baggage, good and bad. We discovered intriguing attributes and skills as well as mental issues and health problems. Some revelations are funny or sweet; others frightening or frustrating.

What matters most is that we gave her a loving, caring, comfortable, and active home and watched her transform from a dog with a tucked-away tail to a ball of energy, tail curled towards the sky.

From being scared with a tail between her legs…

… to wagging all the time!