Inspiring Families: The Deweys
Gone are the days where we work 9-5, at the same company, for 40 years.
Couples, individuals and families all around the world are reinventing what life can look like for them and reprioritize what matters most. It might be travel, time together, or more space to think. The most fulfilled lives are the ones we are creating.
The Little Book of Big Dreams shows what life is like when we think our dreams are possible. May their stories encourage you to dream!
The Little Book of Big Dreams Series
Betsy is a creative force - an entrepreneur, a singer/fiddler/songwriter, a YouTube creator, a writer and a homeschool mom to two boys. Seeking, risk-taking, challenging herself and living life to its fullest has taken Betsy and her family to the high seas. They decided to learn to sail and live on a sailboat in order to seek adventure and see the world. Find out more about how her family decided to go after their dreams, big time!
From Jessica's desk: Betsy and I were introduced by a mutual friend just a few months ago. After hearing about Betsy’s story I became obsessed with her You Tube Videos, carefree spirit and fearless attitude. Read more below.
You just launched your new YouTube Channel- Sailing Nova Satus. Where did this idea start? And whose idea was it?
YouTube was where we got the idea to go sailing in the first place. It was also where we got the idea to chronicle our experience in the form of a vlog. After watching a couple of sailing videos together, my husband nonchalantly yet meaning it, asked me if I wanted to do that. With zero hesitation, I said, “Yes!” I love our videos so much and I’m very grateful that vlogging is a thing!
I love how you and your husband knew nothing about catamarans and decided “Sure, let’s take one around the world?” What made you go from just thinking about doing it to actually going for it? Had you always dreamed of this?
Sailing had never occurred to us. We’ve always loved traveling to new places and meeting new people. When we first came across YouTube channels where people sail full time, we were instantly hooked by the idea. It took us three years from that point to find and buy our boat. The catamaran market is very tight. We had no idea it would take so long. I kept thinking - in six weeks we’ll be sailing - it took 3 years! We weren’t sure if we’d like it or if someone would get seasick really badly. I’ll tell you - sailing is a hard life. Anyone who makes it look romantic and blissful isn’t telling the whole truth. It’s mostly work. Hard work. But getting to see the beautiful places out there and meet other sailors makes all the work worth it. Someone, my husband Phillip, in our case, has to be handy on the boat. Our whole family loves being on the water.
Was everyone always on board? Anyone in the family need convincing?
Everyone always loved the idea. No convincing necessary. Our teenager really misses his friends at home, but his alias is the Texas Angler, so all the fishing makes up for it.
How did you work having kids into the dream? Would it be easier to just wait until they’re out of the house?
Kids were part of the dream for me. And I always knew I’d homeschool them. We certainly didn’t want to wait until they were gone to sail. Taking the children to see the world and gain the insights that traveling so elegantly instills was a big impetus for the sailing life to begin with.
Did you ever change your mind? Any fear?
Nope, never changed our minds. Never any fear really. Were we stepping into the unknown? Yes. But that’s one of my all-time favorite things to do! We knew we were in for a steep learning curve. But humans sail boats and we’re human. We knew we got this. The only fear came when we were actually in the midst of the action - crossing the Gulf Stream at night, out of sight of land. And it wasn’t even really fear. It was more like intense excitement. However, fear is my friend. I let it come, do it’s work, and then I let it go. It doesn’t do any good to let fear stick around. We could have a whole discussion about my relationship with irrational fear. It’s a very healthy one. Most of the fear we experience in life is irrational fear - like just being worried that a tiger is going to jump out at you. It's pointless, petrifying and a waste of time. Now if you're really being chased by a tiger, that's real fear with a purpose. It's the irrational fear that we need to recognize and overcome.
How did you afford to do it? Any ideas you can pass along to someone that feels like money is keeping them from making a change?
This is a question I’m actually writing a book to answer. The short answer is, “It takes a long time.” Now let me say - that there are people out there sailing on a shoestring. It all depends on what you want your standard of living to be. There are anchorages that are run down, full of full-timers who don’t even have sails. You can live on a boat for next to nothing.
However, marine repair is extremely expensive. Even DIY ain’t cheap. If you want to be free, your income must exceed your expenses. You can either up the income or lower your expenses. Making yourself truly financially free takes most people a minimum of 10 years, but realistically it’s more like 15-20. You have to have a plan and see it through.
Did others’ opinions about your choices ever affect you?
No. We didn’t tell the people who wouldn’t champion our plan. So everyone we told totally championed it. They were so excited for us.
As you were just venturing out you ran into problems with the boat and then Covid-19 forced you to return home. You handled it with such grace but I am sure there was disappointment. How did you deal with this?
The problems with the boat were and still are such a bummer!!! Apparently, this is very normal the first year you’re sailing. And after the first year, it’s not that the boat stops breaking - it’s that you know how to fix everything, so it gets a little easier. We didn’t get far at all and that turned out to be a blessing when the Covid-19 crisis struck. One of our engines was busted and the decision to come back and weather the crisis on land at home was an easy one to make. We’re all really easy going. Do what you can and be serene about the rest, right?
Are there plans to see this sailing adventure out in the future?
Now that we’re home, we really can’t wait to get back out there and continue the adventure. We just have no idea when that’s going to be.
If you could offer someone one piece of advice in regards to going for a big dream they have, what would it be?
It would be - WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GET UP AND DO THE THING. You only get this body to run around and play in for a little while. You’ve heard it said that you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the things you did. Embody that. Walk into your fears. Do the things that give you butterflies. This is it. There’s no dress rehearsal. So, you screw it up? Big deal. People’s memories are short. We forget just about everything. In other words, no one is going to care if you fail. And failure is one of the important rungs on the ladder to success. So, what are you waiting for? -Betsy
Be sure to follow Betsy along on their adventures!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5m7lEPtb_vL4ip2Epy5N8Q (Sailing Nova Satus)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SailingNovaSatus and https://www.facebook.com/BetsyDeweyMusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sailingnovasatus and