If there’s one thing Sandi learned during this phase of the journey, it’s that planning a trip like this isn’t just about getting from point A to point B—it’s about aligning a whole series of moving parts that all have to come together at exactly the right time.

And somehow, Sandi became the one holding all those pieces.

The plan started with picking up their youngest daughter from George Mason University on June 27, 2025. She had been attending the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment, and there was no way Sandi was missing that pickup. From there, it was straight to Fort Bragg to spend time with their oldest daughter—and just as importantly, to be there for their oldest granddaughter’s dance recital on June 29. That wasn’t optional either.

So already, before Florida was even in the picture, the schedule was tight.

The plan was to leave North Carolina on June 30 and arrive in Florida on July 1, fully loaded with everything they needed for the boat. That would give Sandi four full days to clean, organize, provision, and get everything in place before their planned departure from Marco Island on July 5.

On paper, it worked.

In reality… not so much.

By July 2, the boat was still sitting in the yard, and the repairs weren’t done. That carefully planned four-day window? It was shrinking fast. Every delay meant less time to get everything ready—not just to move the boat, but to live on it.

The pressure was building.

They made the decision for Joe to fly down to Florida to help for a few days and then drive the Durango back to West Virginia. It made sense logistically, and honestly, Sandi needed the extra set of hands. Plus, this would be the first time Joe would actually see the boat in person—a pretty big moment in all of this.

With everything shifting, they pushed the departure date back one day to July 6. Not a huge change, but when you’re already behind, even one day feels like everything.

Through all of this, Dee and Allie were incredible. Calm, patient, and completely unfazed by the chaos Sandi was feeling. While Sandi was watching the timeline tighten and trying to make everything fit, they kept reminding her that this was all part of the process.

Meanwhile, Sandi kept asking the same question over and over:

Why does this feel so urgent?

And then the answer would hit again.

Their insurance technically wasn’t valid in Florida during hurricane season.

So while everyone else was calmly working through delays and adjustments, Sandi had this constant pressure in the back of her mind. It wasn’t just about getting ready—it was about getting out.

Looking back, it was a perfect example of how planning can only take you so far. The rest? You adjust, you adapt, and you keep moving forward—even when the timeline starts to slip.

Because in the end, it’s not about everything going perfectly.

It’s about getting there—together.