Since arriving in Greece, we’ve felt a certain calm settle over us. Perhaps it’s the stillness of the water, the scent of pine and oregano drifting on the breeze, or simply the comfort of returning to familiar ground. We’ve sailed around the Lefkas area several times now, and suddenly, the need to constantly discover what’s just around the corner fades away.

Over the past year, we’ve explored countless new places. Each island brought a fresh set of questions: Where’s the harbour? Is there shelter from the wind tonight? Can we get rid of our rubbish? Where’s the nearest supermarket? Is there a nice little beach nearby?

It’s been a continuous journey of figuring things out. The unknown fuels a certain urgency, not wanting to miss anything, chasing the best spots, and trying to make the most of the limited time we had in each place.

But now… things feel different.

We know where we’re headed. We know the spots we like, where it gets busy and where it stays quiet, which bays we want to visit again, and which ones we’ll skip. We know where the supermarkets are, how the wind behaves in different anchorages, and where we can drop the hook for a peaceful night’s sleep. And the best part? We’re not in a rush.

We’ve got more time here. No fixed plan, a loosely open agenda. And that feels quite lovely.

Well… not entirely open, if we’re honest. Our batteries desperately need replacing, and that’s going to be quite the operation. So, that’s priority number one. Edwin’s also heading back to the Netherlands in mid August to take care of some things related to our “house on land”. And we’ve got a few ‘coincidental’ meet-ups with friends planned on islands a little further away…

So yes, the calendar’s not exactly empty.

But there’s space now. Breathing room. Familiarity.

And that brings a different kind of ease to life aboard.

Boatlife: always something to do, never a dull moment. But sometimes, when you’re sailing through well-known waters, you get to experience a rare kind of rest, the quiet joy of not needing to figure it all out again. And that, truly, is a gift.