There is something special about certain places and the way they make you feel.

Lipsi is one of those places for us.

We have visited it four or five times already this season, yet every time we arrive it feels like coming home. It is one of those rare places where time seems to have slowed down. Sitting on a terrace with a book, looking out over the church as a service begins, watching the ferry arrive, a scooter passing by, fellow sailors tending to their boats. Everything feels familiar, gentle and calm.

And calm is exactly what we need right now.

The truth is that both Edwin and I have pushed ourselves beyond our limits over the past few weeks. It had to be done. We did what was necessary. The boat only had two weeks on the hard, we only had two weeks in our little house ashore, and the timing made sense. But looking back, we can both see that we have been running on reserves for quite some time.

What struck me most was the way Edwin explained it to Philou yesterday.

He told her to imagine that it is the last day before the summer holidays. You have been counting down for weeks and tomorrow the holidays finally begin. Then, at the end of the school day, your teacher tells you that there is still another week to go.

A week that comes straight out of your reserves.

That is exactly how these past weeks have felt.

After launching the boat again, one setback followed another. Every time we solved one problem, another seemed to appear. Individually they were manageable, but together they slowly drained us.

I have often written about how differently Edwin and I recharge. For those familiar with Human Design, Edwin is a Manifesting Generator. He gains energy from doing. He can keep going long after most people would have stopped.

I am very different.

As a Projector, I need moments of stillness every day. I need space to step back, reflect and reconnect with myself. Over the past weeks I have been living almost entirely in the energy of Edwin and Philou. Supporting Philou with school, keeping her entertained and helping her navigate life on and off board. Supporting Edwin by taking as much as possible off his plate so he could focus on the endless list of jobs that needed doing.

It worked.

But little by little, I was giving away energy faster than I could replenish it.

Today was our first real rest day in a long time.

Edwin was kind enough to take Philou off for parts of the day so I could simply be alone. And while I adore that little girl more than words can say, having a child around you all day, every day, can be intense. Especially when you are someone who constantly absorbs the emotions and energy of the people around you.

I often find myself so focused on how everyone else is doing that I forget to ask myself the same question.

So today I stopped.

I sat down with a book that has been waiting patiently for me. A book I fully intend to finish a little faster than the last one.

And for the first time in a while, it feels as though we are moving in the right direction again.

The boat is still a mess. There are tools everywhere and plenty of jobs left to finish. But those things will get sorted over the coming days. After that, we will slowly make our way towards the Cyclades.

The meltemi has clearly started to make its presence known. Day by day the wind seems to be building, reminding us that summer sailing in Greece requires both patience and respect. For now, the weather remains a little unsettled, but calmer days are on the horizon.

There is also some precious time ahead for the three of us to simply be together before life becomes busier again. Philou will soon be surrounded by more children. We will meet more sailors and people from all over the world, something I always find fascinating. And in just three weeks, Philou’s school term will come to an end, bringing another shift to our daily rhythm.

It probably sounds strange to say this while living in places that most people associate with holidays.

But the truth is that we are longing for a holiday ourselves.

From the outside, our life may look like one long vacation. Yet in our own way, we work hard too. We are constantly adapting, learning, maintaining, planning and moving.

The difference is that we get to do all of that in some of the most beautiful places imaginable.

Places like Lipsi.

Places that gently remind us to slow down.

Places that help us find our way back to ourselves.

Sometimes the most important harbour is the one where you finally allow yourself to rest.