We have lightly placed foundations back on land. Gretchen, Thomas, and Kristen decided that they longed for their homeland, old friends, familiar customs, and family. We are renting a small house in the university town of Durham, New Hampshire. Ben has a summer job working as chief boatswain on R/V Coastal Surveyor, a vessel owned and operated by CCOM (The Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping), a joint organization between NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and the University of New Hampshire. Kristen is a Freshman at Oyster River High School. Thomas is in his first year (5th grade) at Oyster River Middle School. Gretchen is working at the fish counter at a nearby Shaws Supermarket while she continues to search for a professional job in education.

Mother of Perl is sitting out the huricane season at Rodney Bay Boatyard, in St. Lucia. Ben will return to her this winter, once the family is settled in their winter lodgings. He plans on sailing her up to the Virgin Islands, Bahamas, and eventually Florida before the next summer.