SEVEN AT SEA by Erik and Emily Orton

SEVEN AT SEA by Erik and Emily Orton. This book seemed like it would be a very interesting read, and at the beginning I was very intrigued and engaged. I find the reasons why people do certain things very interesting and the Orton's are no different. It takes brave people to do what they did. I took away some good ideas for my family, but I can definitely say we won't be jumping on a boat right now. After the first few chapters, I found myself skimming through the next several. What they were talking about did not hold my interest, however, I see the necessity of including it in the book. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good memoir or how loves reading about real life adventures of others.

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A New York City family's remarkable story of how they gave up their urban life, packed up their family of seven, and braved the difficult conditions of the Atlantic Ocean as they sailed more than 2,500 from New York to and around the Caribbean.

Working the night shift as a temp in a high-rise cubicle, Erik Orton knew something had to change. He felt the responsibility of providing for his wife and their five children—the youngest with Down syndrome—but craved a life that offered more than just surviving.

Watching the sailboats on the Hudson River during his sunset dinner breaks, Erik dared to dream. What would it be like to leave the hustle of the city and instead spend a year on a sailboat, somewhere beautiful, as a family? Despite having no sailing experience, his wife Emily's phobia of deep water, and already stretching every dollar to pay rent and buy groceries, the family of seven turned their excuses into reasons and their fears into motivation. Sure, they would miss their friends, the could go broke, they could get injured or die. Worst of all, they could humiliate themselves by trying something audacious and failing. But the little time they still had together as a family, before their oldest daughter left for college, was drifting away. The Ortons cast off the life they knew to begin an uncertain journey of 5,000 miles between New York City and the Caribbean, ultimately arriving at a new place within themselves.

A portrait of a captivating and resilient family and a celebration of the courage it takes to head for something over the horizon, this is a deeply compelling story—told alternately by Erik and Emily—for all those who dream of leaving routine in their wake.