Our Journey to a Life at Sea
Our journey started in a very abstract way. We had children early in life while I was serving in the US Army. We found ourselves empty nesters in our early 40s. During this time, we both worked full-time jobs and owned a business. Needless to say, we were tired—very tired. We had already decided to downsize into our 5th wheel trailer, but as it turns out, one single comment would change everything.
We found ourselves sitting on a bench in Monterey Harbor, waiting for our daughter who was attending school there. As we sat quietly watching the world go by, a beautiful sailboat cruised by, heading for its mooring. Tami said, “Why aren’t we living on one of those?” Well…
First off, we had never been on a sailboat, let alone sailed one. Further, we had no idea yet whether we could live with each other in a small place on land, let alone on the water. I didn’t have a good answer, but for sure, it struck many chords.
We could live life our way. Go where we want, when we want, and stay for as long as we want. Live off-grid, small, and sustainable. Meet new people in strange places and enjoy—really let loose and enjoy our lives together. After some quick math, we realized if we lived small enough, we could do this now and not wait until the prescribed retirement age—if we live that long. This got us very excited.
Fast forward just a few months. I booked us a liveaboard sailing school out of La Paz, Mexico, in November of 2018. Turns out we liked sailing very much. We loved being at anchor and the lifestyle boating brings to bear. In December of 2019, we bought our first sailboat and moved it to Ensenada, Mexico. A Hunter 460 named Animal Cracker. Then by April 2019, we were living full-time on Animal Cracker, achieving our first goal.
Nearly everything was sold. Tami was finished working forever. I was still working remotely from the boat and had a plan to end my corporate career in October of 2020. So it began and now more than 15,000NM later taking us from LA to the South Pacific!
Scott Birdzell – Captain/Mechanic/IT Pro
I was born in the once quaint town of Stockton, California, in 1971. My parents, both diligent workers, provided a solid middle-class upbringing for me and my two brothers. Our childhood was typical for the era, yet certain moments stand out, shaping the person I am today.
My grandfather, a man of frugality, often said, “If you can’t fix it, maybe you shouldn’t have it.” This mantra ignited my early fascination with fixing things, even those that didn’t need repair. My curiosity about how things worked was insatiable. At the age of ten, my parents brought home an IBM computer running MS-DOS, sparking my lifelong passion for technology and Microsoft. The most significant lesson from my youth was the unwavering belief that I could achieve anything. “If you want it, go get it. Work hard. You will fail at times, but how you handle those failures matters – just keep going.”
These experiences paved the way for my enlistment in the United States Army in 1992. Shortly after completing Basic Combat Training, I married Tami. At the time I qualified for the most technical job available at the time – Satellite Communications Repairer Maintainer. I delved into AC and DC electronics, various communication methods, cryptology, and more. I thrived in the “Army Way” and excelled in the life it offered. My dedication led to an extraordinary opportunity: serving as a communication technician for the Office of the President of the United States. It was an exhilarating period, and with newfound skills, confidence, and ambition, I was ready to transition to civilian life. By then, our family had grown with the arrival of our son, Tyler, and I was determined not to let them down.
Despite not having a college degree, I never saw it as a barrier to success. I relentlessly pursued and often secured roles that were ahead of my time, steadily climbing the corporate ladder. Eventually, I realized a lifelong dream and joined Microsoft. Along the way, our daughter Hannah was born. Our journey took us to Arizona, where we raised our children and built what we believed to be the ideal life – a good job, a nice home, cars, toys, RVs, friends, hobbies, and more. We followed what I call “The Prescription.”
Yet, despite this seemingly perfect life, I was deeply unhappy. I powered through because that’s what we’re supposed to do until retirement. But the thought of retirement, so far off, was disheartening. Once our kids left for the military, I began to dream of downsizing, perhaps having a regular job or no job at all. This dream led us to sell our house and move into our 5th wheel. Then, as we embarked on Our Journey to Life at Sea, Tami transformed everything. We were focused. As anyone close to me would tell you, once my mind is set, nothing can stop me.
Now, as we continue our journey, my goal is to share these experiences with you. I want to ignite your passions. Minimizing your life opens the door to so much more – a freedom I’ve never felt before. Do you really need a walk-in closet? Life sailing the world is achievable, and you don’t have to be a millionaire to do it. See the world as we are seeing it. Learn how we maintain our lives and our boat sustainably and travel in an eco-friendly way. I am excited for this new chapter. The curiosity that drove young Scott is not only alive and well today – it drives me.
You don’t have to live a prescriptive life – Let’s Go!
Tami Birdzell – Supreme Commander
Hello friends! 🌟 My life has been a tapestry of travel and adventure since I was young. Born in the enchanting island of Okinawa, Japan, where my father served in the Air Force, my childhood was a whirlwind of new places and faces. We moved frequently, each new location bringing a fresh set of friends and experiences. I graduated high school in the sun-drenched state of Arizona, choosing to stay behind when my parents relocated to California. After a brief stint in college, homesickness led me back to the nest, now nestled in Oklahoma.
Balancing a full-time job with school, I pursued a certification as a nursing assistant—an easy choice compared to plucking chickens! My passion for healthcare made this a natural fit. Our journey took us back to California, where I met my husband, Scott, in the most serendipitous of places—a hot tub. Our romance bubbled over, and after Scott joined the military, I followed suit. We even needed permission to marry! Now, we’re celebrating 32 incredible years together.
Our lives unfolded in Alexandria, Virginia, where we welcomed our first child, Tyler. After Scott’s six-year service, we transitioned to civilian life in Oregon, where our daughter, Hannah, was born. I was fortunate to stay home and raise our children, while wearing many professional hats: trap skeet employee, waitress, bartender, aerobics instructor, school bus driver, CrossFit gym owner, and predominantly, a healthcare worker. Returning to school, I earned my RN degree and worked in diverse fields—prison nursing, pediatrics, CNA instruction, adolescent psychiatric nursing, home health, and hospice care.
With both kids in the military, Scott and I found ourselves as empty nesters, working tirelessly. Despite having our dream house, we rarely enjoyed it. The constant grind made me question, “Is this it?” We visited our daughter in Monterey and saw a sailboat gliding gracefully on the horizon. The sight was mesmerizing. I turned to Scott and asked, “Why aren’t we doing that?” This sparked a transformative journey—downsizing, selling everything, attending a liveaboard sailing school, and embarking on our next grand adventure.
So, welcome aboard, friends! We hope our adventures inspire and help you fulfill your own dreams. 🌊⛵️
SV Tartaruga
Our floating home is named Tartaruga, this means Turtle in Italian. She was built by a French man named Jean Luc Marliere as his dream boat to sail around the world. At that time her name was Laza. In Jean Luc’s words “life happened” and he choose to sell Laza to an Italian man who sailed her from the Mediterranean to French Polynesia. She changed hands again to a French couple before we purchased her in December of 2023. She took 7 years to build splashing in 2008. A real DIY project. We are lucky to be in direct contact with Jean Luc via What’s App.
She is 45ft in length, 24ft wide and weighs approximately 8 imperial tons. Her construction is marine plywood with epoxy fiberglass coatings. The outside surfaces are encapsulated with 7 layers of fiberglass. Additionally, the entire inside is coated with epoxy, then 2 inches of insulation before the final finishes. She has 4 very stout structural beams that hold her together along with the bridge deck. Light, sturdy and simple.
She has two full cabins with Queen size beds as well as two double bunk areas. We have a single shower and a single head (toilet). The galley has a 4-burner stove top and a full-size oven, run by propane. She has one refrigerator and 2 freezers. We can easily seat 10 people for a meal, game night or movie night in the saloon area.
Taratruga is a sailing machine with a 20-meter mast. Her mast supports a 70m2 man sail, 80m2 jib, 40m2 staysail, a storm sail and spinnaker, not all simultaneously of course. We sail most of the time but when needed she also has X2 32HP Nanni diesel engines.
We love her layout, space, simplicity and sailing capabilities! At the time we were not looking for a boat, we loved Animal Cracker (AC). In fact, if we were to buy a Cat it would have to be in the same price range as we could sell Animal Cracker, a tall order. We wanted all the benefits of the best performance catamarans, with the price of a monohull. So, because she is basically a DIY build, all of these requirements became reality
AC is safe, living in French Polynesia, Tahiti to be precise. She was bought by a local French couple who lives on her fulltime.