Kimberly J. Ward – Writer, Gardner, Traveler…not a Sailor

Kimberly J. Ward says: "As we sailed out of our cove, our home behind us and the complete unknown ahead, I couldn’t help thinking that I was leaving everything I knew and loved—with the exception of Michael and Ally. Talk about being pushed past my comfort zone in just about every direction.I am a traveler, adventurer and gardener. Not a sailor. Yet, a decade ago, my husband, our 10-year-old daughter, and I moved aboard our 34-foot boat for two years and sailed from Massachusetts to Grenada and back. In my first book, Crew of Three: How Bold Dreams and Detailed Plans Launched Our Family’s Sailing Adventure, published in August, I show how meticulous planning enabled us to escape from the constraints of our everyday life. Part memoir, part instruction manual, I share the story of our decision to go, the two years of planning to make it work, plus the first several months we lived aboard". Kimberly J. Ward Vroom Vroom Veer Stories Very involved in athletics in High School and preparing for college Studied English and marketing in college; never shared any of her writing publicly Became a bank manager in her early 20's and thought "Is this it?" Am I going to retire a bank manager? Nope. Learned everything there is to know about Human Resources before there were "Information Systems" to help, so using spreadsheets Went looking for a job and kept seeing H.R.I.S and she didn't know what that was… Got a job with Oracle who was developing a HRIS and didn't have anyone with HR experience…nice fit! Met her husband who was a sailor working as a consultant; they got married and had their daughter on the fast track 9/11 played a role in both their lives; It hit home for both Kimberly and her husband who were a little too close for comfort After returning from their big adventure on the boat out in the world she felt she finally had a story worth writing about Show Summary In this episode of "Vroom Vroom Veer," host Jeff Smith is joined by guest Kimberly J. Ward, who shares her intriguing story of transitioning from corporate life to an adventurous sailing journey with her family. The episode begins with an introduction to the podcast's theme about veering away from a frenzied and scripted life to explore more authentic experiences. Jeff welcomes Kimberly and kicks off the conversation by discussing her new book, "Crew of Three: How Bold Dreams and Detailed Plans Launched Our Family’s Sailing Adventure." Kimberly talks about how meticulous planning helped her family escape everyday life constraints, detailing their journey from Massachusetts to Grenada and back over two years aboard a 34-foot boat. The discussion delves into Kimberly's background, growing up in Alexandria, Virginia, and her career movements before the family’s big sailing adventure. She talks about her work in human resources and the skills she gained from it, which later became instrumental in planning their sailing trip. Jeff explores Kimberly’s motivations and the origins of her adventure, touching on how she and her husband Michael, along with their daughter Ally, prepared and adjusted to life on the water. Kimberly shares the challenges and the rewarding experiences, such as homeschooling her daughter aboard the boat and encountering natural beauty along their route. Kimberly also discusses the decision-making process involved in planning the trip, emphasizing the importance of family agreement and mutual support. She highlights how the journey profoundly influenced their values and lifestyle, pushing them past their comfort zones into a more minimalistic and meaningful life. The conversation concludes with Kimberly discussing the process of re-adjusting to life after their adventure, her shift towards writing, and how the experience continues to shape her life. Jeff wraps up by inviting listeners to check out Kimberly's book and follow her journey through her writings on her website. Listeners are left with insights into how dramatic lifestyle changes can lead to profound personal growth and transformation, fitting into the overarching theme of the podcast about life’s significant veers. Connections Website