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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday September 23, 2006 - 3 Keeping the rat race at bay After a two-year Caribbean sailing odyssey, the Eyram family wants to keep their lives simple By Howard Mozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF After meeting the challenges of wind, water and more during their two-year Caribbean sailing adventure, Oakville's Eyram family will now face an altogether different test: resisting the inclination to slip back into the traps of modern life. As Rich, his wife Pam and children Mattias and Jenna re-integrate into work, school and home, they each deal with making major adjustments to lives which, since September 2004, have been ones of bare feet, fishing for supper in crystalline waters and having no master but the breeze. In doing so, both Pam and Rich vow to apply the lessons they've learned and not reenter the rat race. "We have to plug in, but not be fully plugged in," said Pam. "We've learned to simplify our lives and not go so fast." That may be easier said than done, considering the sly way an accelerated lifestyle can wedge its foot in the door: Pam holds up her arm to reveal a wristwatch, the first she's worn in two years, so she knows when to pick up the kids from school. Modern conveniences, too, can be another thin edge of the wedge and Pam ­ accustomed to only a couple of pots and pans aboard ship ­ can merely wonder now how a fully outfitted kitchen will change her. "We want to live more simply," echoes Rich, who plans to forego cable TV, in part to stem the tide of bad news that, while important, often has no bearing on their lives. "We're used to it being just the four of us." The owner of four televisions in his old life, Rich admits he was also too focused on work and did not FAMILY OUTING: Oakville's Eyram family ­ Mattias, Jenna, Rich and Pam ­ pose at sunset on Shirley Heights, Antigua with English Harbour in background. spend nearly as much time with his become more tolerant and said he children as he should have. All that now harbours a greater appreciation is going to change, he promises. of all the work Pam did as a mother. The couple has had two years, Hearing this for the first time, it is 15,000 kms and 18 countries (plus an answer that moves his wife to countless islands) to think about all tears. this and it's obvious that profound "I wasn't part of that before," said transformations have taken place. Rich. "Balance is critical." For instance, Rich says he has Pam, who reiterated her earlier commitment to simplifying life, also has words of advice for anyone else who wants to pursue their dreams. "Your passions in life, the things that matter most are within everyone's grasp," she said. The Eyrams almost learned the hard way the futility of procrastination and pursuing a fast-paced, hol- HOME SWEET HOME: For two years the Eyram family called Galadriel home. The C&C 48 Landfall yacht was outfitted with both solar and wind power and had the ability to desalinate water. low lifestyle when, on Sept. 11, 2001, Rich learned of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre. He had a business meeting scheduled in Tower 2 at 10 a.m. but the night before, swamped with work, he cancelled. Terrified by this close-call and thankful to still be together, the family went sailing that afternoon and the adventure they'd talked about for so long fast-forwarded closer to reality. Enter the fifth player in this story, namely Galadriel, the Eyrams' C&C 48 Landfall built in Rhode Island in 1982 and named after The Lord of the Rings' Lady of the Golden Wood. In addition to the ability to desalinate water, the boat was outfitted with both solar and wind power and built-in redundancies for everything from GPS, radio, radar, computers and more. Their "car" was a dinghy affixed to the stern. Secure in the ability to be self-sufficient for months at a time, the Eyrams put their faith in their vessel and that trust was never breached. "Galadriel was amazing," said Pam. Added Rich: "Galadriel kept us safe the whole time." In 2005, after 11 months and 8,000 kilometers ­ and free from the slavery of clocks and calendars since September 2004 - the Eyrams decided to continue their Caribbean adventure for another year. When asked if there was a time when a third year became a possibility, the look exchanged between Rich and Pam spoke volumes about how much they were tempted. Truth be told, said Rich, two years was "pushing it" financially, so the family seriously researched living in the Caribbean. Antigua had good schools for the children and they looked at real estate, but employment was limited. The British Virgin Islands had a more developed economy, they found a school and a home and Rich even fielded job offers. "It was tantalizingly close," he said. The couple realized, however, that they didn't want to jeopardize their children's future, that Canada is a "fantastic" place that would afford Mattias and Jenna opportunities ­ educational and otherwise ­ that they needed. "It just didn't feel right. This wasn't some Jimmy Buffett song," said Rich. "It's more complex than that." See More page 5 · Wood & Vinyl Shutters, Supplied & Installed · High Quality at Affordable Prices · Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed · Serving Oakville with Shop at Home Service Authorized Vinylbilt Dealer www.shuttersetc.ca Shop at Home Service FREE