Staying Connected During Special Occasions

When your family moves onto a boat to travel along America’s Great Loop for a year, there will be moments when you or your crew miss home.

Celebrating special occasions is important, and being on the Great Loop doesn’t mean missing out on these celebrations.

Here are some ideas to help you celebrate in person and share those special events with friends and family back home.

Virtual Celebrations

Zoom Calls

Plan and schedule video calls for birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. Make these calls memorable by asking everyone to dress up, have a theme, play a virtual party game, or even share a meal.

Virtual Gatherings

Planning virtual parties with family and friends can be a delightful way to celebrate special occasions while on the Great Loop. Choose a platform like Zoom or Skype, and set a time that works for everyone, considering different time zones. Pick a theme that aligns with the occasion, such as a costume party, tropical getaway, or favorite movie character dress-up. Have some online-friendly games like trivia, charades, or bingo ready to keep everyone engaged.

Sending Gifts

Amazon Gifts

Amazon is an easy way to send gifts directly to family and friends. When our nieces and nephews’ birthdays are approaching, the kids go on Amazon and find a gift they want to send their cousin. This is a convenient way to stay involved even though we can’t be there in person.

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TouchNote

We also enjoy the app TouchNote, which allows us to send personalized postcards and cards.

This app makes it easy for me or the kids to choose recent photos of our trip to add to a postcard design to make it personalized.

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Pre-Planning Cards and Gifts

One Year of Cards

Buying and mailing cards can be challenging while you’re cruising. Consider purchasing enough cards for the entire year to pre-plan your cards for important dates. Fill out the cards beforehand or organize them by month to have enough lead time to drop them in a mailbox!

Early Reminders

Reminding Family

Give your family and friends back home early reminders for upcoming kids’ birthdays. You may need the extra time to find a place where you plan to receive packages and let them know when and where to send them.

Receiving Packages

Designated Delivery Points

Some post offices are happy to receive and hold packages for you, but call ahead to check! Some areas have a slower mail system (for example, the Florida Keys), so check with the postmaster about their policies and how long it takes to receive mail there.

You might also coordinate with a marina you plan to stay at or friends along the route.

If you are a member of the AGLCA, you could ask a Harbor Host in an area if they’d receive a package for you.

Celebrating In Person on the Boat

Simple Decorations

Find small decorations that don't take up much space, like a “Hooray” banner or a tiny Christmas tree. You can also get crafty and make decorations for a personal touch.

Treats and Cakes

You can find a mini cake or a slice of cake from a nearby grocery store or bake a favorite treat on board.

New Traditions

Create new traditions for holidays and events on the boat. Holidays and events will look different from home, so make them unique and new! You can also invite other loopers and boaters to join you.

Thanksgiving in Mobile, AL

We loved celebrating Thanksgiving with other boaters when we arrived in Mobile, AL to wrap up our river portion of the Loop.

When we arrived, the marina owner knew we were coming and had his family’s leftover turkey on a platter and ready for us.

Each boat assembled something to contribute to the meal. We made cake and chocolate chip pumpkin bread!

We had so much fun celebrating with the boaters we had just traveled the last few weeks with down the river!

It is important to stay connected with family and friends during special occasions, and modern technology provides many options. Get creative and stay engaged with your loved ones, making the most of your Great Loop adventure!

Share your ideas in the comments below!