The Idea That Wouldn’t Go Away

Written By Alison Major
Mug with notebook and pen for planning

How does one start a great adventure? Take the first step!

Nov 9, 2024

It started as a suggestion—and then, bit by bit, it came to life.

The Great Loop entered our lives quietly… through an suggestion from one brother to another.

At first, it was just interesting. A curiosity. A “can you imagine?”

But the more we researched, the more it felt less like someone else’s adventure and more like a question directed at us.

What if we didn’t wait?

The route itself seemed almost impossible to picture — the Great Lakes, the rivers, the Gulf, the Atlantic Intracoastal. It was so much water. So many locks. So many moving parts.

And yet the idea kept growing and a timeline is coming to life.

Alison Major

Alison Major is an author, experienced sailor, and the founder of Loop Life Academy, dedicated to helping families navigate the adventures of America’s Great Loop. With over a decade of remote work experience leading international technology and software engineering teams, she brings her expertise to the nautical world.

Alison lives full-time aboard a 2005 Beneteau 423, SV Fika, with her husband, Chris, and their two children. She has sailed over 7,000 nautical miles. She writes about remote work, cruising, and family life aboard, sharing practical insights for those embracing a nomadic lifestyle. Her most recent book is Remote Work Afloat. An educator and lifelong learner, she teaches Software Architecture to graduate students and mentors cruisers, providing guidance on life's technical and logistical aspects on the water.

https://looplifeacademy.com