This post is a free preview from the Great Loop Dreamers Book Club Membership.

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We’ve reached the end of Honey, Let’s Get a Boat! — our very first Dreamers Book Club read!

You can find all posts related to specific books by clicking on the matching tag at the top of the feed. For this book, you’ll want to click Honey, Let’s Get a Boat…

This has been such a fun kickoff. Thank you for joining, sharing, and dreaming along with us. The Stobs’ story has been inspiring people to take on the Great Loop for nearly three decades, and it’s easy to see why. Their blend of humor, honesty, and heart captures what this adventure is really about.

🧭 This Week’s Reading

Finish the book!

(If you’re behind, no worries! Every Loop has a few weather delays. You can join this group and add to the discussion in any books along the feed!)

💭 Reflection

What I love most about the ending is that it doesn’t feel like “The End.” It’s more like a beginning: a new chapter of confidence, curiosity, and community.

That’s precisely what I hope this book club becomes for you: a place where you can explore stories that inspire your next steps, wherever you are on your journey.

When we finished our own Loop, I realized that the story never really stops. You just keep plotting your next course, even if it’s on land for a while.

💬 Discussion Questions

• What moment from the book will stick with you the longest?
• Did reading this change how you think about your own Loop dreams?
• If you could ask the Stobs one question, what would it be?

⚓️ Next Month’s Pick

We just announced December’s book a few days ago: Ladies on the Loop. You can find this book on Amazon for Kindle only (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you). If you do a quick search on the web, you may also find free PDFs of the book to enjoy.

This is a lighter read that will be fun and easy to enjoy during the busy holiday season.

Until then, thank you for being part of this first voyage with the Dreamers Book Club.

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Keep reading, keep dreaming, and I’ll see you in the comments.

Alison

Next month, we’re reading Ladies on the Loop, a collection of 35 stories from women who have traveled America’s Great Loop in all kinds of boats and all kinds of ways.

Each chapter is written by a different woman: solo cruisers, first mates, captains, and adventurers, all sharing their honest reflections on life afloat. You’ll find humor, hard-earned wisdom, and plenty of inspiration for your own Great Loop dreams.

This book feels like sitting around the dock at sunset, trading stories and laughter with friends who get it. It’s a wonderful way to wrap up the year and hear from voices you might see reflected in your own dream.

🧭 Reading Plan

We’ll follow our usual rhythm:

• Week 1: Casting Off – Getting to know the authors and stories

• Week 2: Fair Winds & Rough Seas – Challenges and turning points

• Week 3: Anchored Reflections – Lessons and takeaways

• Week 4: Plotting the Next Course – Wrap-up and next month’s reveal

💡 Where to Get It

• Buy on Amazon (Kindle only)
  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
  

• You may also be able to find a free PDF hosted on other sites if you do a quick search on the web for "Ladies on the Loop PDF."

⚓️ Get Ready

Grab your copy before December 1 so you can read along from the start. This one is full of practical advice, laughter, and encouragement... a perfect holiday-season read.

Which “lady on the Loop” story are you most excited to hear? Drop a comment if you’ve already read it or are about to order!

This post is a free preview from the Great Loop Dreamers Book Club Membership.

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We’re at the heart of Honey, Let’s Get a Boat! now — the part where the Stobs settle into their adventure and find their rhythm on the water.

You can find all posts related to specific books by clicking on the matching tag at the top of the feed. For this book, you’ll want to click Honey, Let’s Get a Boat…

This week, as we explore our book, is one of my favorites (Week 3 – “Anchored Reflections”) because we’re examining what we’re learning from the journey. In our current book, we’re also seeing the Stobs shift from doing the thing to becoming the kind of people who do the thing. You can feel their confidence building, even as challenges continue to pop up.

🧭 This Week’s Reading

Chapters 11 through 15

By now, they’ve made real progress along their route and weathered a few emotional storms. There’s joy, fatigue, and plenty of laughter… all the ingredients of a true Great Loop story.

💭 Reflection

Every long journey has a middle stretch where the novelty fades and the reality settles in. It’s where most dreams get tested.

When we were halfway through our Loop, we hit that same wall: the days blurred together, and the list of boat projects and things that needed to be done felt endless. But looking back, it was the time we grew the most as a family and as boaters.

The Stobs’ story reminds us that the middle of the journey is where you find your sea legs… and your sense of self.

💬 Discussion Questions

• What lessons from the Stobs’ trip stand out to you this week?
• How do you keep yourself motivated when the excitement starts to wear off?
• Do you see any parallels between their learning curve and your own Great Loop dreams?

⚓️ Coming Up Next Week

Next week, we’ll wrap up this month’s read, share final takeaways, and reveal December’s book selection!

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Until then, drop your reflections below, and let's talk about what this story is teaching you.

Alison

This post is a free preview from the Great Loop Dreamers Book Club Membership.

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Welcome back to the Dreamers Book Club!

This week, we’re getting into the middle chapters of Honey, Let’s Get a Boat!, the part where the dream becomes real and, as every Looper knows, reality is a mix of fair winds and a few squalls. So find a cozy spot to relax and read some more!

You can find all posts related to specific books by clicking on the matching tag at the top of the feed. For this book, you’ll want to click Honey, Let’s Get a Boat…

By now, Ron and Eva are deep in the process: they’ve bought the boat, moved on, are navigating learning curves, and trying to hold on to their sense of humor as things go sideways. It’s the perfect reminder that adventure rarely looks smooth from the inside.

🧭 This Week’s Reading

Chapters 5 through 10

This section takes us through their continued early forays into Loop life… both the fun discoveries and the “what have we done?” moments that every cruiser can relate to.

💭 Reflection

This is the stage where dreaming meets doing. The Stobs’ honesty is refreshing. They don’t skip the mistakes or sugarcoat the frustrations. It’s part of what makes this book so beloved among Loopers.

When we first started our Loop, I remember those same moments of self-doubt: the unexpected repair bills, the long learning days, and the constant negotiation between excitement and exhaustion.

And yet, those are the moments that make you fall in love with the journey. Not because it’s easy, but because it changes you.

💬 Discussion Questions

• Which moment in these chapters made you laugh or nod in recognition?
• Have you ever had a “what did we just do?” moment while chasing a dream?
• The Stobs often used humor to get through hard days. What’s your go-to strategy when things get tough?

Drop your thoughts in the comments. And don’t worry if you’re reading at your own pace. Every Loop (and every book!) unfolds in its own time.

⚓️ Coming Up Next Week

Next week, we’ll talk about what the Stobs’ journey teaches us… not just about boating, but about courage, partnership, and letting go of perfection.

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Until then, fair winds and happy reading!

Alison

This post is a free preview from the Great Loop Dreamers Book Club Membership.

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Book of the Month: Honey, Let’s Get a Boat!

by Ron and Eva Stob

👉 Buy it on Amazon (Kindle and limited print options)

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

You can also buy this book on the AGLCA website! Check it out here.

Welcome to our very first book club selection! This month, we’re reading Honey, Let’s Get a Boat!, the story that inspired countless people to take on the Great Loop.

If you’ve never read it before, you’re in for a treat. It’s funny, relatable, and so honest about what happens when two regular people chase an extraordinary dream. The Stobs aren’t seasoned sailors or yachties; they’re a middle-aged couple from Minnesota who decide to buy a trawler and cruise the Great Loop... learning everything as they go.

Sound familiar?

That’s part of what makes this such a perfect launch point for the Dreamers Book Club. It’s not about perfection. It’s about saying yes to the idea, even before you have it all figured out.

🧭 This Week’s Reading

Read the Introduction through Chapter 4... just enough to get to know Ron and Eva, their decision to “get a boat,” and the first hints of what’s ahead.

💭 Reflection

The Stobs wrote this book in the 1990s, but the emotions are timeless. The excitement, the nerves, the long nights of research and second-guessing... every Looper I know can relate to that stage of dreaming.

When we first decided to do the Loop, I had a similar mix of butterflies and spreadsheets. We had kids, jobs, and a sailboat that wasn’t exactly built for a canal trip... this story from the Stobs reminded me that it’s okay to start where you are and learn along the way.

💬 Discussion Questions

You can answer one or all, whatever speaks to you.

1. What drew you to the idea of the Great Loop in the first place?

2. When you think about “getting a boat,” what’s the biggest question or fear that pops into your mind?

3. If you had to describe your dream cruising life in one sentence, what would it look like?

Drop your thoughts in the comments, and if you’re still waiting for your copy to arrive, introduce yourself below! Tell us where you are in your Great Loop journey (dreaming, planning, halfway through, or done but still dreaming).

⚓️ Coming Up Next Week

Next week, we’ll get into the reality of starting the adventure: the good, the bad, and the “what did we just do?” moments.

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Until then: keep dreaming, keep reading, and keep believing it’s possible.

Alison