About Me

Hello, I'm Eileen, the author of this blog. Welcome aboard—or should I say, welcome ashore!

This blog began as a chronicle of our boating adventures aboard our motor vessel, Mai Thai, our 37-foot Jefferson trawler powered by twin Cummins diesels. In sailing circles, that made her a “stinkpot,” but hey, we got there faster! And when cruising up and down the East Coast, getting to a good anchorage quickly was always a plus.

For 25 incredible years, she was our home, our adventure vessel, and the gateway to countless unforgettable memories. We sold her in July 2025, closing one chapter and opening another.

The name Mai Thai was a natural fit: a playful twist on the cocktail Mai Tai (said to mean “out of this world” in Tahitian), a nod to my brief stint as a bartender, and a wink at our last name, Thai. The irony? We love cocktails and wine, but they don’t love us back. Thanks to the infamous “Asian flush,” one drink can leave me red-faced and itchy. So, despite her cocktail-inspired name, Mai Thai was a dry boat. The name was spirited enough!

Mai Thai anchored in Sarasota

Taking pictures on the beautiful TN River

Anchoring at Double Breasted Cay, The Abacos, Bahamas

Mai Thai on the Dismal Swamp, NC

Locking through the 84-foot Jamie Whitten Lock, Mississippi.

My writing has been published in Latitudes & Attitudes, Living Aboard, Associated Content, and Yahoo! Voices. I've also documented our adventures on my blogs, mvmaithai and tenchired, and shared them on YouTube.

Published on Yahoo! Voices as a Travel Contributor

Although our boating days are behind us, the wanderlust remains. These days, I share travel stories, boating memories, photography, and adventures in Florida and beyond. When I'm not writing, you'll likely find me cooking, gardening, birdwatching, taking photos, or volunteering with the horticulture team at the Florida Botanical Garden.

The boat may be gone, but the adventures continue! Pull up a chair, pour yourself something good (I'll stick to water!), and come along for the ride.

Thanks for stopping by!