About the club · The Isles

Ten Isles. Which One Are You Sailing For?

Out here, every part of a life is an island: ten of them in a ring round Explorers Island, the home island, where members live between Expeditions.

Each month you choose one to spend your Expedition on. The work you keep circling, the body you've been ignoring, the people you already have, the voice in your head that keeps score.

The Isles: Ten, in a ring round Explorers Island
You choose: One for each Expedition
Change your mind: Every month
Not sure: Kip can help

The Chart of the Isles

The same chart members choose from when they plan an Expedition, with Explorers Island at its centre.

A painted chart of the Inner Isles: Explorers Island, the home island, at the centre, and ten isles in a ring round it

Ten of them

Ten Isles, Ten Parts of a Life

Northlight, on a postcard — Northlight Meaning Orientation. Purpose, values, faith or philosophy, mortality, and what you are actually aiming at.

Postcard Frame — Northlight Meaning Orientation. Purpose, values, faith or philosophy, mortality, and what you are actually aiming at.

Stillwater, on a postcard — Stillwater Self-talk & Attention The voice that keeps score. The running commentary, the stories you tell about who you are, the hiding, and meeting yourself with kindness instead of a grade.

Wellspring, on a postcard — Wellspring Body & Energy The source. Sleep, movement, food, illness and energy, and the body you have been ignoring.

Idlewild, on a postcard — Idlewild Play & Rest Unproductive by design. Play, rest, recovery, and remembering how to stop.

Hammerstone, on a postcard — Hammerstone Craft & Learning Where you make things. Creative work, a craft, a skill, and learning for its own sake.

Ridgeline, on a postcard — Ridgeline Work & Vocation Where you climb. The career question you keep circling, the business, the direction, the work you are paid for.

Tradewind, on a postcard — Tradewind Money & Resources What you hold and how it moves. Earning, spending, debt, security and generosity.

Anchorage, on a postcard — Anchorage Home & Surroundings Where you are moored. Your home, your space, your belongings, your screens, where and how you live.

Heartwood, on a postcard — Heartwood Close Bonds The people you already have. A partner, family, dating, old friends, the conversation you need to have, and the repair.

Commonweal, on a postcard — Commonweal The Wider Circle Widening the circle. Belonging, making new friends, community, service, and showing up for a place.

Choosing between neighbours

Where the Lines Fall

Heartwood or Commonweal?: Heartwood is the people you already have. Commonweal is widening the circle, so making new friends goes there.
Ridgeline or Hammerstone?: If it's about the career, it's Ridgeline. If it's about the making, it's Hammerstone.
Wellspring or Idlewild?: Sleep is Wellspring. Stopping, and play, are Idlewild.
Northlight or Stillwater?: Northlight is what you're aiming at. Stillwater is the commentary that gets in the way.
More than one?: A plan that spans several picks a main Isle, and its steps can wander.

Still not sure? That's a good first conversation with Kip, and you can sail for a different Isle next month.

Home

Explorers Island, Where Members Live

Between Expeditions you're home: Base Camp, where your own things are kept; the Lodge, where the club talks; and the Harbor, where the Merriweather berths and every Expedition sets out from and comes home to.

A hand-drawn map of the club’s home island

The next Expedition

The December Expedition sets out Tuesday, December 1.

Join the Club

Four weeks on one part of your life, with a party of fellow explorers and Kip, and every Expedition after it.

Join the Club

Or see what a month is like first, on the Crossing.

Not sure it's for you? Talk it over with Kip first.

Membership is $50 a month or $500 a year, with a 75-day refund. Nobody loses their place here because of money: makes it half, or free.