Family Celebrates End of 5-Year Voyage

In 2006, the Mather family of Redondo Beach set out on a five-year journey around the world. They returned to in June 2011, and on Saturday, they held their welcome-home party at the , which more than 150 people attended.

"It's a perfect day!" Jim Mather exclaimed, adding that it's been "awesome": "It just blows me away to be home."

During their voyage on their ship, Blue Sky, husband and wife Jim and Emma Mather, daughter Phoebe and son Drake visited cities large and small, made new friends, explored exotic locales and even rode elephants.

Now comes the hard part: readjustment.

"I haven't had time to think about it," Emma Mather said.

Nevertheless, some habits have stuck around. Mather said she subconsciously conserves water, and she has to keep reminding herself that she doesn't have to stow everything or stock up on supplies.

She's not used to "going to the grocery store and having 10 types of milk [to choose from]—and none in a box," she said.

Mather is, however, confident that 11-year-old Drake and 13-year-old Phoebe, who were 5 and 7, respectively, when they left, will "adjust well" to life on land.

"The generosity of the people is making it easier to come back here," Mather said.

In fact, Mather said that "other than technology, nothing has really changed here."

Phoebe, who kept in touch with her friends via email, the family's website and telephone conversations, said a few things had changed while she was away.

"All my friends have cell phones, and I don't want to get into the texting thing," she told Redondo Beach Patch, quickly telling her friends "no offense." Additionally, most of her friends now have pierced ears.

Phoebe said she is "really excited" to be home.

"I really loved traveling different places … It was so amazing," she said.