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Date: 10 November 2017. Glass Dishes (elegance afloat)

© janice142
 

I often hear from folks transitioning to life afloat. The ladies question galley gear. They are used to their conveniences and worry about having to downgrade their lifestyle, cooking habits, dishware and more. I am here to say decadence is just around the river bend. I have it and you can too!


When the view is like this, priorities change. Meals are savored at anchor.

The panorama outside inspires me. A well-stocked galley makes cooking fun.
 

Ladies who have cooked for years on cast iron pans wonder about bringing them aboard. I do know of a gent who only uses cast iron pans on his trawler. It is possible to use cast iron and not be plagued by rust. It being done right now.
 

My neighbor purchased a set of expensive boat cookware, Many experts say you must have special nesting pots and pans. Those with removable handles are even better. So he bought them. A test period ensued. He hated the fancy ones. The boat neighbor preferred his cast iron cookware. That expensive set is now stuffed unused in a cabinet at his house.


If you love your current pots and pans, why change? Bring aboard your everyday cookware.


Use what you are most comfortable with...
If it does not work for you afloat, change.



Living aboard a boat with a modicum of decadence is a goal I've reached. You can too.


Internet shopping and rapid mail deliveries are a godsend. Initial equipment decisions I made were not always correct. When something does not function the way I want it to, I look for alternatives. I have changed my way of thinking about many things over the years aboard Seaweed.
 

When I first moved aboard I had ideas. I was sure that having only 12-volt items would be ideal. I bought a 12-volt drill by Black & Decker. It ALWAYS required recharging. I could have saved money and simply bought a $10 Harbor Freight drill. After all, Seaweed does have an inverter.
 


Now sometimes cheap drills break. I described a repair in the Electric Drill Repair article.


Being able to accept that not all decisions work in the long term is helpful. I am willing to change. That is why visiting other boat gals is so much fun. We all learn from each other.
 

I switched dishes too over time. Initially I had plastic along with some glassware. Now I only use glass.
 

Glass is prettier. Frankly I like my small fish plate. Although I have a fish dinner plate most frequently I use the one shown below. The larger the plate, the more I want to fill it. Because I am determined to lose weight a smaller fish plate helps me toward that goal.
 

Eating a meal served on glass, well, it simply feels wonderful. I definitely count my blessings.

There is something rather elegant about eating off a glass dish shaped like a fish while at anchor.
 

Life out here is happiest for those capable of adapting.


Start your life afloat with what pleases you. Jettison quickly what does not please you. No matter what choices you make today, they may not suit you down the river.
 

I used to not care for spicy foods. Now I prefer hot stuff. I have changed. Bland hotdogs will not work for me.

Buddy on the other hand will eat the bland cheap hotdogs... as many as I will give him.


When moving from a house onto a boat, not everything will fit. Some stuff will have to be left behind. If an item is something you use regularly find a spot for it aboard your boat.
 

As for the rest, the article Take Small Bites (de-cluttering) may help in your decision making process.


Boats are our homes. Those of a "certain age" (that would be me!!) like pretty things. I would not be out here these nine-plus years if I were still camping. A woman has to have some niceties.


Roughing it is not for me. I like a life of decadence. So does Skipper.


Even Skipper uses glass dishes. At night she has a nifty one I found at a local charity shop. I believe it is beautiful. She likes the water in it.



Incidentally most stuff that I have broken occurred during beach potlucks. I am just not always graceful.


For those new to the boating world, the storage space on your boat will determine how much you can bring aboard. Whatever you find extraneous, get rid of ASAP. You will want that space for other items.


I remember back on the east coast a fellow named Rich. He sent around an anchorage a plastic box filled with stuff. It was mostly galley gear he did not use. Everybody took some, gave more and passed along the box. It took a few days to circle the anchorage. What was not taken ended up at the local Salvation Army store.
 

I know I took four dinner knives. I cannot remember what I put in the box. Something no doubt that seemed like a good idea at the time... even on a 23' boat I have too much stuff.


Sharing what you have is a good thing. One of my most memorable meals came from Ken. He sent over a big bowl of pork chowder. There was more than enough for one, so I called Lynn on the VHF. She brought over bread and we ate it all up. Shared meals with friends afloat are part of the special life boaters enjoy. Good times... and more to come no doubt.


Aboard the Edge friends often gathered. There were many scrumptious meals served aboard this boat.

Socializing is one of the wonderful parts of this life afloat.
 

It is the people far more than the table set that makes boating memorable.
 

As for the galley gear you want, my advice would be to first take your favorites. Any tool that can serve more than one purpose is a good thing, IF you use it. Many decisions can be made by what fits best in your lockers.
 

Often I may buy a smaller, more expensive version of something simply because it will fit where I need it to go. Round containers use more space than square so I have shied away from those. As you're out here you too will refine your goods.



Aboard Seaweed, if I do not love the item it will be passed along.


I treasure being surrounded by the things I love.
 

For you and yours, I hope you find the happiness I enjoy every day aboard Seaweed. I truly am blessed.

I'd love to hear what items you must have in your galley.
And, is there anything you wish you could find room for?
 

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