Date: 18 April 2015. Decadence Required.
© janice142
With
apologies for the delay in uploading this article. This is a working
river and the fishermen have been particularly busy of late. When
boats are at the docks their generators are running 24/7.
Yes I am
aware that at a certain point the sounds will become background
clutter, but that has not happened yet. It is fun to watch them coming
and going, however it is noisy at times.
I tell you,
I am suffering for my shrimp addiction. And it will be totally worth
it when the shrimp arrive. I cannot wait for that!
|
The
Pardey's have written extensively promoting their "Go now, go small"
philosophy. A great many things can be said about their success. Yet I know for long term happiness afloat, at least for me,
there must be a certain level of creature comforts.
Camping is
camping. It is okay and can be fun, but to live that way long term
is simply not for me. I am woman and over fifty. What I would
tolerate and even enjoy the challenge of experiencing a couple of
decades ago will not happen today.
Simple does work at the beginning, however for longer term life a
degree of creature comforts aka decadence means that *I* am likely
to remain off the grid. I've been there/done that without most
everything. However at this stage in my life (past the half-century
mark) I am working
toward More.
That
said, my "more" is far less than many others find
essential. A half dozen long sleeved
white shirts, three skirts and two dresses... that is what I wear.
And the second dress? I just bought it last week, used, on sale.
This is
one of my favorite books aboard Seaweed:
Beachcruising and Coastal Camping
by Ida Little and Michael
Walsh is a book I peruse for sheer pleasure.
The experts
are correct in saying that the minimal will work. Beachcruising and Coastal Camping
details that lifestyle and its possibilities. Additionally many with
tight budgets do with the least possible. Yes, when I look back over
the years I remember fondly the old days. I do not want to do it
again, but it was fun.
Frankly, of
all the books I mention in this article, my first choice for a
minimalist lifestyle is
Beachcruising and Coastal Camping.
I love the checklists of necessities. The couple are just so nice. I
would love to have them aboard to share a cuppa tea. I find their
advice practical.
It is not where
you start that matters. It is where you are
at the end that counts, along with the journey of course.
Wandering along a shoreline is pleasant... especially
with your boat anchored off the beach.
Indeed,
when starting the nautical life it is best to go with less than you
want. Your wishes will change as you learn what works for
you. Because definitely, each of us differs.
You might
need (want?) a television. I have not had one since 1993 so that is
definitely not a priority. I need a computer and want my own wifi connection.
The internet and my imaginary online friends (that's you) are a
tremendously important part of life afloat as a soloist.
Alcoholism
is all too prevalent among single male sailors. I am not certain why.
Speculation leads me to wonder if the lack of social interaction is
an underlying cause...
This mi-fi device allows me to
connect to the internet while anchored in out of the way spots.
Being able
to communicate is critical to my happiness quotient, to the point
where I spend a great deal of my income making it happen. Something
important to you [even if *I* think you are nuts] should be your
goal.
Make your
dreams come true.
Too, I
enjoy my DVDs. Lots and lots of DVDs to wile away the afternoons not
spent reading on my
Kindle.
The observant may notice my DVDs
are shelved alphabetically. I don't sort by genre, preferring to
line 'em up this way. Sets of movies like the
The Doris Day and Rock Hudson Comedy Collection
(and
The Thrill of it All! -- remember the soap movie?) are sure
to bring a smile.
I do have
Serenity tucked after
the
Firefly collection. For the Browncoats (aka Firefly fans):
For some boaters it's tunes, be it a guitar or a xylophone. Really, it
matters not. What counts most is getting out here and trying various options. Starting with a minimal outfit will go a long ways toward
not wasting assets.
My friend Lori plays
guitar aboard her boat.
Once you have
determined something is desirable, then hunt down the item. It
might be available used from a thrift store, at online outlet or
even in a retail shop. Where you find it makes no difference if it
allows you to make your boat life happier.
Books
Aboard |
|
Prior to departure while
you have good access to the internet and a place to have
things shipped, make a list of the
cruising grounds you wish to explore. Then start shopping for
the guides featuring those areas.
You can save a ton of
cash and build a library over time if you start early. Later you can resell them
if you change your mind about a particular destination. Guides do become dated
however I find even old ones informative enough to have earned a place
aboard Seaweed.
And here is my suggestion for
folks who have the boat, or want to know how to make what you
have even better. Buy this one:
Gosh this is fun. Spending
your perfectly good money is awesome. While I'm at it, break
open the wallet and also purchase:
The
Why Didn't I Think of That? : 1,198 Tips
has helped me solidify ideas (tweaked of course) for my
Seaweed. And Tricks? I'm still trying to internalize the
weather portion. It is complicated.
Tricks of the Trades
does mirror our experiences on the 40'er and is worth
paying retail. I do not say that often. |
|
I've been living aboard a 23' boat seven years. The level I started at
would not work for me now. I would not go back. In the meantime I'm closing in
on near total decadence. I have a goal and am working toward adding
the goodies to make this life superior.
This is a
gradual process. I'm not made of money.
Still, the
list grows. I am hoping to upgrade my refrigeration later this
summer. That is going to require moving the built in bookcase,
dismantling the canned goods locker and selling the totally
inadequate (but paid for and being used) cube reefer I have now,
plus, well, more.
Side note
on refrigerators: Do not do as I did. My reefer, a small cube, will
not fit a head of lettuce nor a whole uncut cantaloupe. I know it is crazy to go
to this much work in order to have a melon in my *reefer without
having to chop it up, but there you have it.
*Reefer:
Boat Talk
for a refrigerator.
No job ever
turns out as easy as originally thought to be. There are always glitches but
how we "roll with the punches" determines our ultimate success. And I intend to
succeed.
Yes, I could
"make do" with far less. But I would not be as
happy.
And if Mama is not joyful, nobody else is either.
Jeff Allen,
a comedian I enjoy says "Happy
Wife, Happy Life" and there is a
great deal of truth to the saying. Gents should make sure the boat
is not outfitted solely to please him. Additionally everyone needs to
understand that boats require spare parts storage, in addition to
the creature comforts needed for harmony afloat. Affiliate link:
Happy Wife, Happy Life Revisited.
I get a great deal of pleasure out of the "little things"
aboard Seaweed. The lace curtain over my galley window both
prevents mosquitoes and looks pretty.
That "curtain" was a tablecloth. I sewed a hem at each end
(top and bottom) and voila: one curtain that will not blow in
the wind.
|
|
|
Plus, what is not to like about a view of the Thames River
and London Bridge? This is a favorite and though the sun is
doing damage I would rather use and enjoy the lace than stick it
in a locker for someday. In the meantime, I am looking for
another one just like it.
|
|
And the new heat exchanger is going to also provide heat for the
boat in the wintertime. The mechanics thought that part up and I am
grateful. Being cold is not much fun.
My mattress (4" memory foam topper from Walmart) is sitting atop a 5" foam
piece gifted by S/V Gorilla. It's totally wonderfully comfy. At night
with my hatch open looking at the stars, well, life doesn't get much
better.
Little
things, but for me, decadence is the key to continued enjoyment of
this life.
What one thing makes your life more comfortable?
And, what is next to do on your creature comfort enhancement list?
Regarding the Comments Section,
found at the end of every article:
-
Before you type in each block be
sure to hit the backspace key. Coding inserts a space in every box.
Your email address will come back as malformed unless you remove
that space. (You don't have to include your email address.)
-
The capcha is case sensitive.
|
COMMENTS:
© 2015, 2023
Categories:
Boats,
Boat Talk,
Books,
Characters,
Comfort,
DVDs and CDs,
Galley,
Money,
Organizing,
Relationships
Rocky Raccoon ~
Previous Post ...
... Next Post
~
Anchor Ball
|