I had no idea clothespin choices could get so complicated once a boat is involved! Good to know. I have a billion of the metal binder clips in all sizes; maybe I'll start with a pared-down selection (a billion would be a bit much on my little boat) of those and go from there. BTW: Love the Christmas tree decorations. :)

I notice the lack of the traditional wood & metal spring pins in your collection. I find them inexpensive & they do the job... well in out house it's closing things, not much air drying goes on.

You can never be accused of not paying attention to details, eh? I learned more about clothes pins in this one article than I learned in my whole life. Thank you for the education. The best part for me was the Free Advice Regarding Clothespins - this simple suggestion was what I was looking for after reading your article. I was a little overwhelmed until I came to the end and read that part. You do great work. Keep it up.

I use the binder clips in the galley to close packages. I don't know that I would ever use them for clothes though. The metal will rust. As a matter of fact I checked the one on my dried cranberries and it is starting to get a rust film. Now I've been using these for at least two or three years, but for clothing? Nope.

As for Christmas, I am so looking forward to that. I've decided this year to forego the tree. Instead I have some fabric. I want to tie together using scraps of green fabrics a garland. Then I will hang my favorite ornaments from that garland.

Last year I chopped off (hinged) part of my dinette. With it smaller the tree took up too much room. As I've had this 2' bit of a tree for so many years I don't want to pitch it until I'm sure I'll like the garland.

Still, I am getting older and putting up a tree is a lot of work. I suspect I will prefer the garland with lights.

Last year I found some wonderful LED Christmas lights that use VERY little power. Liked from 130 watts down to 8 watts. I mean seriously wonderfully little.

The issue will be twofold: #1) getting a ride to Walmart before they are sold out, and #2) finding the again. There is a third issue: They were expensive. That part hurts but to save the power... well, I am hoping the budget loosens up a bit by Christmas AND that folks will use my Amazon links to buy stuff. That helps too.

Christmas is magical. I do so love the music and the pretty lights.

Thank you so much for you Comment Pam. It is appreciated. Your friend in the south, J.

We tried wooden ones on our 40'er with a decided lack of success. What is worse is that the dang things would get mildew in the part that grabs the clothes, thus transferring the black to clean clothes.

I am sure others had better luck than we did. Finally, and this was when I was quite young, Mother bought some plastic ones. Those in the first picture are Really old. There were at least twice as many at some point. Since I moved aboard Seaweed two or three have finally given up the ghost. Still, I do rather protect them.

I believe items were expected to last longer years ago. Not everything mind you, but the things that have made it into this century seem to not quit.

Folks with older boats might not have the shiniest one on the water however ours do have a particular charm. You have no idea how much I love my home Rob!

And it is the dorky things that make a difference. Having a clothespin that won't crack or break is more important than one might at first believe. Out here I certainly would not want to have to haul in the anchor or launch Algae and go to shore to buy more clothespins. Finding good ones is not easy.

I am always on the lookout at thrift stores. Once you've seen quality plastic you'll always know it. There's a feel that is difficult to describe. It is one of those things that once you learn, it is all so simple.

Sort of like listening to dolphin and then hearing a manatee breathe. From that point on you will know by the sound of the air which is outside the window of your boat. Last night though not visible there was a manatee someplace out there. I listened but he/she never came close. Maybe today when the tide comes all the way up the manatee will return to the mangroves. I'll be waiting, with camera (flip phone) in hand.

Thanks so much for your comment Rob. I hope all is well with you. Happy travels. J.

It is odd, the things that seem so trivial yet impact our lives. Having a way to pin up a piece of fabric (better still, black out fabric) over a window on a boat is quite important in the overall scheme of comforts. I am glad you liked the article. Thank you too for the input regarding "Free advice" section. I may indeed take that idea and use it in the future.

That was very helpful Heronymous. Thank you. And thank you for your comment. J.

"The binder clips will rust." Back to the drawing board! :) Your decoration plan sounds good. I've often forgone a tree a decorated in other ways. Looks great.

In the galley to close bags and such the binder clips are fine. Keep your eyes open and you may find some good clothespins for little money. I saw a new type at Walmart the other week. The last ones bought there are already deteriorating.

On the bright side the is the month of ghouls, pumpkins and ghosts. I am going to dig out my Halloween dish towel and a couple little decorations. Yeah! Happy Halloween to you too.

I have found the new pant hangars at Walmart work the best. They are completely plastic with no metal inside. You get 6 clothes pins and three reusable hangars. You might find at yard sales or thrift stores cheaper. I will send you picture

Mildew on the wood? That would be reason enough to not use wooden clothes pins in my world! We're in Maine, have been for awhile but are leaving soon... there are a lot of boats up this way, boats with people living on them too. The weather was beautiful in the summer, not so much in the winter I'm thinking but I was talking with a guy who does winter over up this way. We are going to be in Florida this winter, talking about the Tampa area come January. A much better place to winter than Maine! At least for me... :-) Take care & enjoy the fall!

Thanks so much for the picture Janet. I received your text. My flip phone shuts itself off semi-regularly. I only know that has happened when I hear it chime that it is turning itself back on. Argh.

Those hangers do look interesting. Though mine would rust (the tops are galvanized) I like that the top swivels. That is important for two of the places where I use the hangers

It's silly things like that which impact my choices aboard Seaweed. I do have one of the solid plastic hangers (a child-sized one) that I used to use for my skirts. The other one I use for my towel after it dries.

Like all things, space is at a premium. I am always looking for more compact ways to store stuff. Before I bought Seaweed I didn't quite "get" the everything has to do two jobs thing though when I look around my cabin I see that is true. The knob over the center of my door to the cockpit holds a hanger when I'm drying my shirts, or an oil lantern when at anchor, or the middle of my door screen. Three jobs!

If only I worked that hard, eh?!? Hoping you are doing well. Maybe we can get to that Chinese restaurant again, eh? Take care. Hello to your fellow too.

And thanks for the Walmart idea. I'll take a careful look at those the next time I get over there.

Thank you for your comment too Janet. I really appreciate that. Your friend on the beach, J.

You are definitely correct in thinking Tampa Bay is a better area than Maine for wintertime. Mother's family is from Maine and the way she told it she walks/skied/skated uphill (both ways!) through deep snow every day of the school year.

She hated cold weather. When my folks would fight I don't think they would do it the way house people did it. Daddy would pull out his charts of Hudson Bay and we would move the boat north. Each day Mother would pull out a chart of an island in the Caribbean. Eventually he'd come around and we'd head south again. I don't know that he was all that fond of cold weather either!

Have a safe trip down, okay? And thank you for your comment Rob. I appreciate that. J.