Now that's Livin'

Being a live-aboard tends to mean one of two things:  1. you're retired or 2. you're a single dude (and...we'll leave it at that)

Some glorious day we will be in the 1st category...and as long as Cap continues to work on putting his laundry in the bow cabinet, he  will never return to the 2nd.

For now, we both happen to work, go to school, and parent a couple of kids...in between Sunday sails.  Sure we've got some low-key, spontaneous cruising plans.  Those specified times are on our shared calendar and strategically planned to fit into our very busy Spring/Summer schedule.  What an adventurous couple.

The reality is it's all about the balance.  Balancing the good 'ol Corinthian times with the ironing a dress shirt on the nav station times.

Last weekend, since the San Diego sun decided to get on board, an afternoon in the cock pit was just what we needed (This counts as a Corinthian time in case you were unsure).  Since Opening Day, a weekend well worth a few posts, our beloved red ice chest full of brews has become a permanent fixture on the stern of the boat...

Hence my latest tip:

Always keep a big red ice chest full of beer on the stern of your boat.  

When the time is right (decks are clean, gams are gettin some sun) and you and your favorite Captain are enjoying those cold ones, there's only one appropriate thought...

"Now that's LIVIN''"

Being that the boat community is a pretty intimate one, you may even find yourself in an impromptu raft-up with old neighbors. Now ask yourself, would YOU tie your dinghy to a boat that had no beer?  I don't think you would.

-A very wise Skipper

Vinegar and blue tape

I have three stories in progress at the moment...one insightful scene of us going aground for the first and from what I hear, not last time, another explaining how to use your main sail halyard to hoist objects off of your boat.  The third, which I have chosen to go ahead and write, excitedly discusses vinegar and blue tape.

Apparently boat engineering and "hoisting" are a little tougher plots for me to develop.

One sweet duo

No matter where I live, I am a bit of a fanatic.  I like objects in their proper  place and think Dust Busters are a total  treat  Side note:  I swear I'm also tons of fun.  As you can imagine, boat livin' isn't always easy for this Skipper. I can describe my overall feeling best by saying:

(In the calmest way possible, to my husband) "Sometimes the boat makes me feel like I'm living in a garage.  There are a LOT of man-things lying around which I know nothing about, and somehow we have not one, but two  of those orange Home Depot buckets, within arms reach of the V-birth"

Garage-y surroundings aren't my favorite.

Putting all those things aside (and Captain J putting all those things in lockers ), I am totally into the simplicity of maintaining below deck.  Every time I find a new way to attack a practical task, I share it with the Cap and he pretends to be impressed...he is just so sweet.

Two recent fun-finds are vinegar (for everything) and blue tape (for at least three things).

The vinegar can be bought by the gallon at any grocery store.  Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle, and just go nuts. Some of the purposes aboard (insert whatever we name our boat here) include:

windows
stainless steel stove top 
galley sink
winch handle holders
flushing (Nature Heads are not "bitchen" toilets, despite what the last owner said. For another day)

The point is I love vinegar and you should too.

Blue tape doesn't get used quite as often but certainly serves a purpose.
1.  Removing lint...from everything, because everything has lint on it
2. Applying beach towels to the interior ports since you hadn't MADE your curtains yet...and privacy is key to a treehouse.
3.  Attaching Sailing-Joe-Kitty's water dish to the floor since she's always pushing it across the floor.  Oh, did I not mention there's a cat aboard this vessel?...We'll get there.

For me, one of the most entertaining things about this live aboard life is figuring out all the intricacies...then getting sometimes-fake kudos for it (I've never been too  proud).

Content outside (like WAY outside) my expertise is on its way...and probably at least one post about the cat.

Sweet dreams.
         

LOVE Boat

We won't be christening our beloved vessel with this name.  Although cliche, it would be appropriate...we love  our boat and we certainly love each other.  Living within the confines of thirty-seven feet could either help or hinder both of these. So far so good.

Aside from today belonging to good 'ol Valentine, I have been thinking about what a LOVE boat we have for other reasons.  One specifically leaves me torn- Do I really want to confess this to all my readers?  Obviously there are millions of you...and obviously the answer is yes.

I find it important to keep our home in ship-shape, additionally keep the buns in shape, and  avoid looking like a boat-hobo*

So, I keep all "get-ready equipment" packed in a bag i.e. brush, blow dryer, make-up bag, and tomorrow's outfit (after completing step 4 from my previous post).

This tidy little bag goes from aft cabin floor to floor of my car most mornings on the way to the gym.
The gym shower is key to a Skipper's life style...no time for what a yacht club shower entails and no option to stink up the office.

Yesterday, I was in my usual morning rush to get out the door with a latte in hand (note that a Nespresso machine is very much worth having in your galley.  It is tiny, and makes you feel like you have a real  kitchen).

Nespresso...mmmmm

It all went south at a quick toothbrush grab attempt. Much like my closet situation, the light above our "medicine cabinet" gives off just enough to make you wonder if that toothbrush is blue...or green.  This time it was green, and let's just say- it shouldn't have been.

Going all day with unbrushed teeth, is out of the realm of possibility, especially after a delicious cup of Rosabaya**.

Now, I love the Cap, but I also have boundaries...and phobias perhaps. While I'm sure we have shared a germ or two in the last three years, forcing me to share a toothbrush with anyone  is pure affliction...

We all make concessions and I must LOVE that man, because against my every inclination, I went ahead and used his green toothbrush.  The shame...

Living aboard undeniably tests you at times.  Some tests are more rigorous than others. It seems being flexible when it comes to these things makes you all the better.

Happy Valentines Day.

Very official Footnotes:

*Boat hobo:  those that don't legitimately live on a boat, but rather squat on boats and look like average street corner hobos. In the interest of saving time, I believe boat-bo  should be the shortened version for a boat-hobo.

** Rosabaya is heavenly and will make you realize Starbucks is a joke..

The "Closet"

Three and a half months on a boat is just enough time to realize 1. you totally  live on a boat and 2. you're going to be re-organizing your closet at least nineteen more times before it functions at a level that meets your reasonable expectations.

I use the word "closet" pretty loosely. While I have a "closet" in the trunk of my car and our 10 by 10 storage unit, the closet I refer to now is the one on board.  It's about 3-feet tall, a foot and a half wide...and the back of it is positioned at an inconvenient slope.  Perfect for all your clothing storage needs right?

I've rearranged this thing a number of times. Typically the onset of a good re-arrange is a minor freak-out when I grab the same pair of black slacks more than thrice in one week, in attempt to grab a high-waisted black skirt  of similar material.  I don't think I need to say it, but I will...

THIS lack of organization just won't do.

Note to newly wedded Skippers- While there is a temptation to let said "freak-out" slowly go from minor to major over time, do what you can to overcome it.  Living on a boat is a perfect opportunity to show your new husband just how crazy you can get, but is that really necessary? In these moments, I simply remind myself that self control is one of the fruits of the spirit- some prefer to call it a virtue.  This is a fruit that I particularly struggle with and just like mangoes-it almost gives me a rash, BUT it must be controlled.

My latest closet war was a week ago when it mocked me and my quest to find yet another black garment.  With our new floating home's limited, LED lighting (I told you, I live in a tree house) finding a specific piece can be quite daunting.  I mean, I have a full time job for crying out loud, there's no time for this nonsense.

The cure, for now...

 Step #1:  The very fancy "shelves" (AKA a Shoe Hanger) -
If you don't yet have a Shoe Hanger, get one

 This gem's official name, I don't know...but it hangs and typically has shoes in it.

I chose specific pieces to roll up and place in there,

instead of folding them properly and stacking in the open space beside it.  

This is because these items are not as prone to wrinkle...and they are all pieces that give 

variety to my wardrobe.  I personally believe that categorizing sections of a closet 

(even a normal closet that you can actually stand in) is the only way to live.  

I can add any of the rolled up items to something else in my closet and fool people 

into thinking I have a ton of different outfits or that maaaaybe I don't live on a boat.

I also place all of my lighter tank tops in one of the shelves since they are going to be worn
under other things that will hide their creases.  

Step #2:  CUT-
Cut off  just enough length to leave yourself with the number of shelves you require
and enough room below the hanger to stack your bigger garments sideways.

Step #3: Filling it up-
Notice the bottom pieces (mostly work dresses) are folded and
arranged horizontally, below the bottom of the shoe hanger so that I can SEE as much of
each piece as possible.  Since there is more of the garment showing I can actually tell (NOW)
what it is I'm grabbing from the 2 1/2 feet pile of clothing.  

Step #4:  Hangers and Space- Leave some
The hangers aren't there for use inside of the closet...no one actually
hangs their clothes on that rod.  At first, I cursed that rod (pre Shoe Hanger discovery).
The hangers are for hanging up what you will wear tomorrow
in the aft cabin, or wherever they can be stowed...another task devoted to the
purpose of de-wrinkling.  Living on your boat is no excuse for looking like you just
jumped out of a hamper.  While I do not usually plan a whole 12 hours ahead,
selecting what I'll wear the night before is huge.  Making this
major decision (kidding) gives you the best chance of a crisp look in the morning.
After hanging, I usually give it a few sprays of water and then let gravity
do its thing.  The Space at the top must be there, unless you want scraped knuckles
and no option of adding anything to this closet of yours.  If you play your cards
right, throwing a pair of boots in that space can even be an option...where
else are you gonna fit those things?

I'm sure you've noticed there are no Man-clothes shown.  This is because the man's clothes don't live in here...his arrangement is for another post.  I balance out my evil (and non-negotiable) monopoly of the closet by including him in step #4.  No respectable Captain starts his day looking crumpled...unless he's a single live-aboard, in that case there is likely no hope of looking at all assembled.

Again, my future likely holds 14 more sessions of reorganizing.  But for now, I sincerely recommend the laid out plan you see above.  Happy organizing and Good LUCK to ya.

Our Secret Floating Tree House

Also known as a 37-foot Sailboat.

I battled over titling this first post "Last Action Hero," and for good reason... It happens to be what my husband called me, from behind the helm, as I hurdled over the lifelines and back onto our boat.

We've lived aboard for three months now, and been married for a mere six. While there are plenty of stories that link us to our old dock, I think this first post should really be about the adventure of moving into our new, permanent slip-partly because this story involves me sounding like a totally legitimate boat chick.  And partly because of something else I'm sure.

Wanting to start out on the right foot at our new dock, we-meaning my Captain, prepared for the voyage by doing a little dinghy scraping and kayak cleaning.  Of course the hoisting of the two vessels was also crucial.  The short motor across the bay made it a possibility for one of us to follow in said crafts (and simultaneously get in a bicep work out or dingy steering practice), however with two newbs aboard, slipping the cruiser without a second hand (or entire body  in this case) was just not an option.

When you learn to sail (and slip) on the boat you just  bought, you understand a thing or two about coming in too hot.  What a blazing day it was!  With large rocks piled behind us and skiffs on all sides, getting into the 36' slip wasn't going to happen. At least not on the first attempt. The slip requires a starboard turn and our boat veers to the port side. Going in circles is always a fun option I guess. Spinning was actually the least of our worries. Ramming into our new neighbor's fishing boat was certainly the biggest concern, the second being whether or not we paid the insurance this month.

The most appropriate and agreed upon action to take: Skipper (uh, that's me) jumping onto the swim step of a neighboring boat and pressing my entire body against our  boat, bruising a knee in the process I might add, all to prevent a colorful first introduction and some other more expensive issues. Cap  worked it at the helm, and seemed quite surprised that his first mate made it back on board in time to circle around for another try.  I don't know what happened or where sudden athleticism came from...but if ninjas wore goofy sailing hats and aviators...well, let's just say I was looking like a total ninja.

Round two...like. a. glove. After a few beers at the conclusion of  "moving day," we found ourselves settled aboard our new home- off the grid, on the water, and cozy as ever...in our secret floating tree house.