Living Aboard

Page 2
The Cruising Life

Page 3
Dockside Living

Page 4
What Boat?

Page 5
Must Haves

Port

        I'll try to relate my experiences and thoughts on living aboard as a way of life. I'll also try to give some tips and suggestions on how you can make the experience more enjoyable, as well as some things you shouldn't expect to find by living aboard. As much as anything, living aboard is a matter of attitude and personal philosophy of life.

 Knowing What You Want

        The first thing you have to understand is that living aboard is a lifestyle choice. It must be something you want to do, because that's how you want to live. It is not an escape route. Whether from life ashore, personal demons or problems, or anything else that you think you can run away or hide from. A choice, not a necessity.

        Part of that, is figuring out what you want from the experience. From Travis McGee to Blackbeard, there's been many, of fact and fiction, who have resided aboard a boat. You though (as obvious as it is) will be the one and only you that lives aboard a boat. And what you seek, should be, unique to you, not a pale imitation of someone else.

        Even if you live aboard, tied to a dock, your life will change, for unless you have a rather large boat, your available space becomes far less than ashore. Now, those indispensable kitchen gadgets you never use, the clothes you rarely wear, and all that stuff you keep, without knowing why, suddenly have no counter to sit on, no closet to fill, or drawers to get tossed in. Downsizing is not merely a goal, but a necessity.

        It's not though, simply a matter of making do with less. It's also a question of figuring out what you really can do without, and what you can't. Your life will most definitely simplify, it's up to you to decide how much so without making it into a hardship, rather than a positive. It can be a fine line that won't become readily apparent. But part and parcel of the whole lifestyle is change and adaptability. As well as becoming a needs based consumer, rather than a wants based one.

        While convenience isn't incompatible with living aboard, it most often is a happy coincidence, not something to be expected. Something as simple as washing dishes, or your face, becomes an exercise in logistics when facing a finite water supply and the fuel to heat it. (This of course, applies more to the cruising live aboard than the dockside one. We'll cover the differences more fully later on.)

        Everything needs it's own place, and needs to be in that place when not being used. If it's not already a habit, it's time to start making it one. The convenience of having things close at hand becomes secondary to the amount of available space and the motion of the boat. Yet another of those fine lines to be determined to one's own satisfaction.

        And perhaps the biggest inconvenience to adapt to is no longer being able to hop in the car and go where you need, or want, to go. Be it shopping, visiting, or, heaven forbid, an emergency. Planning ahead takes on a whole new significance when you can't just run to the store when you're out of something. Again, this applies more to the cruiser, than the dockside live aboard.

        These are some of what will be your "new" realities. Changes that are inherent to living aboard and for the most part, can't be avoided. And each has it's logical path beyond what I have outlined here. For example, something I didn't mention specifically, but is certainly a reality, is the simple matter of going to the bathroom. Holding tanks have size limits, and your access to the means of emptying them may be limited as well. Not a pleasant subject, but one that must be given thought, whether dockside or cruising.

        It's the thinking through such minutia that is a necessary part of the decision making process. Just take a day and write down everything you do from getting out of bed to laying back down for the night, and view it in the aspect of being aboard. You may be surprised at some of the changes you'll find you need to make. The closer and more minutely you examine everything though, will make the decision process that much better informed.

So far, it has been both more and less than I expected. On balance though, it has been the right choice for me. And I have no doubt, that in time, many of those "less's" will become "more's". For as well thought out as my plan was, there are simply things you can't account for until you're actually out there doing it.

To be honest, I haven't fully severed my urge for shoreside amenities as well as I expected to. I am though, making progress on that front.