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From: David, Anne Marie and Hannah (no email)
Date: Fri Aug 27 1999 - 12:07:00 EDT
At 07:32 AM 8/27/99 EDT, you wrote:
>In a message dated 99-08-26 12:26:00 EDT, you write:
>
><< just make sure you finish the damn boat before you move aboard! :-)
>
> david
> >>
>
>David, David, wake up and smell the coffee! No boat is ever "finished".
So True!
I guess I had better follow up on this. I too was expecting more
empassioned speeches on the 'greatness' of living aboard and the
comparative caution from the proceeding emails dismayed me somewhat. Then
I got to thinking... Most of the people here are older than me. No
offense! :-) I have been bought up to believe that as we get older we
become.. well.. better. More capable of making the 'right' decision, more
responsible and so on. Although this is a relic from my childhood I still
believe (hope?) it to be fundamentally true.
Seondly I have been living aboard for such a short time. Maybe they know
something I have yet to find out... So...
Adapting to the liveaboard way of life isn't easy. It means giving up the
luxuries and stabilities of a land based house. And while the dangers may
not necessarily be less in a land based house we are bought up to have
complete trust in out homes, so much so that we can sleep at night. You
would know what I mean if you have ever been robbed and had to sleep in an
empty house the night you discover it. You lose that trust completely!
More of our efforts are directed to our fundamentals. Providing food and
water. Maintaining our shelter. Organization becomes far more important.
The impact of these efforts on our everyday lives and the continuance
thereof, makes it feel more 'real', more relevant and makes us feel more
alive.
It also means a change in the motivators of everyday life. Our 'everyday'
life has changed anyway. Things aren't so important anymore. But then
again they are! Now I make sure I buy the 'good' spanner - the
electro-polished one not the cheaper one. Now I always have extra fuses,
and have sprung for breakers and Ground Fault Protected outlets for shore
power. To some extent now I can afford these luxuries as they are far
fewer (in volume) and have a more direct benefit to 'everyday' life.
Lastly I am frustrated with the seemingly foreverness of the jobs to be
done. When asked, as we were, what was so great about living aboard, I too
was preparing a rational discussion of the pros and cons, but it didn't
come out like that. Instead what came out was a renewal of my own passions
and a realization that despite of the little things that eventually become
big things, this is something I love.
I rushed headlong into this project disregarding the warnings and
possibilities of failure because if for any reason it doesn't work out I
can sell the boat and walk away. The fact that I started it and am helping
it come to fruition is the success. And I would whole heartedly recommend
the journey to anyone regardless of how it may turn out. At least you have
tried it.
regards
David Wilsmore
_________________________________________________
David Wilsmore
S/V Straylight 30' Pearson Coaster
http://members.home.com/dah98 Liveaboard
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