I like small living spaces. I grew up in a 3/4 cape, then lived in a dorm for 4 years, then a series of small apartments, and then bought a one-floor ranch-style house. Moving onto a 44-foot catamaran seemed reasonable; she is quite roomy, for two anyway. But boy, does this boat get small on a cold and rainy day with four aboard stuck inside this tiny salon! Unfortunately for us, that’s been about 70% of our weather these past three and a half weeks. Large portions of this trip have not been what I would deem ‘comfortable’.
So I ask myself, what makes me ‘comfortable’? A hot drink and a place to curl up with a book or movie makes me ‘comfortable’ on a cold or rainy day. I find sunny days with temps above 65oF to be comfortable, but I don’t like it too hot or too humid. Being dry is comfortable. Being able to have a regular exercise routine makes my body hurt less, which makes it easier to be physically comfortable. On an mental/emotional level, time with family and friends alternating with time alone is important for my comfort. Having enough joy to offset the challenges provides me with a sense of balance in life, and therefore a type of comfort. Planning gives me a sense of order and control which give me comfort.
Now how do I attain this sense of comfort onboard now rather than holding out for the elusive ‘comfort’ once we reach warmer climes? I am finding this challenging.
Weather impacts my mood, which impacts my comfort level. I can’t do anything about the weather. All I can do is keep myself as physically comfortable as possible by wearing the right clothes and gear, drinking hot beverages and using the space heater when it’s cold, being outside when I can. I am a bit more acclimated to the current temperatures, which is helpful because I don’t feel as cold as often. I have to accept the fact that I and the boat are going to be damp frequently, at this time of year due to condensation, in warmer climes it will be due to humidity. We just open her up when we can to air her out and regularly clean the forming mildew. I pretty much have to suck it up when it comes to weather.
Balancing together time with alone time is important for my mental/emotional comfort and I have been struggling with this, especially because the weather has prevented us from spreading out on the boat. One method I’ve adopted is to just get out of bed once I realize I’m not going to fall back asleep. Instead, I get up and do something alone, like working on my blog this morning. The 30-45 minutes of alone time helps center me. As it gets warm enough, I’ll carve out time each day to do yoga up in the bow, even if I have to put on an extra layer I wouldn’t need at home. I can say that I’m not bored, and there has been much joy on the trip- joy in the company I’m with, joy in the activities we’ve engaged in in the places we’ve explored. Balance between joy and challenges- ✓.
I like to plan things out, and I like for the plans to work out as, well, planned. While planning is extremely important when living aboard, trying to have a plan is like beating one’s head against a wall. Planning for safety is necessary, and we do this all the time. We plan around marine weather forecasts in order to travel from place to place safely. We plan safely navigable routes. We plan to have enough food, water and fuel aboard for times when we can’t get to them ashore. We planned home-like ‘comforts’ before moving aboard. I made quilts for each cabin. We made sure we would have reading material and movies for entertainment. We provisioned foods we enjoy eating, and brought aboard kitchen aids and gadgets that make cooking enjoyable. We ensured we could easily keep in touch with family and friends back home. For warmer climes, we have what we need to dive and snorkel. Still, the deeply rooted ‘planner’ in me finds it stressful to not have a more detailed plan, like knowing exactly where we will be going and when and exactly what we will be doing and exactly what we will have for supper. (Okay, yes, at home I plan out the week’s supper’s before shopping for groceries. You can stop laughing now). Stress does not lead to my being comfortable. The rational part of my brain acknowledges that trying to generate these types of plans on board is pretty silly, but it hasn’t yet convinced the other parts of my brain of this.
What I really need to work on is becoming comfortable ‘going with the flow’. I’m going to start practicing now. We’re going to dub our way down Long Island sound, stopping where we can when we can, and I’m going to be okay with that…I hope.
For now, everyone is up and in the salon. The sun is sort of out, it’s not too cold, and the bow is dry. I’m going to go do some yoga- alone.
Life on Lady 
Lisa, I read you loud and clear sister. Have you been peeking in my diary? Balance and planning in this unpredictable life are always a challenge, but especially in retirement for me. We have to work around the structure imposed on our lives for so many years by our jobs, school, etc.
Much as we may complain about the restraints, it can be unexpectedly tough to start structuring our time all on our own. Where to begin ? What to focus on? How to squeeze in all those things you’ve been dreaming of doing forever.
The biggest realization is that, even without having to work, there will never be enough time to do it all.
I have learned to set my expectations a lot lower, and concentrate on fewer goals.
And that’s where my list comes in. I’ve always been a slave to one, but I keep it a lot smaller these days. And, yes, it does provide peace of mind to feel somewhat of a sense (even if illusory) of control over things.
I always seem to be juggling what I want to do with what needs to be done for those around me, and for the simple maintenance of living.
It doesn’t help that I am, and have always been, glacially slow in all that I do and even think. To make peace with what is possible for me, I am having to get better at things not being perfect. At the quilter’s guild, they used to say “Finished is better than perfect”. And I heard somewhere that “perfect is the enemy of good”. And I’m liking the idea more and more.
I’ve still got my plan and my list, a small one (Full Disclosure: I have a big master list but only take 2 0r 3 things from it at a time) I know it’s not necessarily going to work out the way I wanted. But I’m getting used to the idea. I think they call it surrender. I feel happy to wake up every day, try again and maybe learn some new thing each time. I’m always editing myself. Always evolving….
I’m in awe of your journey, nautical and mental. So gutsy, and with so many possible rewards. It’s such a great adventure. Something that I could never even imagine for myself, but can admire and enjoy from afar.
I’m confident you’ll manage things so that the pleasure will ultimately outweigh any inconveniences.
Safe sailing and best to all the crew.
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