10/9/2026
Update:
Al is on the
boat in Rhode Island, and I am home for a week attending weddings. Al and our
friend Bob are trying to survive the Fall New England weather. Bob is
especially feeling it since he went from Florida heat to nights in the 40s. The
boat has a heater, but it is just not the same as a house. It’s fortunate for
them the sun is shining in Newport this week, so the afternoons are nice.
The luxury of land life:
For the past five
days I have been reveling in “luxuries.” I like to write about it to remember
the feeling. It’s amazing to take a normal shower, to let the water run during a
shower, and actually, it’s amazing to be able to shower at all. On the boat, we
carry 200 gallons of water. Replenishing the water is done every week or so
when we get diesel fuel or by taking a 5-gallon jug to a water source with the
dinghy. In the cool weather lately, I heat up 3 cups of water in the microwave
and with those 3 cups and a couple of fresh washcloths I can end up feeling
clean. Hair washing is saved for once or twice a week only. Most boaters combat
this water issue by having a water maker which we will install before any future
extended trip. The roominess of a house is thrilling. I am running around my
house like a happy chihuahua on steroids. I can do an exercise video with full
range of motion and just have to go out the door to take a walk. It’s
wonderful. My biggest pet peeve about the boat is dampness. Rainy days are the
worst, and if it’s rainy and cold, forget it. Our boat needs more insulation and
we could correct that. The humidity control that air conditioning provides is a
luxury taken for granted every day.
The simplicity of boat life
I have been
struck by the simplicity of our life on the boat which has good points and bad.
First of all, the space is small. You could say we have been living in one room,
the main salon. I can get up, make the
bed, straighten up the main salon and galley and the entire space is in order.
Cleaning the boat inside can be accomplished in a day. Our life revolved around
meals, making a plan for the day, doing what we decided to do, having dinner
and then relaxing in the evenings with double solitaire, reading or sometimes
streaming a movie. Coming home, my world immediately expanded and became a kaleidoscope
of options; things I needed to do and people I wanted to see. Land life must be
managed.
Leave your home and travel for 6 months.
I highly
recommend it because this is what we did. If you have ever felt like you are in
a rut or are going through a transition, I think it is great to change your
environment and routine completely. This trip got me out of some unhelpful habits,
and I developed a morning routine I like. I know what projects and goals I want
to work on now and I have a vision for my future. One thing I learned is that when
traveling for months at a time, you take your whole life with you; your
problems, your skills and your issues. It is not all sunsets, margaritas and happiness. A lesson learned is that I must exercise to feel good, and it needs to be something
pretty intense and, on a regular basis. Also, Al and I need and like to have
people around. On this trip we spent too much time just with ourselves. One
great result has been that I started reading books again. Physical books, e
books, audio books I like them all and I’m usually read 3 at a time.
Getting older or just not drinking enough alcohol?
We may not want
to cross an ocean. We don’t like long, rough passages anymore. Maybe it is our
age, but I have another theory. Fourteen years ago, on our year and ½ sailing trip
we drank a lot more alcohol, not during passages but in-between. The drunken
sailor is a boating cliché and I totally get it. It helps you laugh off the struggles,
but I am too old to drink like that anymore! We will have to decide which challenges
we want to take on next and how to cope with them.
Freedom
The freedom we
experienced on this trip is something I hope not to forget. We had very few
limits and made our own decisions. Once we made it to New England, we decided
to keep it simple and enjoy the easy sailing and beautiful towns of Narraganset
Bay. We indulged our interest in history, exploring new places and our love of
good food. We were able to share the fun of boating life with a few visitors. The
water is still a place of peace, beauty, risk and challenge. The potential for freedom
and the fulfillment of dreams is available for those who develop the skills and
have the desire to go out on a boat. The water is out there, and it is not going
anywhere.
Thank you for reading this blog and for your interest in our trip.
Peace and love,
Frances Lima
