We are often asked how are vacation was when we return from several months of cruising. We answer by saying that the cruising life is just our other lifestyle and it really can not be considered a vacation. Of course most people think of sailing as a life of freedom, beauty and perfect tropical weather. They imagine us sitting on a sugary white beach, swaying in a hammock between two palm trees, sailing on calm blue seas between uninhabited tropical islands, swimming with dolphins and tropical fish or sipping a pina colada in our comfortable cockpit, while the sun drops below the horizon.
The reality is far from that. When cruisers get together , you hear them talk about the best seasickness pills, the availability of parts for their watermaker, recommended doctors or dentists, the last major squall that ripped their jib, the fact that their fridge is broken and the head won't flush and the biggy.....how are your batteries holdng up?
Because our floating homes get kicked around a lot by wind and waves , things break often. Just this morning ,Rob has had to get into the cockpit locker and fix the connections for our fridge. We awoke to find the plate temperature had risen and immediately suspected the light wind overnight and the battery charge; however it was indeed the fridge connections. From here we moved to fixing the watermaker connections after we looked to see salt water spurting out under the pullman mattress. Living in a salty environment makes things all the more difficult to fix and keep running smoothly. When you are a captain of a bluewater boat you not only need to know how to sail, you also aught to be a diesel mechanic and a general handyman. I am blessed in both cases. As for me I need to be able to sail the boat as well as do all of what are called "the pink jobs" and of course be the computer nerd. May I remind you once again of the definition of cruising as "Fixing deh tings in deh exotic places."
A saying that cruisers know well is B-O-A-T or "Break out another thousand!" This year we have replaced our anchor chain, the radio, a battery and lots of small items...breaking out a couple of thousand boat units. Of course if nothing breaks and you sail rather than motor and you don't go out for dinner much the cruising life can be an inexpensive way to live.
Most of the sailors we meet are retired and have sufficient money to keep their boat afloat; however we do meet young families who have chosen to travel now and work later. Some young people work along the way; however that must add stress and frustration to an already busy boat life. As any cruiser can confirm; nothing is easy when you live on the water. Grocery shopping takes half the day. Hauling water and fuel takes hours. First questions asked ashore are , "Where is the nearest laundromat?", "How about propane?" and "Are there buses to get to town?" Boat errands never stop.
Before idealizing or desiring a life afloat, you have to realize the lack of comfort and what's involved. We live by what the weather tells us we can do. Managing a "moving household", while using a row boat as the family car is not for the faint of heart. So when someone asks me how my vacation was you can see why it is not an easy answer. Sometimes I ask myself why I have chosen this lifestye if it isn't a vacation? I think the answer lies in "the perfect days", the days when we see dolphins while sailing, the days when we meet friendly local people who make you feel welcome on their island, the days when we gaze at the milllions of stars and a full moon while having a sippy in the cockpit ....these are the days that make the tough days worth it.
We meet many folks who live this sailing life all year round; however Rob and I love the balance in our two lives. We hope to be able to continue doing this for a few more years. Besides, it's not as if we are on vacation?!?
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