What to do on a boat

"But... what do you do on the boat?" is a question we got a few times. So, here's the answer.

On the boat, we:

sleep, cook, read a book, knit, clean the deck, play cards, work on our computers, learn how to make different knots, look for dolphins, do yoga, admire the scenery, take out the sail covers, put them back, spot whales jumping on the horizon, make a list of the things to do when on land, have a coffee, check on the bird catching a ride on the dinghy during
the night passage, chat, spend two hours looking for things you don't remember where you stored, identify star constellations, say hi to passing boats, pull the dinghy up, pull the dinghy down, retrieve debris floating by hoping it might be a treasure, fill the shower pouch with fresh water and set it on the deck to warm up, do tai chi, set bait for fish, practice the knots you made, philosophize about the future of humanity, bake, go for a row, wash and change clothes, dry the condensation on top of the berths, take an outside shower with sun-warmed water, learn about charts, guess whether the group of lights you see at night is a big freighter coming right at you, disentangle lines, secure things under deck in preparation for sailing, ponder the meaning of life, wait for another crew member to clear the area where you want to go, write blog postings, sunbathe, practice knots with the gloves on, go for a dip in the ocean, try to guess what type of weather the clouds will bring, give up and listen to the weather forecast on the radio, check if fish bit the bait, fill up the tanks with fresh water, repair things around the boat, have a nap, wash the dishes, double check the weather report on the radio, decide on the next passage route and harbor, practice knots with your eyes closed, learn to read the wind (or pretend to), steer, try not to throw up, hoist the sails, collapse on a berth, feed the fishies with the last delicious roast and potatoes you had for dinner (aka, puke), count waves, tell each other stories, teach Spanish, learn Spanish, knock your head on the lamp above the dinner table, close the portholes, open the portholes, close hatches, open hatches, laugh, grumble, scratch mosquito and spider bites, look for rocks or seaweed under the water, practice your rusty French, say hi to kayak and dinghy passersby, disinfect and heal wounds, watch a documentary, sing, snuggle under the sleeping bag with a cup of tea, learn about Nova Scotia history, bounce around under deck, wonder why on earth did you decide to go sailing, wave to people on land, avoid collision with other boats, sleep like a baby rocked by the waves, try go guess where that creaking sound comes from, secure lines, get a haircut, bake cinnamon buns and gluten free crackers, learn new recipes, fill the bucket with sea water, hang clothes to dry, rearrange your things on the net for the umpteenth time, keep on looking for things you still haven't found (like my belt), make the grocery list, take pictures, make friend with the local seal... and so much more.

And of course, there's all that you do while on land.

But that's for another posting.

Beard-trimmin'

Eatin'

& knittin'

Card-game nights