Living on board closes us to some possibilities, and opens us up to others. We cannot watch TV, but we do have internet, while in most marinas and ports, and we do have a drop down DVD player (like you have for the kids in a van) over our bed in the Captain’s Quarters, So that we can watch a movie in the evening, therefore we certainly do not miss electronic entertainments.
The pluses are, our harbour is within walking distance of a public beach where we can swim.
If the seas are a little rough, we can do that, but weather permitting, we take the boat out of the harbour for a “No Destination Cruise”and just bob around out there and swim off of the boat.
But living aboard is especially fun on the weekends. Now Dan and I are retired, and there are a few others, also retired, that live on their boats all summer, from launch day in spring to pull out day in fall. During the week the only real activity is the odd cruise. And we get some cottagers on vacation and the commercial fishermen coming and going, but even the fisherman are finished for the summer. We live a very quite existence all week long, but, come the weekend almost all boats (approx. 200 in our marina) come to life as the owners arrive for the weekend.
It all becomes a hive of activity. Everything from 30-40 ft. live-a-boards, Sailboats of all sizes, Pontoon boats, Run-abouts and Sea-Doo’s, all start coming and going throughout the marina or lining up at the launch ramp. And of course the partying starts as well. Everyone catching up with each other’s week, sharing a few drinks and a few laughs.
And the great thing is you can choose to take part or stay on board your boat and forgo the activities. The party atmosphere starts on Friday night, always continues right through the weekend and everyone has a wonderful time.
Come Sunday afternoon, things begin to reverse themselves, as the weekenders slowly pack up and head to the city to face another work week. Slowly the mood changes to one of resignation. But, I for one, (being retired) love Sunday evenings.
There is a quiet lull and hush that comes over the whole beach area and I get back to my tranquill retirement home on the water. Not that I don’t love a good party at least once a week.
AH....BACK TO RELAXING
