Logbook Entry

Date: 3/24/10
Location: Marmaris, Turkey

In hopes of the galley countertop project being competed today, we’ve decided to move back onboard our floating home after five months of living on land even though the cabin is a total wreck (see Galley sink and countertop refit). Lisa tried to look at the bright side and commented, “At least I don’t feel like a fish out of water anymore.”

Living aboard a 37′ sailboat is not for everyone. Many people have said to us that they could not imagine living in such a confined space, and even for us, it can be challenging at times, especially when we are not actively sailing. Gyatso is our home, and one of the greatest benefits is that we can take our home with us as we visit foreign lands. Some of the many advantages include being able to live closer to the local economy than most tourists. We can shop in the local markets and use locally available ingredients when cooking meals onboard. At the end of a day of sightseeing, we can retreat to a familiar space. An added luxury is that we can easily carry our computers and a library of books with us as we go.

When we are living aboard, we are far more tuned into the surrounding environment than when we live on land. We check weather reports regularly and feel the changing conditions — wind, rain, warm and cold — more directly. We are also treated to spectacular sunsets, moonrises, star gazing, wildlife watching and seascape views.

Like any home, a boat requires considerable maintenance. We spend a month or two every year on maintaining and refitting our well-used boat, but even this is a small price to pay for all of the satisfaction we receive during the sailing season. As Kenneth Grahame wrote in Wind in the Willows, “There’s nothing quite like it, simply messing about in boats.” We agree, and would add, “There’s also nothing quite like living aboard.”

See the photo gallery of our time in Marmaris.