The Test is Complete

We spent a week on a 40 foot boat and did NOT kill each other or our delightful Captain. Success, right?  Perhaps.  I think that Henry and I are cautious people, him more so than me.  And so, even though we think we're ready to make this leap, there are many questions still to be answered. The questions we absolutely did answer on this trip:

1) The space was quite adequate. There was no time when I felt cramped or stir crazy.  There are plenty of places on a 40 foot boat to "get away".  There are at least 6 or 7 different spaces to occupy, so feeling crowded was never a problem. This was a big surprise to everyone, I think. And cooking on the boat was a snap. It really wasn't much different than cooking at home. Turning the propane on and off was the extra step. 

2) Sea toilets are not land toilets.  Sea toilets are just not good.  This is one of those things that, in our opinion, deserve an upgrade to THE BEST technology you can afford.  'Nuff said.

3) Mattresses require upgrades.  Now, the boat we were on is a charter, so of course there is some wear and tear.  I swear, the mattresses were worse than the ones we camp with (in a tent).  Basically, we slept on boards for a week.  And what's with the sheets, people?  Custom made fitted sheets (or the homemade alternative) are key.  Drawstrings or bungees will work for this. 

4) Air conditioning is a nice perk on a boat.  It's not necessary, really, but for dehumidifying damp clothing or towels, it's really helpful.  It's not a priority for us, but maybe we can upgrade this at some point down the road on any boat we'd buy.

5) Catamarans are not the best sailors, but they are incredibly easy to maneuver.  A lot of the fear I had about docking was taken away this week. Twin engines, for the win.  I was very impressed by how tight those turns can be.

There's more, of course, but the gist of it was - YES! I want to do this.  Do we want to do it forever?  I don't know. But I think an adventure like this is a must.  We've shown ourselves that we can do it, physically and mentally.  Now it's a matter of actually taking that leap. That's no small thing. 

But when you can spend New Year's Eve here instead of in 20 degree weather, how could you resist?  A lot of the discussion this week was about the kids.  We sailed (or motored) every day we were out this week. We would absolutely not do that if this was our life.  We would spend more of our time in anchorages and exploring (and homeschooling) and less time actually on the water.  Overall, it was excellent experience and made me want more of it.  I'm ready to go!