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Boat living is addictive and will poison house living forever. Houses and apartment just become temporary places to keep the rain off until you can live on a boat again.

I like that everything is hard work, that you end up doing three things to get one thing done. I like the simplicity and self sufficiency of it all, and the direct responsibility for all aspects of your own life - no one else to tell you what to do, and no one else to blame when it doesn't work out!

Boat living has given me most of my memories both good and bad, and most of the friends I remember, certainly the most interesting and characterful friends and acquaintances. And still does in this little french port.

Today my 'retirement home' is an inland and coastal boat rather than the ocean going kind of former years, but even that keeps me fit and almost keeps me sane. Hard to imagine life after boats.

Would I recommend it? Yes, if you have a hankering, try it. Yes if you don't fit elsewhere you may find a home amongst us other misfits, so try it. But many may find it too confronting, and requiring too many basic skills and too much work - the opposite of the modern gadget-filled easy life.

Which I'm glad about, because otherwise this port and all others would be filled, and prices would go up, and I'd be surrounded by all those people I'm happy to be away from!

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Superb capture of the life we treasure, words and photos both. I so miss being on the water. Everything is familiar, from the sewing machine to the watermaker which I will to work each time I flip the switch....

Hope it was an enjoyable passage; did you sail outside? Where are you now?

J

Have you tried Collinite Metal Wax for your stainless? It allows you longer between polishings....can even defeat established rust.

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Thank you, Janice. We love boat life, and how connected we feel to our environment. Soon enough your boat will float again :-)

We are in Florida - New Smyrna Beach but moving on tomorrow. We sailed on the outside whenever we could, probably 90%of our sea mileage. But the last few days the winds were disagreeable, so we are motoring on the inside. In three days, we should be able to jump out and make it to the keys in one go.

Have not tried Collinite Metal Wax but will pick it up at the next long stop. Thank you!

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How good of you to share such beautiful ideas with those of us who follow you two Thank you

Tom and Chris in Pacific Northwest

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Thank you, Tom and Chris. It really is a simple and beautiful life when it comes down to it ❤️

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