1 week and still floating!

Breakfast time for my sleepy heads

Logan loving his new space!

Well I have to admit it's a bit hard to keep a blog updated when you have no internet access.  Just looked into it at the Marina office and they want $30.00 a week or $60.00 a month!!  Crazy, and just 30 min south, they offer it free at their marina.  I'll just update when I can from the house.  The week has been filled with lots of ups and downs.  After a flurry of activity prepping both the house and the boat, exhaustion is finally setting in. The last few nights we've been going to bed at 9:30, SO wonderful!
I was so happy Gordon was able to be off work for the majority of the first week so we could get things organized and have some help with L while I got used to cooking on the little stove (it's not gimbled so I don't want to cook unless I can focus fully on the task).  We successfully made a berth for Logan and tried it out for the first time last night, didn't make for much sleep but I think he's getting used to it. It's not as dark in the main salon, and of course is a fun new place to check out... even at 3 am! He's been loving playing in it during the day though too so nice to have all his toys up and off the floor.  Plus it keeps him  from climbing the steps over and over again while I'm trying to accomplish something ;)!

This week has been one of increased awareness, learning to slow down and savor the moment.  To acknowledge that this is a lifestyle change..... not something to check off on my to do list.  It is an evolution of habits, thoughts and actions.  I think that is why I am so attracted to it as well, ever evolving, continual progression and improvement.  I love waking up and sitting in the cockpit, either having coffee, reading or doing yoga.  Soaking in the rays of sun, the sensation of warmth on my skin, and the awareness to take a little bit deeper breath, close my eyes and be grateful. I love that dinner has become a creation I plan for and (try) and not just hurry the task along.  But take time to create it with love knowing it will nourish my two boys.  I loved the first time it rained, turning off the radio, baby asleep and just listening to the drops and learning the creaks of the boat as the wind picked up.  I also loved having a little time just to myself, to sit quietly and just 'be'.  The process of slowing down, is such a beautiful one.  It gives us the ability to assess things as they are and realize it is truly 'enough'.

Secured under cushion with screws & boards

Here are some pics of Logan's berth.

Middle had to be lifted to make it high enough to keep him in.

Attachment point, same on either side.

Sorry so dark, but you get the picture !

We've moved aboard!

Closet - v berth

dresser drawers- v berth

Logan's sleeping area (bottom is usually taught)

V berth

Head - Port side

Seating/Shower area once finished

Starboard side of head

Port berth Main salon

Starboard berth Main salon

New Corelle dishes :)

Galley - starboard side

Nav station

Pilot berth on port side (aka junk drawer)

Finally the head is installed, along with the sink.  Friday I anxiously headed down to the boat to clean, clean, clean.  It took quite a bit longer than I expected, but we were able to spend our first night aboard none the less :)  The boat is in a "roughly finished"  state, but everything is in working order and definitely livable.  We have a working head, hot water, a stove top (coleman stove for now~ we removed the alcohol stove that came with the boat), our ice box works relatively well (we have a cooler as well for perishables and just put veggies/etc. in the icebox for now ~ we're looking into a small bar fridge for the time being) .
We did have a few hiccups the first day, we were filling the tanks but forgot to clamp some unconnected hoses and had a bit of leaking water  (oops!!) and we didn't get Logan's berth completed on time (still trouble shooting that one) so the first night we co slept (shaking head here...I should have reread my first post!) so our little mountain goat was in full force ~ making one grumpy sleepless mountain mamma in the morning.  Needless to say (sleeping is my weakness) I was ready to go back home by day two (let's get a full nights rest and try again tomorrow) but Gordon convinced me to rally and we let Logan have the v berth to himself and we slept in the main salon.... where we still are trying to figure out that damn lee cloth.  Such a simple idea but somehow so difficult to actually execute ( again insert shaking head).  We're sooo close though, hopefully by the end of the day today ;)
I am loving waking up and having coffee in the cockpit, soaking up the sun and the peacefulness of the marina and all it's little sights and sounds.  I love the detail to every action performed, simple thought out meals, and the togetherness.  The first 2 days were a bit overwhelming, but I think I'm starting to get the hang of it!

~this moment~

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. via soulemama 

Projects, projects, projects

Home made curtains for the boat, even made pillows to match. Yes, a Domestic Diva in the making ;)

We're sooo close to having the head hooked up to the holding tank, the water run to the head sink,  and painted interior.  This is the final project (for now) that has us waiting to move aboard Kaizen.  I don't mind simplicity, but when a girls gotta go... a girls gotta go!  I can't wait to be able to get down there really clean things up and make it all homey! Great thing about a boat is, it can become a mess in a hurry, but can be cleaned up just as quickly (I'm hoping, seeing that I'm the clean up crew ;)

Gordie showing off his handy work, ALMOST done!

Yikes!  

My little Mountain Goat xo

I'm still undecided about the best thing to use on the port berth to enclose Logan's bed, Gordon is suggesting Dacron.  I'm sure it'd work fine just doesn't seem too cozy.  Can't sit on it too long, if I hope to get any sleep we've got to figure this out.  When Logan sleeps with us up in the V berth he climbs all over me like a mountain goat and I get NO sleep, so I better think of solution fast!

A New Path

We are a family of 3, my husband Gordon, my son Logan (1yr) , and I, currently living on Vancouver Island.  We're starting this blog in hopes of documenting our journey as we explore life aboard.  We hope to be living aboard our Ohlson 41 sailboat (custom sloop, built by Bristol Yachts in 1968, designed by Einar Ohlson)  on a trial basis this upcoming week (keeping our fingers crossed that projects go according to plan~ we all know how that works on boats ;) for at least the next month to give it a fair shot.  Many hours have been poured into the boat and into researching this lifestyle.  The more I read the more I long for the simplicity and the deep connection with nature (until winter time of course ~ already a fair weather sailor!). To shed all that does not serve me, or enhance my life and focus fully on the things that bring me happiness and promote growth. I feel this lifestyle resonates deeply with both my husband and I and also will provide our son with a life filled with amazing experiences and strong core values.

I plan to write frankly of all the highs and lows so we can fairly evaluate this experience as we decide if this is the life for us.  Deep in my heart I feel as though it is, but so many things need to happen if this is the life we choose, so we need to take just one step at a time.  So many things have lead us to this point in our lives, I am so grateful we have been able to shed light on our true desires and have the courage to follow our hearts.

I also hope to share with others, as over the past year I have learned so much and lived vicariously through  so many other bloggers out there.