The Not-So-Glamorous Side of Cruising:

     No one wants to hear me complain. I live on a sailboat. I'm going to the Bahamas. I completely understand that this year is a fantastic opportunity for adventure and fun. But just so none of you readers think that life on a boat is an easy, plush existence, I would like to take some time to clear things up about life on White Seal:

1.) Our boat is 36 feet long. This is a very little boat to share with your parents. Moving from a 2,000 square foot house into such a tiny place was quite interesting. You learn to do without about 97% of your possessions.

2.) We have no refrigeration on our boat. This makes meals very different. Instead of cereal and milk for breakfast, you have oatmeal. You can keep eggs, cheese, and vegetables on the boat for a few days before they begin to smell really funky, but all meat you buy must be eaten ASAP.

3.) "Where do you go to the bathroom?" This probably the most asked question when you tell someone you live on a sailboat. The answer is that there is a little toilet tucked behind a door. The septic tank gets emptied at facilities at marinas along the way. The bathroom (which is called a "head" on a boat) is extremely primitive and not exactly fun to use.

4.) Life is always a journey when it comes to showers. You can never be certain where you will next get a shower. Sometimes it will be a few hours away, sometimes you have to wait a few days. This is perhaps my least favorite aspect of living on a sailboat. Like most teenage girls, showers are something that I would like access to whenever I please. It's currently been 4 days since my last shower.

5.) I have done the measurements. My bed is 1/3 the size of a twin bed.  It's cozy, but I give myself a minor concussion pretty much every day because there is only 8 inches of headroom when I am in bed.I call it my"sarcophagus" due to it's claustrophobic dimensions.

     Oh and also, WE RAN OUT OF PROPANE yesterday morning. Our stove/ oven is fueled by propane, so this is a MAJOR bummer. I have been living off of peanut butter crackers. We tried to get to St. Simon's, Georgia earlier to refill our propane tanks, but we had to turn around and go back North due to strong winds. We came five miles back to the little creek where we had spent last night and anchored again. And now it's rainy. And windy. And I can't even go ashore because the shore is a squishy tidal swamp.
    Cruising really isn't for the squeamish. Food isn't fancy. Accommodations aren't first rate. Showers are a luxury.  I love the boat and I love this trip, so I guess that the sacrifices are worth it. But now you can see what life on a boat is actually like.