As we look at different vessels for our first purchase, we are constantly reminded about the battle for space aboard these floating mobile homes. Having spent my teenage years in a mobile home I understand the limitations we'll be undergoing when we finally move to the ocean.
Our son has NO idea of what it'll REALLY be like!
It's kind of funny that we've been complaining about the lack of counter space in our apartments over the years and now we'll be going into a galley that may be even smaller. Not even enough room for our cooking gadgets like our stand mixer or roasting pan. We'll deal with it, like we've dealt with other constraints over the available room (or lack thereof). We'll make sure we have our own bedrooms with doors to give ourselves a semblance of privacy. We'll be making sure we have ample deck space for us to lounge around outside when the weather permits, further ensuring against cabin fever.
But our Kiddo loves to keep moving, and I worry sometimes that he won't have enough space.
We're blessed in that our son loves the ocean. He's totally onboard (forgive me the pun) with this decision, as if any kid his age wouldn't be. He'll be able to swim in the ocean at practically the drop of a hat. We explained the problems of living onboard a boat, the space constraints he'll be expected to deal with. Until we have a sampling of what we'll be experiencing, until he can actually live aboard a boat on a temporary basis (i.e. watching someone's boat, renting a boat to practice being a liveaboard, etc.) he really doesn't have an idea of what we're talking about.
He is really great at being pragmatic, though. For a six-year old, he is INCREDIBLY pragmatic. I've shown him videos of trawlers for sale that people have posted to YouTube, explained to him that we'll have a little space for some of his games, toys, and books but not a huge amount of space for storing them with us (we will have a storage unit that we'll utilize as a library/toy exchange periodically) and he is accepting of that... so far. We've been encouraging his desire to become an astronaut at every opportunity, eventually culminating in a future purchase of some binoculars for stargazing onboard a boat. And, yes, I have been reading up on the other liveaboard astronomers and have been learning a LOT. And a pair of binoculars are much easier to store than a telescope. Having interests that intimately involve nature is one of my primary reasons for desiring this lifestyle. Between games, toys, and exploring the world - and universe - around us, I think he'll be fine.
That's not to say there won't be a learning curve. I believe the biggest hurdle we'll encounter will be birthday/Christmas gifts from family and friends. One rule that we (and most other successful liveaboards) will live by is "If you bring something onto the boat, you must remove something else to ensure space". We'll be creating Amazon Wish Lists for family to utilize when those holidays roll around and remind them that gift cards for The Cheesecake Factory are always a good idea, as are amusement park tickets and movie passes. Experiential gifts, rather than material, will be the best options to conserve our limited room.
That being said, I will be practicing what I preach by removing from our house something of equivalent size when I upgrade my bass guitar. And for everything else I bring into our land-bound home. If I'm going to be the Captain, I had better lead by example.
