Comments on: A Smaller Footprint http://theexcellentadventure.com/ea/2008/02/06/a-smaller-footprint/ The tale of TeamHudson, as they discover that all they need is a tall ship... Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:00:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Nancy http://theexcellentadventure.com/ea/2008/02/06/a-smaller-footprint/#comment-1150 Nancy Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:58:56 +0000 http://theexcellentadventure.com/ea/2008/02/06/a-smaller-footprint/#comment-1150 Love your blog! It took us over two years to shed all our land stuff and complete moving aboard (e.g. finding good homes for 10,000+ books. But, after more than 16 years of living aboard, I really like trying to keep our footprint small. We, too, use the "if you haven't used it in a year, find it a new home" rule. BTW, 'salon' is a yacht broker invention. The proper term for the main living space on a boat is 'saloon'. See http://www.yacht-volant.org/SailorTalk/seaterms07.html for pretty credible explanation. Come say hi some time - we're on the end of H dock. Or, look for an energetic Brittany snuffling around the firepit for munchies and one of us at the end of the leash. Love your blog!
It took us over two years to shed all our land stuff and complete moving aboard (e.g. finding good homes for 10,000+ books. But, after more than 16 years of living aboard, I really like trying to keep our footprint small. We, too, use the “if you haven’t used it in a year, find it a new home” rule.
BTW, ’salon’ is a yacht broker invention. The proper term for the main living space on a boat is ’saloon’. See http://www.yacht-volant.org/SailorTalk/seaterms07.html for pretty credible explanation.
Come say hi some time - we’re on the end of H dock. Or, look for an energetic Brittany snuffling around the firepit for munchies and one of us at the end of the leash.

]]> By: Mom2 http://theexcellentadventure.com/ea/2008/02/06/a-smaller-footprint/#comment-502 Mom2 Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:52:09 +0000 http://theexcellentadventure.com/ea/2008/02/06/a-smaller-footprint/#comment-502 ya from big to small, and Thank the Powers that Be, for storage sheds ya from big to small, and Thank the Powers that Be, for storage sheds

]]> By: Joe http://theexcellentadventure.com/ea/2008/02/06/a-smaller-footprint/#comment-500 Joe Thu, 07 Feb 2008 01:52:47 +0000 http://theexcellentadventure.com/ea/2008/02/06/a-smaller-footprint/#comment-500 There are a lot of issues that come up when downsizing from a house of any size to live on a boat. Actually 2 boats, a locker on Nanny Cay and a small part of the basement of our house that I am hoping we won't have to sell. Will you stone us for being fortunate enough to have all these options? I realize as I write this that it is nowhere near the sacrifice most others before me have made and I hope I don't appear insensitive. We are just lucky. My wife likes to collect things. She loves to shop and the most fulfilling part of shopping is buying something. Who doesn't except maybe people living on boats who are well disciplined? I used to like shopping even if it was for the boat (so I said). The dream has given me strength to wean myself away from posessions in general. However, pairing down from a significant well equipped workshop to the tools I can fit on a boat are emotional. I've had a workshop for the last 35 years. But no sacrifice is too great for the dream. Right? Also, friends give us things at Christmas...I look at my wife who is happy looking for shelf space and I am looking her in the eyes and she knows I am asking "where is that going on the boat?" Should we ask our friends to make a contribution to their favorite charity? Things will come to a head for us over the next year. It will be time to sh__ or get off the pot and getting off is not an option. I'm not a religious person, but may God be with us. :-) There are a lot of issues that come up when downsizing from a house of any size to live on a boat. Actually 2 boats, a locker on Nanny Cay and a small part of the basement of our house that I am hoping we won’t have to sell. Will you stone us for being fortunate enough to have all these options? I realize as I write this that it is nowhere near the sacrifice most others before me have made and I hope I don’t appear insensitive. We are just lucky.

My wife likes to collect things. She loves to shop and the most fulfilling part of shopping is buying something. Who doesn’t except maybe people living on boats who are well disciplined? I used to like shopping even if it was for the boat (so I said).

The dream has given me strength to wean myself away from posessions in general. However, pairing down from a significant well equipped workshop to the tools I can fit on a boat are emotional. I’ve had a workshop for the last 35 years. But no sacrifice is too great for the dream. Right?

Also, friends give us things at Christmas…I look at my wife who is happy looking for shelf space and I am looking her in the eyes and she knows I am asking “where is that going on the boat?” Should we ask our friends to make a contribution to their favorite charity?

Things will come to a head for us over the next year. It will be time to sh__ or get off the pot and getting off is not an option. I’m not a religious person, but may God be with us. :-)

]]> By: Toast http://theexcellentadventure.com/ea/2008/02/06/a-smaller-footprint/#comment-498 Toast Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:39:39 +0000 http://theexcellentadventure.com/ea/2008/02/06/a-smaller-footprint/#comment-498 Okay, this SFGate story strikes me as somewhat ridiculous. Everyone acts like this guy discovered small living. Liveaboards have been living in less than 300 sq feet for families of five for um... let me see... forever. If you look at the house closely, he's got a heater straight out of a West Marine catalog. Pah! Well, it's all good for us Laureen. As long as the small living movement grows, more nifty wee bitty products for us to use to make our lives more efficient. I'm tired of "storage boxes" that don't actually fit through a hatch, for example. Also, the more people move into micro homes, the more push there will be for power, light, heat, solar systems that get those homes off the grid completely. Brings down the price for everyone. Okay, this SFGate story strikes me as somewhat ridiculous. Everyone acts like this guy discovered small living. Liveaboards have been living in less than 300 sq feet for families of five for um… let me see… forever. If you look at the house closely, he’s got a heater straight out of a West Marine catalog. Pah!

Well, it’s all good for us Laureen. As long as the small living movement grows, more nifty wee bitty products for us to use to make our lives more efficient. I’m tired of “storage boxes” that don’t actually fit through a hatch, for example. Also, the more people move into micro homes, the more push there will be for power, light, heat, solar systems that get those homes off the grid completely. Brings down the price for everyone.

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