Impromptu Trip to Halifax

Today we woke up with some idea of what jobs we wanted to do after schoolwork. But all that got pushed aside when a nice couple we had befriended at the marina let us borrow their car!

Yup, just after a few brief encounters over the last several weeks, they trusted us enough to hand us their car keys for a few days. Don't think they even know our last name! 

Amazing!

We needed some bits and pieces for our list of boat jobs but with no transportation it is difficult to get to any shop. Most marinas are not well situated and getting materials or supplies means having to bus or taxi to the closest chandlery (shop that sells all things marine and nautical). Even if we wanted to, there is no local bus service here and taxis are $$$$.

Having a car again meant we were able to go into Halifax and get to The Binnacle chandlery.

So right after lunch, off we went to Halifax!

Another recent life changing development for us is having running water on board! Now we can wash dishes in the galley sink and brush our teeth on board. What a difference that makes!

Our boat is certainly starting to feel like a home now.

Some people have been asking me how we are adjusting as a family to life aboard a boat.

How is it living together in a small space and being together 24/7?

To be honest, it has been pretty good. Of course when the kids are whining or complaining about something (usually schoolwork), I want to turn and walk far, far away. But that happens when we were back living in a house as well. The only difference is I could walk further away in the house. On a boat, I can only walk several feet in any direction before I'd fall overboard.

Upon more reflection, I think we are actually getting along better than I imagined because this is our reality right now, for all four of us.

Nobody goes off to school or work in the morning. We literally spend every waking moment together. Because of that, we ride the day's events and emotional highs and lows together.

When we were going to school and work separately, we would then all come back together in the evening and have a few hours together before bed.

These hours were often rushed with cooking dinner, overseeing homework, shuttling someone to an extracurricular and planning for the next day's lunches and appointments.

We were disconnected and often emotions would run high. One or more of us would feel tired, overwhelmed, and the smallest thing could tip us over the edge.

It's a bit like when I was a stay at home parent and Matt was the one working outside the home. When he would come home, it would sometimes be hard for him to fit into the energy level that me and the kids were in. He was dealing with other things and people during his day so when it came time to rejoin his family, sometimes our energies just wouldn't match and we would have to recalibrate. Am I making sense?

Being together all day now means that we are on the same 'wave length' and there is no need to 'recalibrate' since we know each other's moods and energy levels just from being only a few feet from each other all day.

Interestingly, I also find the kids are not misbehaving as often for attention seeking reasons. I can honestly say that Matt and I have more time and energy (and usually patience) to answer their questions and even elaborate on our conversations. Because we have the time now. 

We are not rushing off somewhere or have to plan for the next hour's event. The conversation is happening now and we can give more of us as it's happening.

We're often within earshot of each other so even when I'm talking with the kids down in the salon, Matt will chime in with his comments even if he is in the cockpit or up on deck.

It certainly feels like a more insular and fishbowl type of living, this liveaboard cruising life.

I can hardly believe it's been one month already. It feels like a lifetime.

But so far, we are all enjoying it.

We're actually using our French-Dictionary a lot these past few weeks.
Glad we brought it onboard.

 

Self serve lunch: baguette and naan bread with the choice of margarine,
Nutella or condensed milk. Or all three.

Wondering how to create a seal and waterproof 'boot' for the base of the mast.

Looking up at our rigging. Contemplating how to tighten it
all up to make sure it's nice and strong and taut.

LEGO time!

Get the ends of their role whipped. Basically it means
to sew it up tight so the end doesn't fray.

Getting the ends of our rope nicely tapered with the rope cutter.
It basically is a hot knife that slices through the rope.

Tai showing me a double sheet bend.

Helping to pick out screws at Home Depot.

Dinner at Halifax's Atlantic Superstore. Again ;p

Our cereal stash. You can never have enough fibre in your diet. 

No Boats on Sunday, a locally brewed cider. Love the name!

Special birthday decoration for tomorrow.

Think  Tai will be pretty happy to see this tomorrow!