On Boat Playdates and Schedules

Playdates for kid boats are very spontaneous and immediate.

On land, playdates were often arranged days or even weeks beforehand. Squeezed between extra curricular activities and other obligations, they were usually arranged by the parents.

On the boat, Tai or Aila will grab the VHF radio and hail whichever kid boat is in the vicinity and ask if they want to come over, usually within that same hour.

I love how confident they've both grown at operating the VHF. They know the protocol, speak clearly into the mic and treat it like a real privilege.

What happens on playdates for boatkids is really not too different than on land. There's usually board games or card games involved. Lego is a big feature as well. Fort building and crafting is popular too.

I suppose the main difference is when it's nice and calm out, boatkids will jump off the boat into the big outdoor 'swimming pool' and play around on the SUP and dinghy.

Another notable difference: there are no shoes worn to boat playdates. And candy is often exchanged.

By and large, playdates with boat kids are ever-evolving. There isn't normally a ton of boat kids around so choosing who to invite isn't really an option. Whatever kid is closest is the kid you will play with! And that is regardless of age or gender.

It is remarkable how great Aila gets on with a 14 year old boy while playing Star Craft Realms.

Or how Tai will get all giddy and chatty with a couple of girls younger than him (his sister being one of them!) whilst making a show with puppets!

Slowing down in the Bahamas has been our intention and it has been brilliant so far.

Being less scheduled has worked for us because we're generally a more adhoc kind of family anyway.

Don't get me wrong. Matt and I relied heavily on our shared Gmail and online calendar to make sure we were organized and had every school event and dentist appointment in there, or else!

Since we moved onboard, I honestly cannot remember the last time I opened up our shared online calendar. Maybe because we spend every day together now.

But personally I think it's because we don't plan, CANNOT plan, more than two days in advance in this cruising lifestyle.

Funny how some things that you used to depend on for the day to day just completely drops from being remotely important anymore.

Now, our Navionics, Windy and Anchor Pro apps are our everyday go-to reference for 'planning'.

Weather is King and there's no messing with that.

Fort making in the V-berth with boat kid Mar.

A typical lego session onboard SV Anjulia Sue.

Another boat kid is over to do some Snap Circuits fun.

Hours and hours of fun and entertainment playing in our 'backyard'.