Marina people...

Most of us have seen the posts about "People of Wal-Mart" and Wal-Mart bingo.  We have certainly met some interesting folks while living in the marina this summer.  And these days, we are officially marina people.

At some later date, I'll write about the people, but this post is a look into life on a 25' boat.  Frankly, it is a snug space.  And, we are doing fine with that.  Living onboard is so completely different from cruising.  When cruising, you have to have everything you think you will need onboard and everything stowed for whatever the water conditions may toss at you.  We spend time at anchor, using the Wallas stove/heater (diesel fired) for most meals and keeping the boat warm.  There is the daily anticipation of what you will encounter at the next intended anchorage or marina.  The onboard batteries give us refrigeration and lights, but we have to run the generator for the microwave or battery charging.  When you get somewhere, you are on foot (unless you brought the bicycles, which we didn't... space is always a compromise).  The only things out on the table or dash are charts and a cruising guide.  Communications with the rest of the world via cell coverage or internet, is very location dependent.  You pack food in the order you think you will use it.  Water conservation, like battery capacity is always on your mind.  Weather means you may or may not be moving in the morning... or get much sleep if you are taking turns with an anchor watch in a storm.

Living onboard means we have many of the creature comforts of home, in a smaller package.  We are plugged into electricity, so we have satellite TV, good internet, and an endless supply for recharging the various gadgets.  There is a water spigot right off the bow of the boat, so we can fill our tank every other day (which is our current pace).  We don't have to skimp on showers or dish washing.  We don't have to have everything we own onboard, because there is storage available nearby.  The truck is also nearby should we feel the need for a land excursion or a trip to the mainland for easy shopping.  The grocery store and restaurants are within easy walking distance.  We can leave some things out... even when the ferry comes in, the wake isn't enough to knock the TV off the table.

Don't discount the bonus of having a grocery store nearby - we can shop daily if need be, so we don't have to have so much food packed and stored.  Prices on this island are expensive... but at least you have access.  We did stock up on staples, like paper products, vitamins, toiletries, etc.  There is a pizza place and an ice cream shop even closer than the grocery store. :-)

We have work schedules to meet and an easy walk to "the office."  Joan's office is an office, mine is the helm of a whale watch boat.  The boat I am on most often has a flybridge (up above the guests) that is open on 3 sides - if the weather is less than friendly, I am out in it.  The view from my "office" is pretty darn impressive and always changing.  I feel pressure to give our guests the best possible view of the whales, but still meet all the federal and state laws and the potential citations if I don't.  The whales are wild animals, don't follow a route, and are on a constant hunt for food... their path varies as their prey scatters.  There is no "this is what usually happens."

Our bed is a v-berth, named because it is the shape of a "V".  Our heads are at the wide part, and we occasionally play footsies at the pointy end.  Little Izzy sleeps where she wants... sometimes with us, sometimes on her blanket on one of the dinette seats.  At home and in the RV, she generally sleeps by our feet - that gets a bit crowded in a v-berth.

We have taken to calling the cockpit of our boat "the lanai"... it is like having a sun room out back.  If the weather is nice, it is a great place to sit, have an adult beverage, talk about each others' day, and watch other marina people go by.  Very relaxing.  It is also additional storage, and the place where we hang coats or other wet gear.  I have had a few comments from friends about the "Sanford & Son" look from the back of our boat, but it is a necessity with this size boat.  When we are cruising, we generally have one coat each that does a lot of duties; here, we need different gear depending on what job we are doing on any given day.  Layers are the answer most days.

Yes, our boat has a bathroom.  It is about the size of a bathroom on an airline, and is also our shower.  I see a "parade" each day of people going from their boats to the marina showers ($1 for 3 minutes), schlepping all their stuff along.  We both greatly prefer our accommodations... but the whole compartment does have to be wiped down after our daily showers.  And well worth it.

Our fridge is small, but has worked well for us for years.  Having the nearby grocery store makes it even easier.  The fridge runs on electricity or our onboard batteries.  Our daily water needs are taken care of with our onboard tank and a pump.  A 6 gallon water heater is more than enough for our needs.

We are in a "neighborhood" of mostly liveaboard folks on a dock that is off from the transient boaters.  That makes it quieter.  We are now into "the season" and activity in the marina has increased.  Plenty of activity, since this is a "hub" of boat activity in the San Juan Islands.  Sea planes fly in and out.  Ferries are regularly coming and going.  Town is mostly compacted into a 4 to 5 block area, and parking can be tight.  The ferries bring people on foot and with cars.  If folks are only coming to Friday Harbor for the day, there really is no need for a car.  Our truck goes days without being moved.

Little Izzy does fine on the boat.  She has the run of the place and was allowed on the dock beside our boat on her own... until another boater told us stories about the river otters who have snatched pets right off the dock.  No idea if that is "non-urban legend" or fact.

We are over 1/3 of the way through our commitment here.  We enjoy the work and the environment... and, yes, we are doing fine with the living accommodations on Wild Blue.  I don't think we'd be happy with any fewer amenities, though.

Living on a boat sounds romantic.  The reality is: it depends on the people and the situation.  Several of the neighbors around us are single people... we both think this is better because it is something we do together.  Pretty much like what we've done all our married life.

Hope you enjoyed a "view" of our time as marina people. ;-)