Anyone would think we were planning an ocean voyage. While we had use of a car for an extra day, we stocked up with bulky/heavy shopping for the boat. You know the kind of things, items that won’t go off in the near future.
Yesterday’s shopping
I re-arranged the galley, and started to wonder, ‘just how does everyone else pack their gear?’ I tend to keep sauces together, tins together, dried stuff together and potatoes and onions in a cool dark spot (they can last for weeks and weeks).
More food means more ideas and yummy dinners!
I am quite the ‘stower’ on board. On Mariah (our first boat which was a 33 ft sail boat), we’d fill the floor with bags of food, prior to an ocean crossing. Noel could never understand where I had put it all.
My positive?, the car is expensive but down the line, we will have saved our backs carrying heavy shopping, and I feel a real sense of satisfaction when we are fully ‘stocked up’.
By the by, please remember to always cut the plastic rings (the ones used on cans) – we dispose of our rubbish very carefully. Even if these rings go in a plastic bag then a rubbish bin, we still cut them – just in case . . . . they can be very harmful to wildlife.
My family went home yesterday and left me feeling quite sad. I miss them already. Actually, I missed them as soon as we parted at the train station.
The sadness is emotional, but also physical. Especially when Noel and I had to carry our food shopping back between just the two of us! 😉
Noel and I had ‘evening medicine’ after our au revoirs
My positive? Despite the melancholy feelings of a farewell, Noel and I have turned our attentions to the boat.
Our first two projects are:
Rigging a rain-catcher
Installing the solar panels
These are the types of projects I love; tasks that take us a step closer to self-sufficient living. I plan to tell you all about it – with lots of pictures.
Mum & dad – home now in the UK
Of course, thereafter we have much painting and re-fitting to do. So, yes, while I am a bit sad, I am excited at the next direction in our adventure.
It’s the end of my 5 day nomination for 3 positive comments a day. However, because of the amazing remarks and affect on my day to day happiness, I am going to continue posting positive comments on a weekly basis.
I am sure I will fail at some point, that’ll be part of the journey. I hope some of you will be along for the ride and help pick me back up.
Appreciate the evening colours
Today, I just wanted to sum up some of the observations I’ve received and some positive comments from others, all of which have made me smile.
‘Bloody brilliant idea, I’m going to work harder at it – we should be living with grace.’ Noel Parry.
After reading my blog: ‘My daughter and I are now saying 3 things we are grateful for each night to each other.’ A lovely lady.
Sat in the sun and enjoyed watching the honeyeaters and wrens darting about.’ Fellow sailor and friend.
I feel blessed that my husband buys a fresh baguette every morning so I don’t have to get dressed.’ Fellow sailor and friend.
After reading my blog: ‘That’s the key to a successful life, not money, travel & expectations.’ Noel Parry again (‘cause he’s pretty special!)
In summary:
Turn each event/day/moment into a positive
Be grateful
Live with grace
Try not complaining for twenty-four hours (it’s tougher than you think!)
Enjoy the simple things in life – a sun-downer with my nephew, Kieran
Here’s my last three (and a bonus one) – for now:
Noel, my husband, is completely supportive and ‘in it’ with me on the positive attitude aim and living with grace. It’ll be easier working at it together.
I am grateful for meeting many new people on barges who have helped us work out where to winter (well, we’ve almost decided) – the support, reminders, hints, advice, tips and welcoming smiles are fabulous.
A lovely gift from a lovely friend. (Linda).
It hasn’t rained for 3 days. My family are safe on board, the boat is safe, the water level is dropping, the washing is dry and we are planning a lovely farewell meal tomorrow night at a local restaurant (MacDonna’s! – yes, really – clever marketing huh?) . I’ve been so lucky to spend this special time with them . . . my family that is, not MacDonna’s! 😉
An amazing and generous gift from my lovely friend Carole (for our boat).
And a bonus for the last-ish day – What a great bunch of friends, contacts and kindred spirits I have on FB – thanks for sharing with me. I’ve been blown away by the comments. Stay in touch!
It’s a beautiful day and I have just received yet another delightful book recommendation. This time the author is Ann Voskamp. Ann wrote One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are. In her book Ann strives to find the meaning of life, and in her life she endeavours to live with grace.
She writes, ‘One Thousand Gifts is a celebration of grace and a recognition of the power of gratitude. Here’s the link.
Some of my beliefs may be different to Ann’s but I am an advocate for learning from everyone, whoever they are and whatever they think.
As well as learning from others, I also believe that we can change. My life, emotions, thoughts, plans, ideas, morals and some of my personality changed when I suffered a heart-wrenching bereavement in my twenties. With my emotions out of control, I ran away (against my counsellor’s advice) and embarked on a remarkable journey. Of Foreign Build is not just about sailing around the world on a thirty-three foot boat, but about how I changed in so many different ways – and how I learned about who I am.
This is the man that keeps me sane!
The ‘positive thoughts’ process is changing me again. It is all for the good and I am enjoying it immensely, so here’s today’s three thoughts:
Noel, my husband, is my best friend and protects my sanity by reminding me to live with grace. He keeps me grounded as I often have at least six crazy ‘ideas’ a day!
In view of Ann’s book, I am determined to live my life now. Not just travel and do what I dream of doing, but enjoy THIS moment and stop thinking about the NEXT adventure.
Enjoy the moment.
. . . . . and a change of tack . . . yesterday we visited the amazing Citadel in Besancon. The Museum of the Resistance and Deportation broke my heart. The display (on two floors) was impressive. However, I can’t believe I am part of a race that can carry out such atrocities. My positive? I am living in a peaceful time in history and I know that most of my fellow humans strive for peace.
Part of the Citadel
So, my big decision? I am going to carry on with the positive thoughts. Once a week I will highlight some positives in my life and post them here, I hope you’ll join me.
And, once again, I nominate anyone who would like to take part in this ‘positive thoughts’ 5-day event.
WOB is a new FB group, which could have been called BOOBS! . . . but we’ll get to that.
I use Facebook for marketing my books Cruisers’ AA and Of Foreign Build, and keeping in touch with friends and family. It is only recently that I’ve been joining groups AND I have become an administrator of one such group. (I use the word administrator lightly as my fellow administrator is being far more, uhm, administrative than I am!)
Noel and Jackie’s Journeys
I do not join groups lightly. I want to be a member of groups that are friendly, contain quality information, are fun and, very importantly, are safe.
One of my favourite groups is WWSA (Women Who Sail Australia), an off-shoot of WWS (Women Who Sail). These are closed groups. In both I find love, respect, friendship, help and a safe haven for any help and support that I may need. These groups also contain a wealth of incredible experience and advice.
Women who sail – that’s me!
I got to know Carole Eardman Grant via WWS a few months ago and we met when we were in the same town. It really is remarkable how these groups (and FB) bring people together. Carole is Canadian and is currently renovating a barge in Kent, (UK), with her husband Barrie. I am from the UK, but live in Australia and was in the UK when we met.
Boats, canals & all that goes with it!
Carole helped me with lots of information while Noel and I were looking for our barge. Our relationship has grown quickly into a marvellous friendship. We chat a lot on FB, mostly about boats! We support each other and we are very open and honest. Carole always has a positive word when I slip into negativity.
Together we have set up Women On Barges (WOB). Our group has, very quickly, become a place of friendship, respect, support and again, a safe place for women to share doubts, fears, accomplishments, hopes and dreams. It’s a marvellous resource of information as well.
If you like boats, live on one or just dream about doing so, WOB is for you (oh yes, you must be a woman too!)
These are my experiences of Facebook and groups. So far I have had not had a negative occurrence. But I’d love to hear how it’s changed your life. With a bit of time management on Facebook, it is always a positive event for me.
And just where does BOOBS fit into all this? Well of course, the group is for women . . . . but a name that has been whispered around decks and between friends (and I’ve stolen this from my mate Carole 🙂 ) is Babes On Old Barges = BOOBS! I, for one, think that is pretty neat! For now we’ll stick with Women On Barges (WOB) – come take a look, you’ll be made very welcome.
WOB info
Women on Barges! This group is a place for women on every shape and size of barge — or any other type of boat — to come together and connect. Some of us live on barges, some only holiday on barges and some of us want to. Some of us know a LOT about boats in general, some know not much at all. We are single; we are married; we have kids, grandkids, we are working or retired. Some of our barges are in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland or the UK or other countries. We are from a variety of countries which are as diverse as we are. No matter who we are, this is a place for women to share respectful, supportive discourse.
I am rewiring my brain. No, I haven’t decided to start with a clean slate and induce a frontal lobotomy, (although I think my husband would be keen on this idea!)
Half way through the simple exercise of thinking and writing 3 positive thoughts each day for 5 days, it feels as though I am training my brain in a new way to think.
Image courtesy of renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
I’m enjoying the process so much that I am doing more research. I have no time for additional projects, my schedule is already bursting at the seams. However, I think it is worth the effort and investing time now may save me time (and stress) down the line. AND make me happier!
During my research I found this article on How Positive Thinking Re-Wires Your Brain. It’s by Barrie Davenport who is a life passion coach and founder of BarrieDavenport.com, a site devoted to helping people uncover and live their life passions. She is also the author of The 52-Week Life Passion Project.
In the article she talks about:
‘How positive thinking really does change your brain. Not in some magical, woo woo kind of way, but in a real physical way.’
‘It means that repetitive positive thought and positive activity can rewire your brain and strengthen brain areas that stimulate positive feelings.’
This article is part of Steven Aitchison’s web site and personal development personal development blog.
So, I plan to continue my personal development with actively finding the positives in everything I do. I think I have quite a bit of work in front of me, but for now, here are my 3 positives:
The next editing stage of my manuscript Of Foreign Build will be a fair bit of work, but it is going to improve the story out of sight – thanks to my editor Danielle Rose.
Of Foreign Build
As well as positive thinking leading to a positive attitude – this nomination has given me so much more. Many people are making contact, saying ‘hi’ and revealing lovely stories about positive thinking. I’m making new friends.
Image courtesy of Vlado / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Cooking for five people each day with vastly different tastes has re-awoken my passion for cooking. I am enjoying the creativity (and the compliments!)
Image courtesy of Apolonia / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
I’d love to hear your positive comments and as requested, I nominate Jill Budd and Patrishde. I can’t wait to read what you have to say.
What does it cost to run a boat? The answer is irritating. The answer is a question.
How much money do you have?
This article is an attempt to help you think about what it may cost. This exercise will guide you towards your potential expenses. However, you cannot forecast equipment failure, taxes, medical emergencies, breakdowns etc.
First off
It is important to remember that an enormous quantity of money does not guarantee success in this lifestyle. A simple boat equals simple costs. The fewer things you make do without, the less you will spend.
Can you ‘do without’ a marina and carry your own water?
Regular payments vs ad hoc
At first glance the land-living expenses listed below looks much shorter than the cruising list. However, the land list has regular (monthly/weekly) payments, whereas the cruising list has ad hoc costs. You may have marina costs once a year. You may have few breakdowns/repairs or no medical costs.
1) Make a list of your current (land living) expenses:
Mortgage/rent
Utility Bills
Rates
Insurance
Phone/Satellite TV/Internet
Car (all inclusive costs for our small Barina (5 years ago) was AUS$28 a day!). Click here for cost calculator.
Entertainment (eating out/movies)
Food
Checking in costs can be reduced if you DIY the process and not hire an agent
2) Make a list of what you may spend cruising (after boat purchase)
Charts/pilots
Checking in charges*
Cruising Permits/taxes (changes with each year/country)
Marina fees (you may not always be able to anchor out)
Accommodation (can you stay on the boat when hauled out?)
Sight-seeing
Flying home (family emergency)
Gas/LPG/Fuel/Water (in some places you will pay for water)
Storage costs (are you renting your house/selling your house, storing possessions)
Transit charges (Panama canal/Suez canal)
Repairs/maintenance/new equipment (25% of the value of your boat is a good budget)
Medical costs
Exchange rate fees/currency variations
Mail forwarding services
Bribes ($20 here and there)
Food (some places it will be incredibly cheap, other places it will be incredibly expensive!)
*Checking in charges can range from $1,000+ (Galapagos, current charges) to nothing. We estimate our checking-in costs for around the world, including cruising permits, but excluding visas, to be around US$2,500. The most expensive (for us) was Sri Lanka (US$200) and least expensive France ($0). However, this was a few years ago! (Galapagos’ charges were under $200 then.)
Can you make your own repairs, or do you need to hire an expert?
Personal situation
Obviously, you also need to account for your personal situation, for example:
Retired/retirement fund/savings?
Working as you go?
Skills to use while sailing?
Sold up? Still paying mortgage and/or storage?
Just how cheaply can you live?
We have friends who claim they often lived on $1 a day. They caught fish and had a very simple 28 footer. They were expert ‘fisher-people’ and had the know-how (and spare parts) to complete 99% of their necessary repairs. This is quite unusual. You must not rely on catching fish! Also, you would have to be prepared to only use five litres of diesel a year.
Bicycles and dinghies instead of cars and marinas.
Our expenditure
At the top, under SAILING STUFF/FAQ we have listed our expenditure in Ecuador for over a month (Ecuador Expenditure), including our daily jobs. There is also a description of where we started from, ie what we already had on board.
Writing 3 positive comments each day for 5 days has created a lot of interesting remarks. One of my favourites is from a fellow barge owner and friend Carole Eardman Grant. ‘I read a book by a lady who made it her project to keep a journal of daily positive thoughts and gratitude for a whole year. It changed her life!’
I had to find out who this was. The lady’s name is Elizabeth (I’ve yet to find her surname), but you can find her blog here.
She says that the experiment was only supposed to last for six weeks. ‘At the end of that time period, my readers voted for me to continue the blog for one year.’
Click here to read an inspiring interview with Elizabeth.
I was amazed to read some of the outcomes of Elizabeth’s experiment:
Mindset felt lighter and my actions more positive
Thinking positively was now a way of life for me
Discovering that the creation of negative thoughts are not meant to hurt us but to protect us
I have found that I am less weighed down by things that used to plague me: responsibilities, stressful situations, trying to please others
I find I laugh easier and have a much stronger sense of myself and my wants
It is pretty powerful stuff! Here are my 3 positives for today:
1. I’m receiving lots of lovely, positive support (via the internet) while dealing with flood waters and a rather large (and worrisome) tree caught under our boat.
2. The tree that has attached itself to our boat is causing passer-bys to stop and say ‘hi’. I’m enjoying talking to many people from different walks of life – the tree is an ice-breaker.
3. I am part of a fantastic new group on Facebook called Women on Barges (WOB). I am having a lot of fun ‘meeting’ new people with a kindred spirit from all over the world and sharing advice, stories and offering support.
On day 1 I nominated some friends to take part in writing positive thoughts, but I think I’ll just leave it open. Please contribute if you wish, I’d love to know your positive thoughts (here and on your timeline!)
I’ve been nominated by my lovely friend, co-writer and co-adventurer Linda Frylink Anderson to post 3 positives each day for 5 days and nominate 2 friends to do the same (each day).
I recently posted a blog aboutmy rules on using Facebook and I notice that 99% of people use this medium for positive news and information.
Positivity is the key. I have a friend who lives in Australia who doesn’t like making New Year Resolution lists. ‘Why set your-self up for a fall,’ she says. ‘I like to make a list of all my achievements that I’ve accomplished during the last year.’
I think this is a great idea. Thinking, focusing and remembering the positives in our day to day lives has other healthy consequences too.
Image courtesy of imagerymajestic/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Julie A Gorges, fellow blogger, author and freelance writer has just written a post on The Connection Between Health and Happiness, she says, ‘ . . . . and you’re probably aware that since negative emotions harm the body, a positive, optimistic, and happy outlook on life will help your physical health.’
That’s exactly why I like this kind of nomination. I am guilty of having a good pointless whinge. I can let negativity pick me up and carry me away. So, to have to sit and write positive comments for 5 days will do me the world of good.
Let me know if you’d like to be nominated. And, in the meantime, here are my three positives for today:-
1. The pouring rain is giving me an opportunity to sit with my visiting family (mum, dad & nephew) and just talk, and have many giggles playing cards.
2. The small leak in the wheelhouse window makes me appreciated that the rest of the boat is dry and warm. How lucky am I to have a great boat and home.
3. My mum thoughtfully helps with the washing up at every meal. Catering for five everyday (when I am used to just two), is a fair bit of work in the small galley. Mum is Chief Washer-Up, which is so very much appreciated.
The flood rain meant we had to stop and enjoy Ranchot for a few days, which wasn’t very tough. Dad particularly loved the little village, ‘it was very pretty.’
Pretty scenery
Kieran (my nephew) stirred up his creative juices and turned a Lipton’s Yellow Label Tea bag into fishing equipment. Utilising the staple and string Kieran made a hook and line and attempted to capture a whale.
Kieran having a quick snooze
With rested crew we were all ready to tackle the swirling water and we pointed the bows towards Besancon. Gentle locks, eerie tunnels, cups of tea and a pleasantly cool day accompanied the intrepid crew who were ready for anything.
Into the black hole
Noel on the stern line
Mum became navigator and loved the team work of the crew while traversing the canals.
Our navigator
Dad working hard on the bow
In Besancon our lovely friends Linda and Bill met us with healthy grins and a fabulous few days have been spent talking boats, books, writing and wine.
Arriving into Besancon
Love lockets
The grey clouds are now starting their march across the sky. A serious card game is developing, and many satisfied yawns can be heard beneath the pitter-patter of rain.
Jackie Parry - author 