ROCKING AND ROLLING

** I'm participating in NaBloPoMo, so I'm committed to posting something to my blog every single day in November... wish me luck. :-) Since some days it's difficult to think of things to write about, I decided it would be fun to ask YOU for your ideas.

Now's your chance ... if there's something you'd like to know more of about me -- regarding the liveaboard lifestyle, my passion for all things fibre, what it's like to be a grandma, living in Victoria, whatever -- leave me a comment with your question, and that will give me (hopefully) some 'subject fodder' for the month.** 

Grace asked the question  "Have you ever wished your home didn't sway?"


Nope! Most of the time we are tied up to a dock in a marina in a very protected harbour, and if anything, we don't sway enough for our liking -- days can go by and we won't feel any boat movement at all, unless a tugboat goes by too close or too fast! A few times a year (mostly in the winter months) the wind will be strong enough, and from the right direction, to make us bang and bump against the dock through the night, but that's actually kind of fun and reminds us that we *are* living an 'alternative lifestyle.'

Years ago, when we first got this boat, we would get calls from friends or family, every time the wind came up, inviting us to spend the night at someone's house. It took awhile for people to 'get' that this was our home and our choice -- and that, if there was any risk to the boat, we'd rather be ON it where we could react, than away somewere.

We've often said that we live 'close to the elements' (the wind does move us, the rain is literally 4' over my head in the night, an old wooden boat is occasionally drafty, etc.) and we tease friends who have double car garages, 8" thick walls and thermopane windows that they "don't want to get any environment on 'em"... but each to their own. When it's stormy here, we do what lots of folks do: make popcorn, light the fire and hunker down with a warm blanket and a good movie!

Having said all that, when we're away for an overnight or on our annual holiday, we 'swing from the hook' and that's a different story. Most of the time, again, we love it -- but if there's a big wind, we don't necessarily sleep as well as when we know we're safely tied to a dock. And if we're in a busy anchorage where other boats are causing constant wake, it *can* get a little annoying. When my dishes go sliding off the counter and crash on the floor because some idiot in a little power boat wants to show off to his buddies, then I wish my home didn't sway!