Welcome Visitors

Boat Rules
Some family and friends may consider visiting us at some point during our travels and adventures. We would love to have visitors from home but most of our family and friends have no concept about our lifestyle. Our lifestyle looks large and glamorous on film, but it really is a minimalist lifestyle and while it is working for us at the moment, it is definitely not for everyone. If we do have friends or family visit us from home, we want to make sure that they have a great experience. I thought it might be helpful to communicate some of the rules that we live by on a day to day basis. It will help people plan whether they really want to stay with us on the boat or perhaps stay in a nearby resort and visit us on the boat. We get it, this lifestyle is not for everyone and our feelings will not be hurt if you tell us that you want to visit our area of the world but not stay with us.
We live in a very small space. Many of you have walk in closets larger than the space we live in. Please think about that, I have seen some of your closets and I am not kidding. We have all we want and need on our boat however, our resources like water and electricity are limited. We live at anchor not in marinas which means we are surrounded by water and are in constant motion. Our trips to land require coordination and planning. Our boat rocks forwards and backwards and rolls side to side. Sometimes the motion is a little and sometimes it is a lot, but it is the one constant. At any rate, if you have not visited us since we moved onto the boat or you have never lived on a boat then consider the following before you make plans and buy tickets.
1) Pack light. We have no where to put a large hard sided suitcase. All our storage space is dedicated to necessary items that we need so while on the boat you will be living out of your luggage and it needs to take up as little space as possible and be soft sided. Think carry-on, think small and organized.
2) Our electrical system is a 12-volt system so if it plugs in to your car and runs in your car, it will work on the boat. If it does not – it will not. Please leave your blow dryers and curling irons at home. Bring only those electrical items that are absolutely necessary.
3) Our electrical capabilities are entirely dependent on our solar panels and the sun. If it has not been a good sunny day then you may not be able to charge your phone. Also, anything you need to charge needs to be done so during the day, not at night so you need to plan your phone usage accordingly. Also consider bringing a waterproof storage bag to keep any electronics safe.
4) Our space is largely open so you will have little privacy.
5) Our water is also a precious and limited resource. Each person is allowed about a gallon to a gallon and a half per day. That is the amount of water you can use for washing, drinking, and meals. For us to get more fresh water it is a costly and physically demanding process. Often, we must carry water in 5-gallon containers an extended distance and then transport them to the boat. We must pay for water and fresh water in some of the places we travel to is very limited. Please ask for our procedures for washing, brushing your teeth, or doing dishes. We can’t waste water. You will not be showering on the boat. You will most likely go for a swim and then rinse off in a little freshwater.
6) No drugs are allowed on our boat. We can be boarded at any time by government officials and if they find drugs or their dogs find drugs they can confiscate our boat. This will not be allowed to happen. If you take prescription medications, they need to be packaged in the bottle they were dispensed in and you need to bring the prescription for each medication that you take. This is not a joke and is not negotiable, our home is at stake.
7) The clothes that work in this environment are clothes that can be mixed and matched and layered. You will wear the same clothes day after day, it’s ok, everyone does and no one cares. Cotton breathes the best and manages moisture the best. Don’t bring fancy or flashy clothing. If the seas are rough going in or we have a bad dinghy landing chances are they will get wet, soiled or torn. Once on land we walk a lot. Your shoes should be comfortable and be able to manage water. We live in a watery world. You will get wet when you don’t expect to, it happens no matter how careful we are.
8) Our schedules are very dependent on tides, wind and weather so our plans need to be very flexible. If you plan a visit, please let us know specifically 1 or 2 activities that are very important to you and we will try to make those happen but please don’t expect a jam-packed schedule. Please bring a book and /or a game in case we have to spend an entire day on the boat or in case something unexpected happens and you need to entertain yourself for a bit.
9) Our day to day schedules tend to be very fluid as well. We sleep when we are tired and eat when hungry. Most of our visitors to date report feeling quite hungry but our diets have changed dramatically since moving aboard and we have noticed that we eat less and less frequently as well. I would encourage you to bring a favorite snack. Also, please speak up and let us know when you are hungry, our feelings won’t be hurt, and I can usually whip up something to feed a growling tummy.
10) You might want to consider bringing earplugs. Boats have lots of noises that will be new to you. For those who haven’t been on a boat, some of the sounds seem quite alarming or annoying. The boat tends to moan and groan a bit and there are pops and creaks. There are motors and pumps that run at random times day and night. Our living space is below the water line so we also hear nature up close and personal. We can hear the snapping of shrimp, singing of whales, lapping of waves and many other crazy sea life sounds.
11) Please notify us of any food allergies or allergies in general. It requires a great deal of time and effort to coordinate a trip to shore. If the meal I have prepared conflicts with you, I may not be able to quickly come up with an alternative. If you do have a reaction, we have basic first aid and interventions on the boat however, medical care will take an extended period of time to arrange.
12) The captain always has the final say. If he determines that conditions are not safe or that we need to go somewhere or not go somewhere because of conditions and safety, you will defer to that decision. Our priority is the safety of everyone on board and our next concern is that you take home some amazing memories.
Again, we would love to host friends and family from home but we want to make sure that your visit is filled with amazing memories not stress and misery. If you are considering a visit, please contact us and ask us questions. Give us plenty of time to plan and include us in you planning process so that you have a great experience.