the beginnings of a liveaboarde dream....

ChattingLil

ChattingLil

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so here we are. Sold the old boat, bought the new boat, house in the hands of a rental agent, in the midst of clearing out and getting ready.

I didn't realise it would be such a mammoth task!

We've been getting ready to leave dirtside for over a month now and I just cannot believe how much stuff we have to dispense with. We've whittled our possessions down to two piles. The first being that which will come with us to the boat - will fit into a telephone box. The second being a pile of sentimental or expensive tut that we will rethink after 18 months... not bad from a jammed packed 3-bed house and shed I suppose.

We've donated most of our furniture to a charity that helps rehouse homeless people and had the mother of all bootsales.

Is the same for everybody?
 
I do envy you, we are stuck with "stuff", is there any magic mantra to make my husband to just deliver all that possessions to the nearest charity shop?
 
We remember it well. On the last few days we were literally stopping people in the street and saying take what you want. People think you are a nutter when you stop them to ask if they want things for free.
It is a liberating experience shedding all those material possessions you had to have at the time.
In a few years you will realise that a worn out pair of shorts and flip flops are worth far more than a massive plasma television.
We have nothing in storage apart from the amazing memories we have gathered on our travels.
 
I started to make piles up , what to store what to take with us but in the end every thing went , some of it depend for how long your planning to live aboard , if it only a year or so maybe storage is use full , longer you have to work out if what you are paying to store is worth it .

www.dufour385.webs.com
 
http://emmaus.org.uk/

Depending on where you are - try these people. A very worthwhile charity and as along as the stuff is usuable, they will come and collect it and put it to good use. If it can't be used by a person trying to build a home, they will use it for fundraising.

Anyway - get some girl power. Why do you need a husband to take it to the shop?! I have to admit my husb has been less enthusiastic about getting rid of everything, most of the stuff going into storage is his books and art...

The way we have approached it was to decided in advance how much space could be taken up with stuff. So we emptied a bookcase and the rule was that everything (personal/entertainment/knicknack wise) we wanted to take on board had to fit on it - and we've managed to do that. And we've set a deadline of 18 months to recheck what's is storage. If we hate the liveaboard life then at least we can get come of our things back....if we've taken to it, then , well, erm..... we'll have to cross that bridge when we come to it I suppose...! It seems to be the art that is most tricky to leave behind.
 
After a divorce some stuff I cared for stayed at my house. Lived where I laid my hat and where I worked, First ( Big ) cleaning.
A decade and two relations later I was used to live in my “ escape suitcase “ as the girls named my yacht. Each time I left with just the clothes I wore and my car keys. Cleaning.
Decided to go cruising in my liveaboard suitcase, sold the house, divided the expensive antiques and some stuff I cared for amongst the family, “Just for some years.” Cleaning.
After twelve years of cruising I visited the family and was surprised to see most of the antique back, only no one could remember those nice things ware in fact mine. Decided not to bother, the stuff didn’t fit the boat anyway.
It´s years now that with each bag of garbage I row ashore some not recently used things go with it.
Trying to bring the waterline back to where it was 30 years ago. Cleaning.
Never could understand my dad who was always getting rid of real valuable goods, especially when they ware mine. The barn was big enough, and my first windsurf board was one of the very first made. Could be antique by now. Why didn’t he throw away his own junk ?
Now, getting old, I realize my son is going to get rid of all my old stuff so I rather dump it myself.
Cleaning.
Here in Greece, a grave is excavated after 3 years. ( That is what Lazarus told me ) The remaining bones kept in a small wooden box in a corner of the graveyard.
Made me think.
 
ChattingLil said:
so here we are. Sold the old boat, bought the new boat, house in the hands of a rental agent, in the midst of clearing out and getting ready.

I didn't realise it would be such a mammoth task!

We've been getting ready to leave dirtside for over a month now and I just cannot believe how much stuff we have to dispense with. We've whittled our possessions down to two piles. The first being that which will come with us to the boat - will fit into a telephone box. The second being a pile of sentimental or expensive tut that we will rethink after 18 months... not bad from a jammed packed 3-bed house and shed I suppose.

We've donated most of our furniture to a charity that helps rehouse homeless people and had the mother of all bootsales.

Is the same for everybody?
Click to expand...

I wish I was going to sail away on a Yacht, boat, canoe, raft or anything that can take me away from all the BS.:):):)
 
Well done...!!! Maybe one day, but the wife's not so keen yet but I'm hoping once the children move out she warm up to the fact otherwise........ Bye ;-)
 
ChattingLil said:
I'm interested in how long you have been counting down...
Click to expand...

Dreams - 20+ years
Dream to reality - 9 years
Delay due to divorce - 4 years
Boat purchase - 18 months
Boat refit - 1 month planning followed by 7 months (so far - boat launch on 21 Jun but some work still to do)
 
brilliant! Makes me feel encouraged!

for me it's been a private dream for 15 years or so.
Public dream for about 2 years.
1 motorbike accident payout and one HWMO-opinion-changing holiday leading to sale of inadequate boat in January.
Purchase of hopefully adequate boat in April.
This summer to get it ready for liveaboard by September.
...followed by however long it will take to set up boat and pay off mortgage and save up and get ready to go...
 
Beware you could be forever tinkering with the boat to have it "ready!" We bought the boat a year and a half before we set off, with most weekends and holidays spent working on her, and I still had a list of jobs as long as my arm when departure date came! And every time I cross off a job, two more take its place!
 
Cardo said:
Beware you could be forever tinkering with the boat to have it "ready!" We bought the boat a year and a half before we set off, with most weekends and holidays spent working on her, and I still had a list of jobs as long as my arm when departure date came! And every time I cross off a job, two more take its place!
Click to expand...

You need to work quicker! :p:rolleyes::D
 
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