Reflections after a month aboard

As we are enjoying a few slower days in the Shetland Islands whilst we are waiting an appropriate weather window to open up to cross the North Sea, I thought I would take the opportunity to capture our reflections as we have just completed the one month landmark of living aboard Evolene.

I'll start with the one that Stuart immediately thought of... 'power management has been okay'!  It may sound quite simple but captures both a huge amount of preparation and organisation prior to moving aboard and also how we can 'afford' (in terms of power resource) to live at anchor for a much greater proportion of time, without rationing usage to make, for example, cups of tea that we would take for granted on the land at home.  Furthermore, through Stuart's lithium battery installation, solar panels and electric hob with electric combi-oven/microwave/air fryer for cooking, we have not had to resort to using any gas from our gas canister as yet.  (For more details - see the Boat Preparation blog.)

His other reflections included 'there is surprisingly little time to do anything!' and we've already seen so many cool places which I completely agree with.  Time is a funny one.  We have the luxury of living life to the rhythm of the sun, weather, sea and tides.  I'm certainly aware that activities that I would ordinarily cram into either end of the working day, I can now plan, consider and enjoy much more - even the simplicity of going food shopping.  On that element at least, I'm sure whilst I'm spending more time doing that, we're definitely generating less waste and eating more healthier on the whole (more on that later!).

We have also prioritised connecting with others (usually fellow sailors) where at all possible.  This has been a real luxury and I have loved learning of others' rich tapestries of life and experiences.  It has also been hugely affirmative.  Sometimes I do wonder about the sensibility of our maritime wanderings, the impact of our absence on family, friends and colleagues back home, what our long-term financial sustainability may look like, but all our sailing friends have been incredibly reassuring and this transient network of connections belies a much deeper, permanent, ingrained, supportive community that magically and beautifully pop up with us wherever we go.

Anyway, getting back to time, or rather lack of it!  I think we both expected to have more time to get on with various boat jobs or projects, but it slips pass incredibly effortlessly with boat life, planning, exploring and connecting with the world around us.

Another reflection is that the weather has been exceptionally kind to us thus far.  In fact we can't recall the last time when it actually rained during the day - until today!  Whilst this is unfortunately  starting to cause understandable concern across the country it has made for very pleasant boat life and as we progress towards the end of May the warmth of the sun is shining through.  

In terms of boat life, some activities are unsurprisingly more challenging (for example food shopping, laundry, planning showers either ashore or with the availability of hot water aboard) but others are much easier.  Connecting with the outdoors is practically instantaneous each morning!  But also, I think on balance, we are able to eat much more healthily and more variedly (including breakfast).  We can only snack on what we have brought aboard, enjoy each of our meals together, usually watching the passing wildlife, and make more from scratch.  Although it can be very difficult to know how much food we actually 'need'!  Each day is so varied, sometimes we spend all of the day onboard, moving within a 42ft long space but with short bursts of strength activity and other days we are hiking, running, swimming or just walking for all of our chores etc.

In addition to the variety of boat life, the sailing has been incredibly varied also.  Aside from the Cape Wrath crossing(!) I have really enjoyed the more sustained time aboard, learning and feeling how Evolene moves through the water, what her preferred point of sail is, optimising both comfort and performance.  Following on from that, living so closely together for such a sustained period of time and being reliant on each other in very different ways, requires a transition in itself and one that is so incredibly helped with patience and kindness.  By and large I think we're doing okay and learning loads more about each other and ourselves in the process!

My final reflection has to be about the wildlife we have seen.  It has been incredible and humbling to be living beside the most beautiful and varied creatures, living their lives fully attuned and adapted to the environment around them, whilst we can only hope to mirror their simplicity and tread as lightly as possible on the planet as we go...