A Gaggle of Goslings!

The spring has brought upon us new life as trees and flowers begin to bloom. Baby variety of all sorts of animals start to mill about the marina. Every morning as a walk to the train station on my way to work, there are gaggles of geese families waddling (and pooping) everywhere. The way the goslings imprint to their mothers is such an interesting concept to me. They literally will follow their mother everywhere, chasing her around in a single file line. And their mothers will do everything necessary to protect her babies, even if it means putting herself in danger. Parenting seems to be a natural biological process in all life forms. It is really interesting to me how my generation (including myself) perceive children. Honestly, I'm not 100% sure I want human children. 

Do animal babies throw tantrums? Do they hurt other animal babies? Are they selfish and self-centered? Maybe they are by animal standards, but sure don't seem to.  

Anyways, good luck baby goslings.

Sunrises at 5AM

View from my boat

I did not get up at 5AM by choice. I had gotten home at 10PM and have a friend temporarily crashing at on my sailboat, so I really wish I could have slept in. I begrudgingly tiptoed my way around the boat to gather my things and set off to work. As I step outside, the sun has begun to rise over the city and it is these moments that you have to stop for a few moments to appreciate.  

During the summer when the sun rises earlier in the day, you can almost imagine the city still asleep as you make yourself into Manhattan. Probably the only people up are trucks delivering foods to bakeries, street breakfast carts setting up, and some joggers running about.  

Tomorrow, I have to wake up at 5AM again, I only hope to be lucky enough to witness another beautiful scene. 

Warmer weather brings sunsets

A beautiful sunsets

During the winter when the sun is lower, you don't get as many colorful sunsets as you do in the spring and summer. This past week, the sunsets over the marina has been spectacular. Not the most amazing ever, but definitely one that stops you in your tracks to admire for a moment.

When I lived in Manhattan, often times I would miss these sunsets as I would find myself indoors more often, and when I do get a chance to catch a sunset, the high-rises would block the view. I can't wait for the next 6-months full of sunsets. 

One of the things I'm hyper aware of us our human ability to adapt. When we receive good impulses, over time our mind normalizes it. The first time you see a sunset it's spectacular, but the 10th or 100th time, you might stop realizing how amazing it is. That's why a winter without these spectacular sunsets aren't necessarily a bad thing, as it makes it appreciate it even more. 

Living in a smaller space

It gets quite cozy in here.

In NYC, you're used to living in tiny spaces. Apartments can range anywhere from 500-1000 square feet. If you're really lucky, you might find something that has ample walking space in your bedroom with decent windows and lighting, a full bathroom, big kitchen with new appliances. The reality is that unless you're making a ton of money, you'll also be sharing your apartment with a roommate. 

Now think about living on a 33' sailboat. Imagine your livable space shrinks even smaller from 500 sq. ft. to only about 100 sq. ft. Talk about downsizing! I'm not going to say there is tons of space on a sailboat. But depending on how things are laid out, it can be quite comfy. The best thing about moving onto a sailboat is that it is already designed to have furniture with built-in storage. This really helps maximize the lay-out and space you have to work with. With everything hidden away, I would guess the space would be comparable to a small bedroom in NYC. Which isn't too bad, and completely livable. 

The main cabin of the boat has a small 2-burner propane stove, sink, fridge, and cabinet space for food and dishes. This counts as my "kitchen" area. I rarely use any of these living in NYC, and New Yorkers eat out most of the time. It's just more convenient, and there's so many cheap dining options here.

Looking back is the main living space. Every sailboat is going to be different in how they use this space. My Pearson 10M has two long "sofas" running along the sides. This is crucial to have other places on the boat to relax and hang out. I love laying down and reading a book on the settee, instead of laying in bed all day. I also find that this layout really maximizes the storage as your belongings can be stored behind and above the settees. Below each settee are large 20+ gallon fresh water tanks, which currently lasts me about 2-3 months. 

Immediately behind the living space is a small bathroom, mirror, and sink. This is especially important for when nature calls. Trust me, you really want a working head. 

Then finally, you have the berth in the far back. I am beginning to realize that I don't want to compromise on this space. I've invested in a really nice 800-fill down comforter to stay nice and warm. Since sleeping is where you spend most of your time, I'm also planning to fabricating some new mattresses for the bedroom. I'm sure any guests you bring over would appreciate this. 

Ultimately, a 33' sailboat is plenty of space for a single person. I rarely feel cramped or feel like I need more space. However, you still need to consider every single thing you purchase, because unlike, someone in a 500+ sq. ft. apartment, space is still a premium. 

So I live on a boat

Last summer, I decided that apartment life isn't for me and moved onto a boat. The idea did not formulate overnight, nor was purchasing a sailboat an super-easy-simple process. It took lots of time and research. Even more so, it took commitment. 

It all started after I returned from a 6-month work project in San Francisco. My friend who I flew Cessna 152 with had just moved away from New York City and I was looking for something new. I haven't sailed in ages, so I started exploring options in NYC. You could take classes, but it seemed like owning a sailboat was out of the question. Luckily, we live in the 21st century and there is tons of information online when it comes to sailing. After many hours on the internet, I discovered the subreddit r/liveaboard where users would explore alternative living. 

Alternative living seems like a trendy-hipster-fad right now, but tiny-homes, off-grid living, vandwelling, and even liveaboard were all concepts that were new to me. At the time, I would never consider living such a lifestyle. I mean... it requires rearranging your entire life!

Fast forward about a month. I'm on this epic vacation in Italy and the south of France. I remember each time I look off into the Mediterranean Sea and see the sailboats, it made me desire to live on the sea even more. I knew when I got back, I had to research and take this new adventure seriously if all these were to work out. 

The rest is history. Six months later, as I sit and and reflect back, I'm happier than now than in any Manhattan apartment I've ever lived in. If anyone is deciding to make this jump to live in tiny home, a van, be off-grid, or even move onto a sailboat, I strongly urge everyone to seriously consider it. There are some drawbacks, but I promise you its worth it.