The boating live-aboard community attracts a wide spectrum of characters from wealthy vagabonds to trailer trash. There are masterful sailors, sea captains, “wanna-be sail around the world” types, loners, divorcees, and the list goes on.
Many are “economically squeezed” for a variety of reasons. Others embrace the relatively tranquil and invigorating environment that living on a boat provides. There are a select few who, either alone or with their whole family meticulously plan and provision their boat and sail to far-off destinations or even around the world. Other sailors actively participate in racing. Many sailors look with some disdain upon those with power boats (The “Stink Potters” as they call them) but, in general, most boaters get along with each other very well.
Most people who live aboard truly enjoy this choice of lifestyle and all have many things in common. They have adapted to living in confined spaces, and most are eager to share and assist each other with the daily challenges of boat usage and maintenance. For many, the dramatic downsizing required changing from living in a traditional house or apartment to living on a boat is a very therapeutic experience. The reality is that on all but the very large craft, there is no room for all that stuff one typically accumulates when living in a traditional house. Typically, if it won’t fit in your car, there is no room for it on a boat. Another interesting side benefit is that because of the very limited space, one quickly learns to be very tidy. There is a place for everything and everything needs to be put back in that place. Also, if more than one person lives aboard, there is a whole new requirement to adjust to cohabiting in a relatively small space.
In many ways, it is like a living soap opera. Occasionally it becomes annoying when those in the “trailer trash” category invade your space with their excessive noise and inappropriate behavior, but, fortunately, there tend to be very few of these. For the most part, live-aboards are very friendly and co-exist quite peacefully, so that, in general, marinas provide a very enjoyable and tranquil environment in which to live.
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