Things to be grateful for....

We are mid-trip right now, currently at the Semiahmoo Marina looking at a slip for my folks to potentially lease. I'll give a full update of our current trip at a later date, but wanted to write about some of the things that I am grateful for.

How this all started... Everyday, I am stating something that I am grateful for! Yesterday after a shower, my mom said "Now I know why Oprah started a gratitude journal!" So, I thought I'd jot down a few things that I am grateful for that I had previously taken advantage of! :) Some of this may be TMI (too much information), but I'm going to share because it is the truth!

In no particular order....

Things I'm Grateful For:

1. Showers!!!!! - At home, everyday and sometimes twice a day I took advantage of this luxury! I had no idea how important it was until I have had to go without! Most days I now shower via baby wipes! When we are at a marina I am so grateful to have the opportunity to get a "real" shower!

2. An unlimited supply of WATER! - Something that I only sort of thought about at home, having grown up in Southern CA. On the boat we only have a limited supply of water when we go out, so we have to be VERY careful how we use the water - hence the lack of real showers. :)

3. Toilet Seat Covers! - When you are a female and are frequenting public toilets/outhouses, when you get to a location that has toilet seat covers, it totally makes your day!

4. Ability to get food at any time - When on a trip, the only food you have is the food you remembered to bring. If you forgot something, you are out of luck....if you run out of something too bad!

5. Dumpsters - What you bring on the boat, stays on the boat. All of the trash that you make, goes along for the ride. We have to be VERY careful how much extra trash we produce on our excursions. Mom and I have found a way to reduce trash, but it is still a challenge!

6. Washing Machines - At home, anytime I want to wash something I do! On the boat, I can only wash clothes when we are at a town. Let's just say...I have gotten used to wearing my clothes for three days! Never thought that would happen! :)

7. Space - Oh, to have space! 4 people on a 44ft (living space) boat, isn't a lot of space! We have to be very creative when storing our stuff. Hence my gratefulness for washing machines.

8. My King size BED!!!! - Nick, Roxy, and I share the bow of the boat. A small triangular bunk that holds all of our shit and us!

9. My Bedroom - Because we are in a bunk at the bow of the boat, it is a small space that we literally crawl into. At night I have to get up to go to the bathroom at least two times, and let me tell you...crawling out and back into the bunk is no easy task! :)

10. Tying up to a dock - Roxy and Boots (my parents dog) are on the trip with us. Every time they have to go to the bathroom, we have to take them to shore. When we are tied up to a mooring buoy at a state park, we have to row to shore to take the dogs to go to the bathroom. Some mornings and some nights, it is that LAST thing I want to do!

Now don't read this the wrong way! I am so grateful for this opportunity! I will take all of the negatives any day to have this opportunity! I just thought I'd put this out there so that those who are thinking we are living a luxurious life, know that there are some sides of this lifestyle that aren't for everyone. It looks real good on the outside, but don't be fooled...we pay a small price to see the sun rise and set on the water everyday! :)