My husband built two, not one, two wooden sailboats. Luckily, we found people to buy them. For him, it was as much about the process as the final product, though he did enjoy sailing them.
His latest project was a teardrop camper which we are using as much as we can…
That’s the key, isn’t it, to enjoy the stuff you make or buy? I think what makes me sad is to buy it, inspired by the dream of what it might do for your life, and then to abandon it in the yard, where it constantly reminds you of your failure. (Like this year’s tomato experiment for me!)
I was - to put it very politely - dubious when Jim told me we were buying a secondhand campervan. I had visions of algae, mildew, black mould, woodlice, midges and ancient cobwebs stewed up in a fug of damp. I've never been so pleased to have been so wrong, because it's a great vehicle for work, and we really enjoy camping in it, too!
I'd been convinced, though, that we wouldn't use it much, and that it would deteriorate, like the old static caravan that lived at the bottom of the garden of the house I grew up in. My brother and I had slept in there for the months it took for the building work on our family home to be completed, while my parents 'camped' in the house. The caravan smelled revolting, and although we kept it clean and tidy, and it had nice curtains and cushions, it felt soooo not nice.
Now I worried I might put you off with this one Rebecca, after all your tales of caravaning, but clearly you guys are doing it right. I know a bunch of people who really do use their RVs. Come to think of it, I don't know anyone who has sacrificed theirs to the moss gods ... Could I be friends with someone who did? There's a question!
That’s funny, because I’ve been scorning boats and RVs all my life, which means that at some point I’m probably doomed to own one. But second houses: not in a million years!
Ha! Every summer for the last few years, when I've wanted some alone time late in the evening to just look at the sky while being invisible to the whole world, I've walked down this quiet countryside lane I know and, after checking no one's watching, climbed into the old abandoned boat that sits there. This post leads me to believe there's a type! 😆
I think I've probably got a photo of it somewhere, a selfie that I sent to the wife to let her know "Hey, I am alive, no need to worry, I'm just chilling on 'my' boat for a bit."
Oh, no. I saw a big boat fall off a guy’s boat trailer at a stoplight, and your photo reminded me of it. The boat still had a “For Sale” sign on the bow. Best day and worst day of the guy’s entire life.
Canoes, kayaks, and aluminum boats small enough a single person can carry them on their head = worth buying. Everything else is just a disaster. Even yachts owned by millionaires barely ever get used. Unless a boat is part of your livelihood, do not ever buy one!
I totally agree about the RV, but I have a handy little plywood folding sailing dinghy in my garage, with an electric outboard, that comes out once or twice a year for a jaunt along the canal, I can even get it onto the roof of my car. Its a bit of fun, and I suppose I should really sell it on, but what the heck !
We have loads of driveway boats here in Scotland too, mostly growing mouldy with disuse and rot - many owned by people who bought them on retirement and are now too old or poor to maintain them. Theres a good song by Deacon Blue "a ship called dignity" thats worth a wee listen.
Hey, that’s a fun one. Reminds me of a buddy of mine who, a year or so ago, got a new dog who really likes to walk, so Gregg takes him out on a walk three times a day and he takes a trash back and picks up garbage. We guys give him a little shit, but we’re proud of him. He wants to keep his town looking good.
'Bogie' by the way is also used as a nasty slang name for snot - and Sunblest is a cheap white sliced bread - you see where its going? It a great lyric, and this song charted. Another good Scottish band - we have lots!
The pictures reminded me of Gilligan’s Island. Hehe.
Great what—if story.
We rented a sleeper van and it was a disaster. (I wrote an essay about it.) Renting is a good trial run. Like fostering a dog. We will never own a camper. One day we may rent a boat but not in the near future. They’re expensive to rent too! We have a cousin who bought a boat for his retirement. He loves that thing like a grandchild.
Do you remember the title? I’ll go hunt it up. You’re clearly not a shameless enough self promoter if you haven’t dropped the link in the comments section yet Carissa! 😀
Enjoyed this, Tom!
My husband built two, not one, two wooden sailboats. Luckily, we found people to buy them. For him, it was as much about the process as the final product, though he did enjoy sailing them.
His latest project was a teardrop camper which we are using as much as we can…
That’s the key, isn’t it, to enjoy the stuff you make or buy? I think what makes me sad is to buy it, inspired by the dream of what it might do for your life, and then to abandon it in the yard, where it constantly reminds you of your failure. (Like this year’s tomato experiment for me!)
Yes. Also, when you put in the sweat equity, you might be more invested.
Hilarious and beautifully-written, Tom!
I was - to put it very politely - dubious when Jim told me we were buying a secondhand campervan. I had visions of algae, mildew, black mould, woodlice, midges and ancient cobwebs stewed up in a fug of damp. I've never been so pleased to have been so wrong, because it's a great vehicle for work, and we really enjoy camping in it, too!
I'd been convinced, though, that we wouldn't use it much, and that it would deteriorate, like the old static caravan that lived at the bottom of the garden of the house I grew up in. My brother and I had slept in there for the months it took for the building work on our family home to be completed, while my parents 'camped' in the house. The caravan smelled revolting, and although we kept it clean and tidy, and it had nice curtains and cushions, it felt soooo not nice.
Now I worried I might put you off with this one Rebecca, after all your tales of caravaning, but clearly you guys are doing it right. I know a bunch of people who really do use their RVs. Come to think of it, I don't know anyone who has sacrificed theirs to the moss gods ... Could I be friends with someone who did? There's a question!
‘….sacrificed theirs to the moss gods’!! 🤣
If you’d told me ten years ago that I would one day have a campervan AND hugely enjoy camping in it, I’d’ve laughed you out of town!
We bought it for work, but use it often for leisure trips away, usually just one or two nights at a time, but sometimes longer.
That’s funny, because I’ve been scorning boats and RVs all my life, which means that at some point I’m probably doomed to own one. But second houses: not in a million years!
The last one is my favorite - it reminds me of my father for some reason. :D
You know what they say, "the second happiest day of a boat owner's life is when he buys the boat. The first is when he sells it."
Ha! Every summer for the last few years, when I've wanted some alone time late in the evening to just look at the sky while being invisible to the whole world, I've walked down this quiet countryside lane I know and, after checking no one's watching, climbed into the old abandoned boat that sits there. This post leads me to believe there's a type! 😆
I think I've probably got a photo of it somewhere, a selfie that I sent to the wife to let her know "Hey, I am alive, no need to worry, I'm just chilling on 'my' boat for a bit."
If I find the pic I'll send it over.
Really like the dialogue with the photos and the increasing escalation. That last photo kills me 😂
Thanks Bryn!
Oh, no. I saw a big boat fall off a guy’s boat trailer at a stoplight, and your photo reminded me of it. The boat still had a “For Sale” sign on the bow. Best day and worst day of the guy’s entire life.
Now THAT would have been a photo!
Canoes, kayaks, and aluminum boats small enough a single person can carry them on their head = worth buying. Everything else is just a disaster. Even yachts owned by millionaires barely ever get used. Unless a boat is part of your livelihood, do not ever buy one!
That about expresses it for me too. I’d definitely do a kayak.
I totally agree about the RV, but I have a handy little plywood folding sailing dinghy in my garage, with an electric outboard, that comes out once or twice a year for a jaunt along the canal, I can even get it onto the roof of my car. Its a bit of fun, and I suppose I should really sell it on, but what the heck !
You still love your boat, I can tell. The ones in my piece have all stopped being loved.
We have loads of driveway boats here in Scotland too, mostly growing mouldy with disuse and rot - many owned by people who bought them on retirement and are now too old or poor to maintain them. Theres a good song by Deacon Blue "a ship called dignity" thats worth a wee listen.
[Verse 1]
There's a man I meet
Walks up our street
He's a worker for the council
Has been twenty years
And he takes no lip off nobody
And litter off the gutter
Puts it in a bag
And never thinks to mutter
And he packs his lunch in a Sunblest bag
The children call him Bogie
He never lets on
But I know 'cause he once told me
He let me know a secret
About the money in his kitty
He's gonna buy a dinghy
Gonna call her Dignity
[Chorus]
And I'll sail her up the west coast
Through villages and towns
I'll be on my holidays
They'll be doing their rounds
They'll ask me how I got her
I'll say, "I saved my money"
They'll say, "Isn't she pretty?"
That ship called Dignity
https://youtu.be/nsr9HCOgQe0?si=VMKJia7h92gkSc-T
Hey, that’s a fun one. Reminds me of a buddy of mine who, a year or so ago, got a new dog who really likes to walk, so Gregg takes him out on a walk three times a day and he takes a trash back and picks up garbage. We guys give him a little shit, but we’re proud of him. He wants to keep his town looking good.
'Bogie' by the way is also used as a nasty slang name for snot - and Sunblest is a cheap white sliced bread - you see where its going? It a great lyric, and this song charted. Another good Scottish band - we have lots!
The pictures reminded me of Gilligan’s Island. Hehe.
Great what—if story.
We rented a sleeper van and it was a disaster. (I wrote an essay about it.) Renting is a good trial run. Like fostering a dog. We will never own a camper. One day we may rent a boat but not in the near future. They’re expensive to rent too! We have a cousin who bought a boat for his retirement. He loves that thing like a grandchild.
We need to rent a van or a small RV, just to have done it. But I'm sure I'm not going to enjoy it and that's no mindset to start a vacation, is it?
Read my essay first if you need convincing NOT to rent.
Do you remember the title? I’ll go hunt it up. You’re clearly not a shameless enough self promoter if you haven’t dropped the link in the comments section yet Carissa! 😀
I love this, Tom!
Thanks Ross!
Love that thrifty mindset, thanks for sharing, Tom!
Most excellent. And SO TRUE!! NZ backyards are littered with the damn things!!
Hahahah THIS. I never wanted a boat for those very reasons. What you want is a friend with a boat.
Yes! The friend or cousin with a boat is the way to go. Haha.
That's it for me too. And a friend with a beach house too please.
It's an interesting type of fly-tipping
Fly-tipping? We've got Brits, Canadians, and Southerners on here ... we need built in idiom translation!
fly tipping = illegally dumping trash or unwanted goods
Thanks Sam
hahah, i loved this one. genuinely guffawed.
Oh, I'm so glad