On a glorious autumn morning I am on the train to meet Older Nephew to take das Boot to the pump out at Ely and begin the process of winterising her. I have conflicting feelings about das Boot. I want to make improvements, I have ideas to make life aboard more comfortable, but I am also thinking the time is approaching to give up my car, and therefore das Boot. Older Nephew’s girlfriend is in London, and although he will still be based in the East, I wonder if his personal centre of gravity is shifting, and how often he will want or be able to join me when I am at the marina.
There are pros and cons to selling the boat. It’s an expense and a responsibility. I need a car to get to it. I don’t like driving and helming palls after around ten minutes. But it is a wonderful bolthole; a place I can go with MasterB and be; somewhere familiar and unfamiliar; home yet not home; a place where my country upbringing comes flooding back and is renewed.
On a day like today when the autumn colours are arrayed beyond the train windows and the sky above is blue my instincts are to keep it, at least for another year.
On Saturday I shall be at the marina again as das Boot is lifted out ready for her valuation inspection which is already overdue, and a winter out of water before she gets a paint job in the spring. The forecast for Saturday is for rain. I may not feel quite so enamoured then.
Isobel (and Cat)'s Blog 
I wasn’t expecting the aging process to involve so many decisions about giving up things as my body tells me that I’m not able to maintain, enjoy, operate, cooperate, and participate in the way that ‘whatever’ needs from me. What I am finding is that I know when the time is right because the price I pay is more than the enjoyment gained. When that moment comes, the relief balances the pain of loss. We probably do this throughout our lifespan, but in my 70’s it seems harder to replace what I give up with something new and exciting. But as I told a couple of friends yesterday, I am really enjoying being in my home and don’t desire as much activity.
My mother was a very proactive pre planner. She looked at the future and made changes before she had to. It worked until she developed dementia. I think you are right. When something becomes a worry or a responsibility more than it is a pleasure it’s time to move on. Mind you, I feel that about the U.K. right now!
LOL I hear you. I want our House to impeach Trump to emasculate him and to publicize his crimes but not to remove him. If he is removed, Pence becomes Pres. and he would pardon Trump and Trump would just move on to commit dastardly deeds like he has all of his life. I would like to see him, and all those around him, to be behind bars. Trump’s shakedown of aid for dirt seems to be understood by everyone but his most stupid supporters. I don’t suggest that you move on to the US. If I was younger I would think about Canada.
The trouble is this right wing, proto/neo fascist movement is not confined to our way countries. It is like a ghastly and malevolent plant that keeps growing. I could move to another EU country (I have an Irish passport) but my teacher’s pension when I get it will be in pounds sterling. What would it be worth in Euros? Also, my work is in London. It’s difficult, and I love my country and am mortified by what is happening here.
We had a brilliant group of founding fathers who wrote a great constitution and I have some hope that enough people believe in the form of government that was set forth in that document to put us back on track again. The big glitch once again in the next election is Russian meddling with false information over social media. Hopefully enough people have been hurt by Trump and have learned how to recognize lies or gotten off social media all together. Do you have any ray of hope to hang onto.
At the moment it all looks pretty bleak.
Our decision to give up our boat is still a discussion here. It’s a tough decision to make, Isobel. I feel we made the right decision to give up boating but with all this water around us it’s always questioned. But, we are lake boaters and neither the ocean or the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway seem a good choice for us. Enjoy your time with das Boot and your nephew. I like the idea of keeping her for another year… 🙂
I can understand that. I love my boat, but it’s a sheep to get to it. My work, my world is London. If I relocated to Cambridge or Ely it would be different. But then I would have a long commute. And while Cambridge is politically comfortable, Ely is not. I hardly use my car in London. I don’t particularly like driving, though at das Booti don’t mind. Short journeys are ok, but in London public transport is good and more ch more convenient. I hate driving on motorways. So the car is an expense I bear because of the boat. My income doesn’t really warrant my keeping a car taxed and insured, when the amount I drive it is minimal.
Could you relocate the boat to somewhere closer but still out of London?
The closer you get to London the higher the mooring fees. But I don’t know. We were talking in vague terms yesterday of maybe finding another marina. It might be time to do some exploring.
Yes I guess it does…good luck in your searching!
You might enjoy this take on the owning a boat thing, Isobel:
https://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/why-you-should-never-buy-a-boat?source=EDT_NYR_EDIT_NEWSLETTER_0_imagenewsletter_Daily_ZZ&utm_campaign=aud-dev&utm_source=nl&utm_brand=tny&utm_mailing=TNY_Daily_101319&utm_medium=email&bxid=5bd6793224c17c1048021ac0&cndid=42514264&esrc=&mbid=&utm_term=TNY_Daily
Sorry about the exceptionally long link – I did try shortening it but it came back with page not found.
Thanks. Yes having a boats is expensive. I was told early on in my boating career that BOAT is an acronym for Bring Out Another Thousand. I have that to be true. My cousin Alex who has a share in an ocean going yacht, said simply, ‘boats eat money’. But they are also curiously addictive. I can’t explain why. I have an affection for my money munching boat that in no way do I have for my car.