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Bahamas | Take 3 | Quick Update

Katharine Hesmer

Really disappointed to say that at least for now, I've got to put an end to my blog posts. Between new limits on data on the web platform itself, and the throttling of our internet usage based on our location, it isn't sustainable or financially justifiable.


This may come as welcome news to some of you, and I can't say that I blame you! 😂 It felt like a vanity project at times anyway, which is the last thing I wanted it to be. I was hoping to maybe inspire people to consider adventures of their own, step outside of their comfort zone in some way, or even rethink the way to structure how and where they live.

One of the most eye-opening aspects of cruising has been not only the stunning and untouched beauty of the places we've been, but also the wide variety of people we've met. Before we left on our first trip south in 2021, I hadn't given the "people" part much thought, and not on purpose. It just really didn't register that we'd have encounters along the way with other families doing the same thing. But it stood out to me right away that there are all kinds of folks who've decided to live off grid and take the challenges that come with boating life head on. And there are plenty of those challenges to be had, but that hasn't stopped the people who do it full-time. We've encountered everything from solo sailers to retired couples to families with young children, and they're all making it work in their own ways, based on their individual needs. And very few of them are necessarily wealthy — they've just found a way to live minimally and fully at the same time. These people weren't as literal as I was (and am) about how to earn a living and raise a family — bless their souls. As someone whose design career has been based on problem solving and thinking outside the box, you'd think I'd have imagined something less cliché than following that cookie-cutter notion of a life on land and all that comes with it. I am not suggesting that the way we did it was "wrong" by any stretch — I'm simply saying that I wish I'd been a little more creative and questioned societal "norms" a little more rather than just following along in lockstep with existing "systems" of living.


Hopefully my three kiddos are paying attention, and I feel like they are. I appreciate how the cruising lifestyle focuses on experiences not things, and how FEW "things" you can realistically have ANY way, precisely because there's nowhere to store them. That is a beautiful "thing" in and of itself. Less is more. For SURE. Also the simple fact that there's less to maintain. We don't have a yard to mow or a house to paint or a light bill to pay, and while we DO have KORKZcrew's own version of these responsiblities, they're much more manageable because the boat is so comparatively small.


I love that I have to be smart about my water usage. I love that it isn't practical to take a shower daily (my mom would be appalled 😂). I love that we can make water from the water we're on. I love that we can generate our own energy from the sun. I love that I'm limited in the clothes I can bring and in how often I change into clean ones (sad but true), and how infrequently we're able to do laundry because it's a luxury of sorts. I love that I can pretend that I'm one of those cruisers on YouTube we've been watching for years even though I'll never have their expertise or incredible discipline for filming, editing, and posting movies on a weekly basis. But what a cool way to make a living, and if it works, why not?!


For the people who've been so kind to follow these often yawn-inducing daily accounts and send messages of support, thank you. It's been very heartwarming. And if you'd like to see what we're up to, I plan to do my best to update my Instagram account fairly frequently. We just crossed to the Bahamas yesterday from Key Biscayne, and the blue water already has me mesmerized all over again.


If you've ever got questions about boat life, chartering a boat, or visiting the Exumas, I'm always happy to help if I can, and Ron can certainly fill in the gaps that I cannot. Thanks again for all of your kindness. Hope to see you over on Instagram.


Cheers,

Katharine




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