Galactic finds herself once more in the boatyard.
Since we draw the line at living aboard in the boatyard with the kids, we are in a housesit for ten days or so - it's a very nice house with great views of Mt. Wellington and the Hobart Tip, very very generously lent to us by friends of friends who happen to be away on holiday.
In this housesit, each boy has his own bedroom. We thought that Elias would love that, since on the boat the brotherly jockeying and jousting that goes on for much of the day continues after the boys go to bed in their side-by-side bunks in the forward cabin. A certain amount of name calling ("poopy head!") and yelling goes on before they fall asleep on the boat. And we though Elias would be happy to take a break from that.
None of it. Elias was adamant that he wanted to sleep in the same room as his brother. So we set up a mattress on the floor in Eric's room - that's them, fast asleep above.
Right now we're pouring ridiculous amounts of money and effort into the boat to get ready for our upcoming season, and I've had moments, not exactly wondering if it's worth it, but wondering how much longer I'll think it's worth it.
And I found a certain amount of validation in Elias' desire to sleep near his brother, a bit of the answer to the question of whether there's any payoff to this nomadic lifestyle of ours.
The enforced intimacy of the boat can be a grind, especially with a two-year-old in the mix. But while we just notice the crazy part of living on top of each other, it's also a much more "traditional" way for a family to live together - the idea of separate rooms for each kid is a pretty recent notion. So there's a closeness to our current family life that we wouldn't get on shore. And it's pretty nice to see how much Elias wants to continue with that closeness here in the housesit, and to reflect on how closely the boys are growing up...
I can confirm that the desire to stick together lasts a long time too! My sister and I shared the v-berth for 7 years, and sometimes it'd be so bad that we'd duct tape a sheet to the ceiling and the bunk so we could have our 'own rooms'. That would never last for long though :)
ReplyDeleteOnce we moved off the boat, a friend asked us why the four of us were always cramming ourselves onto one tiny loveseat; we didn't even realise we were doing it, we just naturally gravitated towards each other!
So I think you guys are amazing for pulling it off with two little guys, and I use you as my "see it can be done!" example whenever the topic of babies on boats comes up :) Thanks for sharing!
Leah & Jon
s/v Brio
Thanks, Leah. And yes, it can definitely be done (and enjoyed!) with kids who are still in diapers.
DeleteGreat blog, Mike. Family is central. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteFamily is certainly central when you live on a boat with a 6-yr-old and a 2-yr-old! Thanks, Dave.
DeleteSeems the sharing, if you get the hang of it, goes on and on...Sam and Fred slept in the same bedroom till they left school, took a break, and now at 24 and 26, they've moved back in together, paying for the privilege. I'd guess, for all the attempted fratricide of their childhood, they got used to breathing the same air. It's comforting. LIke Eric and Elias? Cute photo. Great blog.
ReplyDeleteGood to know that things can turn out well even for siblings who don't grow up with the advantages of living on a yacht!
DeleteSeriously, though - that's a great outcome, to have the brothers choosing to live together...