10 years living between sailboat and campervan: couple spent years afloat, people ask questions about hygiene, space

From Prius to Sailboat

The writer says people choosing alternatives to a 9-to-5 job and mortgage remain a minority, despite more media coverage of those choices. For the couple, the arrangement has continued for 10 years.

Showers and Bathroom Questions

The campervan carries 27 gallons of water, enough for short showers that conserve water by turning it off while applying soap and shampoo. On the sailboat, the couple use its bathroom and typically shower with a solar shower hung from a hook; they also boil seawater for saltwater showers.

Strangers have approached the couple in parking lots to ask about their bathroom arrangements. The writer says the question can be awkward.

Making Small Spaces Work

Some people have told the writer they would not tolerate living in such a small space with a partner. She says the couple have developed a rhythm and pursue separate activities to avoid tiring of one another.

Her partner goes surfing and windsurfing, sometimes leaving her in the van for hours. She takes trips with friends, stays in hotels, or goes on bike rides with them.

Passages and Future Plans

The couple make overnight sailboat passages at about 6 to 8 miles per hour. During a six-day trip down the Baja Peninsula, they took turns keeping watch, monitoring their course, nearby ships and obstacles, and sail trim; each shift lasted four to six hours.

They plan a future passage lasting about 20 to 25 days from Mexico to French Polynesia. The writer says she intends to continue this lifestyle for as long as it remains fun, though she is starting to miss having a home base.

She would like a house or cabin to visit for a few months each year between adventures. For now, she seeks comforts such as hot springs and hotel stays using credit card points, and says her online business allows her to work from different places.