Waste Not Want Not

September 16th, 2008

I recently returned from a sailing vacation in the Sea of Cortez where eight adults boarded the limited confines of a 50 foot mono-hull boat for six nights and five days.  Multiple bags of groceries, ice, suitcases and towels were sprawled everywhere.  In such tight quarters the challenging question becomes, “Where do we put all the stuff?”  What I’ve come to love about being on a boat is the efficient use of space.  Every nook and cranny is a potential place for storage.  Flip-up seating on the deck reveals a cavernous space for life-jackets, masks, fins and snorkels along with fishing gear and charcoal for the grill.  In the lounge below deck, the dining table booth has removable Velcro cushions that cover yet more storage.  Even the wooden captain’s bench opens to a hidden compartment.  If you can sit on it, chances are there’s space below for stuff.  Nothing is wasted.  I think the designers of the boat had fun coming up with unique places for even the smallest amount of storage.  It’s amusing to open a cabinet door and find a two inch deep reveal with a hammer, a flashlight or a small broom and dust pan tucked away.

There’s something gratifying about how a boat uses what might be considered useless space for a purpose.  Perhaps it’s my mid-west upbringing where the motto waste not want not has been embedded into my cellular memory.  In a society where so much is disposable; it feels good to think about using space intentionally and with forethought – it is the lesson I learn every time I sail.  Space is valuable and there is no space too small or awkward that can’t hold something useful.

One Response to “Waste Not Want Not”

  1. 1 admin
    September 18th, 2008 at 7:55 am

    I absolutely love your observations on the sailboat. I have often marveled at the very same ingenuity. Reminds me of my first (and only?) experience of living on my own.

    Years ago, I rented a 540 square foot studio apartment with a Murphy bed. It was a true minimalist experience. Every single item that I owned not only had a designated home but also had deep significance in my life – from basic necessities to my most prized possessions. That era in my life is perfectly aligned with your concept of sacred spaces. Mine was a place of refuge and order that provided a safe dwelling for me in an otherwise hectic and unpredictable existence. Back then I was working as a straight-commissioned retail/commodities broker in the days before and after the market crash of October 1987. Not that different than the financial markets we are observing today.

    I am so intrigued with the work you are doing and look forward to your updates and observations going forward!

    Best,

    Mary

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