For the last seventeen years, I haven’t owned or rented a house or an apartment. While this doesn’t mean I was homeless, it does boil down to living alternatively, in a moving home on hulls or wheels or one that belongs to someone else. House and pet sitting gave Mark and me a welcome break from life on the road. And, when we were sailing (from 2007 to 2015), a multiple-week visit to family offered the same reprieve. I ALWAYS soaked up and enjoyed the luxuries found in a house, which are taken for granted by so many.
For example, we didn’t have to catch, collect, or grow some of our own food.
(Unlike my usual photos, these ones are flashes from the past, where modern convenience was lacking and “back to the basics” was favored. Click on or hover over them to read the captions.)
These “luxuries” were so profound to me that I touched on them in my upcoming travel memoir. Twice. But, once seemed enough, so I deleted the second mention. This is what I wrote in chapter eight, Hurricane Force, which is set in the Dominican Republic:
When August arrived in those tropics, I had been more than happy to leave and more than ready for a break in a Western country. It was easy to adjust to the luxuries of a house. I savored showers, flush toilets, a comfortable bed, not bumping my head, walking outside the door and taking a bike or a hike and leisurely opening the fridge, grabbing whatever I wanted. I lounged on each comfortable chair in the house, used electricity as I pleased, and sat behind my laptop to write or check the web, whenever. Getting online was stress-free. The weather was cold, grey, and rainy; a terrible Belgian summer. I didn’t care. The only thing I wanted to avoid was sweat. That and having a headache from the heat every single day. I succeeded. The temperature was half of what I was used to, and I actually enjoyed wearing socks, shoes, trousers, and sweaters and sleeping in flannel sheets.
As long as it was temporary.
When I returned to the Dominican Republic from Belgium, Mark had prepared Irie for hurricane Ike – all three anchors were deployed and many lines had been tied to shore
Being a nomad means I have itchy feet. Travel is my passion; every new experience a joy. Yet, life on the road (or the water) can be exhausting, which is why I always embraced a break. What we have right now is more than a “little break”, however. Mark, Maya, and I have been in “our room above the garage” in Newburyport, Massachusetts, for over five months (other than the month of June), going on six by the time we move into Zesty again. That’s the longest time I have ever spent in one place since I left Belgium in July 2003.
But it’s been positive in so many ways!
- We have been able to take care of Mark’s elderly parents and sporadically hung out with them.
- Mark and I like being on our own, ideally in nature (cities and close neighbors come with noise), but this self-isolation thing fits us just right. While we are usually here for three things: doctors, friends, and family, it has been a different experience to just be “stuck in a room” for so long.
- The pandemic offered us heaps of time to make money and work on projects that always lingered at the bottom of the list, like my memoir. You travel OR you achieve. That has been my experience anyway. A combination would be ideal but hard to accomplish.
- I love my companions: my husband and dog. The former has been by my side pretty much 24/7 since we met in the fall of 2004. Yet, I do enjoy (and crave) me-time, which I’m having plenty of right now as the US Census sent Mark to Cape Cod by for nine days of enumerating.
- Comfort! Ah, to be in a room with unlimited water and electricity… The sofa bed isn’t the best and the internet is shaky, but how I enjoy my pressurized, hot showers and charged devices!
- I have a car to go grocery shopping.
- So many choices in Western grocery stores! Plus, going to the same one makes it easy and quick.
- Garbage cans and free poopy bags are scattered along the walking paths.
- There is a laundry room with a washer and dryer downstairs. Talk about luxury!
- We know we have a safe place to sleep for the night; many nights.
- A climate-controlled room – we only utilize that when the temperature inside is less than 62˚F (16˚C) or above 85˚F (29˚C), but the option is there.
Creating shade on deck
- There is recycling! You have no idea how difficult it is to recycle when traveling – by boat or by camper. Most houses probably have separate bins, but in public these are not easy to locate. National Parks are the exception, but they are a tad spread out to hold on to glass, plastic, paper, and aluminum in a small space for long…
- And, of course, there is my trustworthy desk at which I have been sitting eight hours a day. I will miss it. But I won’t miss all the work, focus, and stress!
The table in our sailboat doubled as our desk
As we will soon ready ourselves for new adventures and wrap up this extended stationary life, it is fair to say that I appreciate all the comfort, conveniences, and productivity it has offered me. Every day, I am grateful for the points mentioned above and I will remember them as we return to our more challenging life less ordinary early October.
Gravity filling our own propane tank ashore – don’t try this at home!
Do you appreciate your shower, full-size fridge, or laundry facilities every day? What are you most grateful for during this pandemic?
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September 23, 2020 at 13:37
I so hear you! There are lots of advantages to being in one space for a while. We are also the longest we’ve ever been anywhere – not just in the same country/town – but the same house, for as long as we can remember. I love the kitchen, all the gadgets, the luxury of a food processor!
September 24, 2020 at 10:26
Hi Trace! I guess that’s the biggest “threat” to our lifestyle: being in one place long enough that we get “too” comfortable and don’t want to leave anymore. 🙂 Although, in our case, this guest room could never be permanent! We haven’t been sucked into ordinary life quite yet.
September 23, 2020 at 14:15
Having been traveling full-time now for over four years, we really relate to what you said in this blog post. Thank you for sharing
September 24, 2020 at 10:28
Hi guys! Yes, you “get it”. And, we should follow your example and stay longer in certain places, to decompress a bit and enjoy ourselves more. 🙂 I think the #1 instigator of where we go this winter – other than politics – will be the weather!
September 23, 2020 at 14:24
Aww, Liesbet, your final line “living a life less ordinary” touched me as I recognized your blog’s tagline. Ordinary people like me love travel but always appreciate being home. When the itchy feet do come, some of us just up and move to a new city, LOL! We love camping in our trailer (now safely stored in our new city) and we will no doubt be on the road again next summer depending on our work situations. Your pics of life on your boat, catching your dinner and life on the road are inspiring. Enjoy your “stranded” moments, they will help define your next stage of life as you and Mark move forward. Our world has changed once more and new adventures await us all!
September 24, 2020 at 10:32
Hello Terri! You’ll recognize my tagline somewhere else as well, soon. 🙂 I totally understand the pleasant and familiar feeling of “home” and I’m sure that if we had a place like that, we’d love to return to it and cocoon for periods of time. Part of me wonders whether I’m being rebellious about not buying our own place so I would not have to “give up” that sense of freedom and lack of roots, responsibilities, and obligations. It has been a bit of a debate recently, as it sure would be nice to have a reliable home base somewhere. But, our “plans” of looking and potentially buying property out west is certainly up in the air now until after the elections!
September 23, 2020 at 14:41
Liesbet, I love how you have lived such a different lifestyle than most people. Although not always easy it has certainly never been boring. Staying still has advantages, but I bet you are ready to hit the road again and I don’t blame you. There are so many new adventures ahead. I hope it will not be too long before you and Mark can reunite with Zesty. For me what I am most grateful for right now is being able to be here in Italy, touring with our motorhome.
September 24, 2020 at 10:36
Hi Gilda! The only reason I’m a bit apprehensive about hitting the road yet is that I still have a huge amount of work to reach my goal of publication this fall… My body and mind are ready for adventure, but my work ethic is not. I’m so glad you are both back in the motorhome exploring Europe. I’m looking forward to reading your last post whenever I have a moment. I do believe that a balance between comfort (whether in your own home or renting or house sitting or an extended stay at a convenient campground) and travel is the way to go!
September 23, 2020 at 15:13
I’ve had small tastes of this, Liesbet. Living in China for 14 years helped me to more fully appreciate ‘Western Conveniences’ that I had taken for granted. Living communally on the Camino trail for 30+ days at a time made me wonder about all that we possess just for ourselves
September 24, 2020 at 10:39
Hi Donna! Isn’t it curious how easy we get used to those western conveniences, though? I remember coming to Belgium or the US for a visit away from our boat (moored in less developed countries) and being totally overwhelmed by what grocery stores had on offer and by all the road traffic. Once we “moved” to the US, these factors became part of life and I don’t think twice about them. Usually.
September 23, 2020 at 15:30
really interesting observations. Recycling–that surprises me. You’d think cities would make that available.
September 24, 2020 at 10:41
Some – more liberal – cities out west have both bins placed in parks and along roads. And, I’ve seen a few exceptions out east as well (the center of Washington DC is a good example), but we rarely stay in or drive through big cities like that. I wish Walmarts or other grocery stores had both bins in their parking lots!
September 23, 2020 at 15:57
Hi Liesbet! I completely understand. I too have wanderlust but fortunately (at least from my perspective) can usually finance a more comfortable experience. But it does come at a price for sure. And after I read one of your early preview copies of your memoir I was convinced that there was NO WAY I could ever life on a boat! I could tell that it suited you and Mark very well, but the challenges you shared made me get honest with myself about what I can and can’t do. I’m glad you’ve been able to appreciate and enjoy your time in place, but I’m guessing you’ll both be ready to hit the road as soon as possible. ~Kathy
September 24, 2020 at 10:45
Hi Kathy! I often wonder whether I could live on a sailboat again under all those previous circumstances, as I get older and crave more comfort. As far as catamarans and sailing adventures go, we roughed it a bit more than others due to the small size and lack of “luxuries” in Irie. IF we ever set out on a cat again, I have three requirements: a watermaker so we don’t have to worry about preserving water so much (and take “real” showers every day, if we want), NOT running a business or having full-time jobs, and allowing ourselves to splurge once in a while with a stay on shore or at a nice marina. 🙂 Mark will be more ready than me to hit the road ASAP this time.
September 23, 2020 at 17:05
We can so relate. Your experiences makes you appreciate the simplicity of life!
September 24, 2020 at 10:46
You two have been on the same path. I love a simple life; I truly do. And that is one of the reasons why I’m not too keen on buying a house and getting settled. 🙂
September 23, 2020 at 17:12
With the change of seasons, I feel your desire to make a change too. I’ll be excited to hear where you and Mark land…or at least park Zesty for a day or two. During this pandemic, I’m most grateful for my job. Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos!
September 24, 2020 at 10:48
Hello Jill! It is so nice that you love your job and your writing – a dream come through, based on your newsletters. 🙂 We’re excited to find out where we will land as well. The idea is to head west the second week of October, with the first stop of note being Colorado. If it’s not too cold yet! 🙂
September 24, 2020 at 11:05
Well, I might need to reach out to you, Liesbet. Once I complete my current contract obligation, I plan to leave the Shenandoah Valley and start a new series out west. 🙂 Thanks for reading my newsletter.
September 24, 2020 at 11:20
That sounds fantastic, Jill! You will LOVE taking your characters – or meeting new ones – out west. Anything I can do to help you, my friend!!!
September 24, 2020 at 11:23
Cool! I’ve got your email. 🙂 I’m looking forward to your new adventures!
September 24, 2020 at 11:25
Happy for you to come along virtually, Jill! 🙂
September 23, 2020 at 18:03
For a stranded nomad, you are good at expressing gratitude. As we have been told, these are “unprecedented times,” and you are making the most of them. You say, “This self-isolation thing fits us just right.” Indeed, Mark can earn money, leaving you free to make serious progress on polishing and publishing your memoir.
Yes, I do appreciate creature comforts as long as I can take a walk in the woods every day – mostly every day. The thing I most appreciate about the pandemic is that I’m quarantined with the person I love most in the world. I believe you may feel the same.
Great collection of photos and thoughts, Liesbet!
September 24, 2020 at 10:54
Thank you, Marian! To be honest, I’m actually loving my life as I can finally make progress with this huge publishing project. Especially now that Mark isn’t home. 🙂 But, yes, he is a good person to be quarantined with. Except, I’ve been doing this with him for sixteen years.
I have more responsibilities with Maya, the household, and the in-laws, but it’s all good. I truly enjoy me-time and dividing my days the way I see fit. Not that my desire for longer, more productive days actually makes them longer and more productive. As always, time flies way too fast. These months rush by in a flash! Enjoy your walk in the woods!! We will soon be able to do that again as well.
September 23, 2020 at 18:29
The older I get, the more I appreciate the little – and big – conveniences of life. I love to travel but there is something so comforting about coming home to the familiar. As far as being grateful during the pandemic, that’s easy: my husband, my friends, my house, my yard, the internet, being retired etc. etc. etc. Come to think of it, those are things I’m grateful for every day! I love all your pictures!
September 24, 2020 at 10:57
Hi Janis! I have noticed that trend related to aging as well. I could never backpack the way I did it in my twenties, for example, and if we ever get another sailboat, I want a bit more comfort and convenience. Even for the near future, I keep telling myself that we should rough it less and pay for camping once in a while. 🙂
You are an immensely grateful person. That is awesome, how you love everything around you and within your reach. I think this sense of gratitude gets better the older you get as well.
September 23, 2020 at 19:33
What a wonderful post Liesbet, you made me yearn for life on the road again! There are so many pluses and negatives to both lifestyles. You have lived to the full and here’s too many more years of doing what makes you and Mark smile.
September 24, 2020 at 10:58
You hit the nail on the head with your comment, Suzanne. There are pros and cons to about everything in our lives, especially our choices and lifestyles. Thank you for the encouragement. The future will tell how it enfolds. 🙂
September 23, 2020 at 19:52
You have lived a very blessed life.
September 24, 2020 at 10:59
It hasn’t been too bad, Alex. 🙂
September 23, 2020 at 21:07
You know I always have one foot out the door ( 🙂 ), but the other one is definitely firmly rooted … at least somewhere. We’ve moved around, changed cities and houses, and I am often looking for the next “fixed” spot even after a short while. I do need some creature comforts on a regular basis, even though I am perfectly content in a tent or on a boat for a short time. I can’t imagine how you can do it long-term, but I certainly find it fascinating and worthy of admiration!
September 24, 2020 at 11:04
I just love, love, love that blog title of yours, Lexie. So accurate. You definitely have itchy feet and a wandering spirit, but nobody says that one has to live in the same place/house forever, as you have demonstrated. I think that is the joy – and a recent attraction to us – of being an expat. Sounds like a good combination of a few lifestyles and nothing has to be permanent! Living on a boat or RV becomes exhausting after a while. Our sailboat was actually more comfortable in a way than Zesty, mainly due to its bigger size and full kitchen (there was an oven and a three-, or was is four, burner stove) and certainly felt more like a home too. We will see what the future brings! 🙂
September 24, 2020 at 07:10
I am not cut out for a nomads life so I read with fascination the reports of others, like you, who do. I don’t even camp. I expect I wouldn’t survive long in the wild 😉
The planning and organization skills required for a nomad’s life would be extraordinary compared to the typical home dweller. You simply can’t afford to make mistakes in calculating the supplies necessary for an ocean journey. Respect!
This pandemic has caused most of us to reevaluate what is important and meaningful, and some of us have comfortably settled into the hermit’s life.
September 24, 2020 at 11:10
Haha, Joanne! I don’t think I’ll survive long in the wild either as I am not able to kill animals (mentally and physically) or know which berries and mushrooms are edible or poisonous. When I first read your statement about the need for planning and organization skills, I thought “nope, not us – we live and travel on the fly” but you are so right when it comes to sailing. We were constantly taking the weather into consideration and planning for the worst. Yes, RV life is much easier – and freer – than boat life. But, much less peaceful and isolating. 🙂
Yes about the hermit life. This pandemic is another confirmation of how much I love to be alone without interruption. Maybe it’s a selfish thing, or a familiarity thing, or a lazy thing, but I’m quite happy stuck here for a little while.
September 24, 2020 at 09:22
As you well know, I can totally relate. We’ll be hitting the road ourselves the second week in October. I will miss long hot showers and a ‘real’ oven. However, after sitting still for 4 months, I am definitely ready for a change of scenery. Safe travels to you guys!
September 24, 2020 at 11:14
Yes, Ingrid!
Those are the two things I will miss most as well – the “real” shower (doesn’t have to be long and usually isn’t as my mind is still very much in tune with water conservation) and the crappy “easy-bake oven” we bought for this stay. That toaster oven is so loud and crappy that we don’t even know whether we will store it in the basement here or put it on the street for someone else to use. But, it came in handy nevertheless. Every day!!
We are ready for a change of scenery as well, especially returning to nature. It looks like we will be on the road around the same time. Safe travels to you and Al as well. And, we hope to swing by when we are in Phoenix this winter!
September 24, 2020 at 10:08
In the last week and a half I’ve had 4 real showers after over two months of just doing our washing up in the van routine. Clean hair feels amazing!
Great collection of pics showing the unglamorous side of traveling.
This year I’m grateful that we weren’t planning on house sitting this summer since I assume no one went anywhere. Our Alaska plans were dashed but we’ve still managed to have some good adventures and see some great stuff.
September 24, 2020 at 11:18
I think you two have been making the right decisions regarding your plans and you are right, it would have been a bust trying to house sit in Cabbagetown over this past summer. Most of my house sitting friends are doing different things right now. I think if you would house sit all around the US, it might be possible to do so for the people who have two properties in this country.
Alaska will still be there next summer. 🙂 Enjoy those showers! You guys are roughing it much more than us, not having your own shower facilities in the van. I’ll never complain to you about our military-style showers every other day! See you in a couple of months!
September 24, 2020 at 19:33
Liesbet,
My wife and I aren’t nomads, but we are minimalists: There is tremendous freedom (even if merely psychological) in not being weighed down by stuff. We own what we need; we don’t have closets and cabinets full of things in indefinite storage. It’s a lifestyle that lends itself to tremendous peace of mind.
SPC
September 25, 2020 at 17:10
Hi Sean! I LOVE that! We are minimalists as well and you are so right, it is enormously liberating. I truly enjoy not having stuff, except for what we need to live relatively comfortable. When we stay in a house for a little while – visiting or house sitting – it takes us about two to three hours to completely empty our van and resettle somewhere, putting clothes, toiletries, kitchenware, food, and a few personal belongings away in cabinets and the fridge. When I hear about people moving houses and needing weeks to pack up, it makes me cringe. 🙂
But, those two-three hours do add up when we move around a lot and have to pack and unpack often, like we did when we house sat for most of the year in the past. Soon, we will put everything back in our campervan and I hope it will remain there for many months.
September 25, 2020 at 10:27
Liesbet I always admire your positive attitude whatever your situation. I think I take conveniences such as showers, laundry and electricity forgranted. Nothing like a wee adventure in the wilderness to bring me back to reality. Wishing you safe travels ahead as you head back out on the road. I’ll be interested to know where Zesty leads. All the best!
September 25, 2020 at 17:15
Hi Sue!
I think most people take the usual conveniences for granted. I think if I would have a house and know that it will be “forever”, I might forget my water conservation practices and don’t think twice about leaving the fridge door open or taking a shower, maybe even two, a day! 🙂 What I will NEVER do, though, is keep the water running when brushing my teeth, or leaving the lights on when not necessary. If anyone ever wants to truly annoy me…
I’m interested to know where Zesty leads us as well! 🙂
September 25, 2020 at 14:30
The travel vs achieve thing is definitely true. There are many things we plan to do once we settle down – go back to school, volunteer, take on big projects. They’re things that are just not do-able when you’re on the road and constantly changing locations and having to solve problems. Fulltime travel is just one giant set of trade offs. There’s nothing wrong with that, but people need to be realistic about what they’re getting themselves into.
September 25, 2020 at 17:21
Exactly! The biggest issue with being a nomad for so long is – because we are not retired – that we have to keep working and make money. Especially on our sailboat, it was impossible to find a balance. Luckily, camper projects are not as huge, expensive, and extensive as on a boat. It has always been my goal – with my blogs and my upcoming memoir – to be transparent about this lifestyle. Too many people think we are so “lucky” and that it’s all unicorns and rainbows (cocktails and sunsets) to do what we do. Ha! I know you totally get what I’m talking about here – it’s about educating the world about the intricacies – good and bad – of this lifestyle and… to stop make them say that we are lucky! 🙂
September 26, 2020 at 15:19
Interesting. Thanks for sharing this thoughtful post.
September 27, 2020 at 11:46
You’re welcome, Leslie. I’m sure you can relate. 🙂 Good to see you both explore Rhode Island in HaRVy! Any chance you drove through Newburyport earlier this month? We – very surprisingly – saw another Westy drive through town. But, it had MA license plates, so probably not you…
September 28, 2020 at 22:16
Sounds like happy trails to you guys. Yes, I’d imagine after so much time you might get too comfortable in one place. It will hit you when you’re older. Enjoy the ride! 🙂 xx
September 29, 2020 at 16:05
Hi Debby! The biggest “enemy” of the nomad: getting too comfortable being settled somewhere so the urge to leave dissipates!
September 29, 2020 at 01:21
Hi Liesbet, The phrase “taken for granted” is always a good reminder for many parts of our life. The flashback photos are fun to see. An interesting excerpt in chapter eight. And like you say, temporary. The noise issue can be a real big issue for me, too, in the city. The “me time” is also important. You summarize well many pros and cons. A good reminder for life in general. We have just returned from our unplugged camping trip in our eight foot camper on Long Beach, West Coast of Vancouver Island. It is a time for us to rest, recharge and replenish our body and spirit. I am grateful for the time I have with my husband. Nothing in life is forever. It is all temporary. ❤️
September 29, 2020 at 16:10
Hi Erica!
It’s easy to take things for granted, isn’t it? I’ve sealed a pact with myself to never do that. Or, when I realize I do it, to make myself aware and add some spice to the situation, the relationship, the place I’m at. 🙂
Am eight foot camper?? That is tiny. Is it a pop-up travel trailer? How nice to get out and camp to recharge the physical and mental batteries. The West Coast of VI is special. And, you’re so right: nothing is forever! For good or for bad… I mention this in my memoir – “everything comes to an end, even a soul-crunching ocean passage.” 🙂
September 29, 2020 at 22:23
Our 8 foot camper (on our truck) is at least 35 years old and we love it! A decent fridge and well thought out storage space. We have debated getting something bigger although we love our camper. Another positive is how it stays warm in cooler weather because it is smaller. We used to camp with our 2 daughters and our dog in this camper. We made it work. I think my husband is one of the original Boy Scouts. I appreciate your last sentence, Liesbet, re everything comes to an end. The good and the bad. Wishing you a great deal of good. 🙂
September 30, 2020 at 11:55
Thanks, Erica. And now the eight feet length of your camper makes sense, as it’s a truck camper! 🙂 I used to share a 9ft one with an ex-boyfriend and an 11ft one like that with Mark in the past and lived in them for a couple of years in total. I loved those set-ups as well. As a matter of fact, we are looking into changing Zesty out for another truck camper again.
October 2, 2020 at 10:06
Liesbet, what a wonderful summary of both your past and present life … and how your “itchy feet” have lead to so many adventures. Like you, James and I have rarely been in one place for long – so we’ve decided to look at our recent isolation as an adventure, too – albeit a kind of strange adventure! But aren’t they all? 🙂 Where are you three heading next? ~Terri
October 3, 2020 at 15:44
Like I always say, Terri: life is an adventure! Or, “everything is an adventure”! And, that’s the truth. 🙂 Life would be boring if there were no adventures to be had. We are hopping in the van this weekend, stopping by a couple of friends, and heading west. Then southwest for the winter. Maya ate the Kentucky page in my atlas, so not sure whether we will stop there. 🙂
October 28, 2020 at 12:41
Liesbet, it was fascinating to see all the photos that gave glimpses of your life aboard the catamaran. I do think that one of the important factors in having a satisfying life is to appreciate the good things in life, whatever it entails, wherever it is. I think you and Mark are both adaptable and able to enjoy what life brings you, recognizing that every living situation has pros and cons. I’ll read on to see where you and Zesty are headed now.
Jude
October 28, 2020 at 22:06
Hi Jude!
Our eight-year chapter on the catamaran was an interesting one, to say the least. While I played with the idea of writing a memoir about our Central American adventures overland when that trip ended in 2006, I never had time to do so as we pretty much immediately dove into the next adventure.
And, that’s what we seem to do. All. The. Time. Luckily, I made it a point of writing a book about that first sailing adventure. Who knows… there might be another one. Life is one big adventure. Sometimes we deal with the negatives of this challenging lifestyle better than other times. 🙂