Tiny Home Tuesday - Dutch Sailing Barge

I knew if I kept its page open long enough I'd eventually remember to post this and today is the day!

It is pretty clear (on a clear day) that boats tend to be a passion of mine. Some in reality, some in a dream zone that is perfectly content to remain there. I learned a long time ago, walking docks with my Dad, that liking isn't the same as wanting. So this boat/home, which is a rental you can read all about here makes the list of oh!

"The historic Twee Gebroeders Dutch sailing barge is found nestled on the River Orwell in the peaceful Suffolk village of Pin Mill."

I don't know about all the red fabrics but that red range! Can't you smell the bread? Roast anything? Bubbling pots of soup? Oil fired, yes.

Cozy

From Heritage Travel UK is a a less flowery and more informative page about her, along with the historic photo below.

While not specific to this barge, the web site Life at an Angle has some interesting and fun information about actually living on a Dutch sailing barge as opposed to views of a rental. For sailors, there is also a lot of informational bits about the sailing aspect, such as what are those huge leeboards all about...

When thinking barges, usually the UK, France and various other spots in Europe come to mind. Drifting slowly down canals, bucolic farms and country views of charming towns and villages on either side, where stopping for a night or week would...well, that's my fantasy, you can make up your own. Even better, you can live your own.

This is from a good experiential article on narrowboats with lots of intriguing photos. We don't get much of a view of what the writer called Hippie Heaven, but hugely enough to make up a story. Photo credit goes to either Roger, Grant or Michael.

If you are looking for liveaboards, barges or narrowboats as they are sometimes called, you'll find plenty, in every price range (and condition) imaginable. They are everywhere. Even in the US but not so easily found stateside. A semi-casual online search brought up only one true barge in the states, in Sausilito, California. I'm sure there are more but we're just not a liveaboard barge kind of country for one reason or another. Maybe that is why houseboats have such a limited appeal... 

For those of us who are drawn to a watery house style of life, the passion is strong. If you haven't lived on a boat but think you want to, do it! All the reasons not to can be overcome with a strong enough desire. It doesn't have to be a forever choice, but it might be. Remember, life is short, death is long. Embracing a passion and making it happen isn't reserved for a few 'lucky ones' who somehow manage to live as they choose. But it is all about choice. Unless you are independently wealthy, it is about every choice you make, every day (and frankly, I think the pleasure derived when working hard for a dream makes it infinitely more precious when it is achieved than to go plunk down cash for whatever whenever - but that's me - I live on Culebra where easy is only how you keep your mind, not how every day goes). Dream a little dream.

Have a tantamount Tuesday. Do something tangent.