Monday, February 14, 2011

scary corners of my home ~ the forepeaks


fore-peak  n.
The section of the hold of a ship that is within the angle made by the bow and is used for trimming or for storage of cargo.
At least we're using it correctly. Our forepeaks (we have 2 because being a catamaran we have 2 bows) are a scary place to be indeed. In the hands of a tidy couple with no children, one might find a stack of sailbags, rows of neatly hanging spare line, maybe a few boxes of storage items in properly labeled boxes. What a lovely image.
For us, it's a catch all junk closet in desperate need of cleaning.
You access the forepeaks by crawling over the bath tubs on either the port or starboard heads. What's in there? Anything and everything. On one side there are indeed sails (our spinnaker and storm sail) and camping gear and dive gear.  And on the other side mainly off season and "next size up" clothes for the kids, and seasonal items too. And my gift stash. You know those goodies you buy on sale through the year and save for special occasions or for friend's birthday parties.
It adds up. I am at a point of wanting to thin out the seasonal items. I am trying to get the winter holidays to fit in s small box. And I want all other holidays combined in another small box. As it it each season has a fairly huge box, but once we cast off we won't have traditional 4 seasons. So it seems silly to keep nature table items and so forth for spring and winter and fall. And clothes will thin out too, as I won't need a collection of snow boots and winter coats and sweaters and footie pajamas and wool blankets. I want to have one small box of next-size-up items for each kid, but it'll mostly be sandals and rash guards and swimsuits.
So here is the before. And I can't promise the after will look all too much better or less scary, but I'll post as we make progress. In the mean time, if you come over to play and then can't find your kid... there's a good chance they'll be somewhere up in the forepeaks stacked amongst the stuff.

p.s. Don't forget to enter the fabulous GIVEAWAY from Kohala Kids Co. open until Thursday!

11 comments:

Joy said...

Well, if you need to shed some of your nature table items, I want to be supportive of that! You know a nature table that would always welcome your "extras". ;) So...when do we get to come visit and experience life aboard?

Christina said...

Do you seriously have four bathrooms? or heads as they are called? We only have one! I'm a little jealous : )

Anna said...

I'm continually amazed at how well you survive on such little storage. If you really want to get scared come see our basement.

mare said...

Your boat is beautiful!! Scary corners, and all! :-)

affectioknit said...

I need to seriously go though our storage too...we live in a big old parsonage and for only three people it just makes it too easy to accumulate stuff...

Happy Valentines Day!

Anonymous said...

Love hearing about life afloat! Even though we are landlubbers I too struggle with storage, I have a 2 box limit to x-mas- this year goodwill got some goodies! Our nature table box has stayed pretty tiddy, but we did have to part with robin egg shells and some other nature goodies back to the woods this year! Happy Valentines Cindy! Hugs to the crew!

The Ceol Mors said...

Why does your blog continue to eat my comments...anyway...thanks for reigniting my cat lust. In our forepeaks, the only thing there is room for is our berth! I am jealous of all of your storage space!

Happiness is... said...

Oh dear oh dear oh deary me! Tell me if you need Tonka to take a batch of anything to Sal Army. Now I feel bad for returning a few items to your boat last night! :0

xo,

Super Jen

Beth said...

I love the way your son is in the thick of things...and I especially love the picture of his feet! I'm trying to declutter my huge victorian house and you are really putting it all into perspective for me. love, Beth

tinsenpup said...

We have a whole room in our house that looks just like that. I'm undertaking a similar project. I'm not posting 'before' photos though. :)

Anonymous said...

Love that your son is in the thick of it! That would be my Aaron, about the same age as yours, adventurous and the spotlight of our home. Good Luck!

p.s. we have a garage full of holiday, kids clothes, hubby junk! ugh, maybe this long weekend i'll take a stab at it.

Jessica, sacramento ca us

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