When most people picture their twenties, they imagine starting life as an adult; getting their first job, moving out of the family home, getting a degree, and so on.

For me, my twenties took a very different turn, after moving aboard our boat last December with my dad and sister. It wasn’t too much of a shock, as I grew up around boats and the sea was always like a second home, but trading the familiarity of living on land for a FULL time life at sea with my family? That was a whole new, unknown chapter.

Adjusting to our new life

The first couple of months aboard was a huge reality check. As I’m sure a lot of you know, sharing a small space with your family is hard, especially as a young adult. On a boat there’s nowhere to run off to after an argument, no hiding any messy emotions. This is definitely the biggest challenge for me, and still is after six months. However, even though the boat is still a small space, we each managed to find our own personal spaces. For example, I like to sit in my hammock off the back of the boat and read or just chill. Doing things like going ashore to a nice coffee shop and having that alone time is also so important.

Physically adjusting was tough too. Everything from using the toilet, to water makers and generators, to battery levels, became a puzzle that needed to be figured out. We no longer have the days where we can just do the laundry whenever we want, or even have a hot shower. Everything we did on land now has an extra layer to it.

We all have our own roles on the boat which keeps things running (somewhat) smoothly. My dad is captain, he takes charge of most of the sailing, navigating, and fixes everything that breaks (which is often). I handle more of the official side of things, like signing into customs and organizing pet imports for our dog, Loki. This can definitely be an unknown; we have learnt that each country is different, some require different jabs etc. for the dog and some can be very difficult for us to get into. Grace (my sister), does most of the cleaning and making sure the boat doesn’t turn into total chaos. We all do our part to make sure boat life works.

Another struggle has been connecting with like minded sailors my age. Most people on boats seem to be much younger than me, or much older. I am hoping that when we get down to Grenada this will change, as that seems to be where everyone around here is heading to for the hurricane season.

A minimalist life

Life on land can be chaotic and stressful, with many people wanting more, buying more, consuming more, and spending more time immersed in a digital world, or trying to keep up appearances with their peers. Aboard the boat though, slowly, something shifted. I learned to live with less, and things I once thought were necessary no longer are. And that’s okay!

The simplicity of my new life has brought me a lot of clarity. I now realize how much time and energy I was wasting on things that were not making me happy. Now I spend my days reading, journaling, swimming, going on hikes, meeting new people and experiencing different cultures. It’s shaping who I am and what I want in life, in a way that feels more authentic. After stressing about careers, school, money and materialistic things, I’ve gained some sense of freedom from it, and I no longer need as much to feel full.

Unexpected freedom

What I didn’t expect about moving onto the boat was the kind of freedom it would give me. Not just the freedom of being able to go where you want, but a deeper kind.

On land I always felt as if I was trying to keep up with something, the constant pressure of feeling like I needed to “figure things out.” It’s something people in their late teens and early 20’s often feel; the need to know who they are, what they want and make critical decisions as soon as possible. But out here, I’m not chasing anything. Life feels quieter, although it took me a while to realize that. I have learned that you do not need to have everything figured out just yet.

Going back to minimalism, aboard the boat there is no space for clutter, physically or mentally. As a result, I’ve let a lot go. Not just possessions, but also fears, expectations and so much more. Now freedom is, simplicity. Like drinking my morning coffee, going for an afternoon swim, or even reading my book before bed. Shockingly, especially for someone born in Gen Z, these are the things that make me smile now, this is what freedom has become.

Living tightly with family

Despite the pressure close quarters can bring, living on the boat has surprisingly brought my family closer. Living in such a confined space has stripped away the distance we used to have. We talk way more than we used to, emotions don’t get left unsaid, and we go out together more, instead of living life on different schedules.

That said, boundaries are still important. We all definitely need our own time (especially me), but overall I’ve become grateful for the people I have here with me. Obviously, missing family and friends back at home is also very hard, and even though we can FaceTime, it is still a big struggle.

Finally

Living on a boat in your 20s with your family may not seem like a path many people my age would want to take, but it has taught me so much. Even though it’s not always easy or comfortable, it will now be a part of me forever, and for that I’m truly grateful.