For want of a proper pantry...

Ian Welsh making some sense, a book review on the subject of slow violence, and some passionate words about austerity...

I can't help but notice that the cost of gas/diesel keeps going up and, while I'll admit that the resulting lower traffic of weekend warrior cigarette boatfolk is kinda nice but, the resulting spiraling costs that higher fuel prices cause in other areas like transport is somewhat worrisome...

You might not be aware but quite a few people in the USVI do a lot of grocery shopping with Walmart. Online grocery prices at Walmart are scary cheap in comparison to Caribbean/USVI prices plus the fact that it is not hard to get free shipping (sent via US Mail) makes it something of a lifesaver. Which, I suppose, is something that boatfolk who visit and provision in the US Virgins when they're here should keep in mind as an option. For a USVI address all you need is to have stuff sent to General Delivery. It works just fine.

Which, in a way, brings us back around to the subject of cruising boat design...

If there is one single aspect of sailboat design that drives me nuts it is the fact that storage/stowage on a modern sailboat is simply crazy. It's almost like the designers involved never gave a thought to the idea that a cruising couple or family might actually need to store food, spare parts, fuel and other such needful stuff when they take off for an extended cruise.

This is actually important...

Being able to stock up when and where stuff is cheap is a major factor in being able to cruise on a tight budget. Having a full larder allows one to be able to cruise areas where the prices are silly expensive and, more or less, stay on your chosen budget.

The thing is, on a modern sailboat of say 30-36 feet, where do you put those cases of green beans you found at thirty-nine cents a can so you don't have to pay $1.39 or more a can on some paradisaical island? Most boats can handle a month's worth of provisions but to really start saving money you need a capacity of something more akin to at least six months of staples.

So where are you going to put it?

Listening to The Wailin' Jennys

So it goes...