smoke on the water

I’ve met the owner of this sailboat. He lives on it with his very young daughter and their very large dog.

sailboat Port Browning Pender Island Pender Island, British Columbia

We first crossed paths one morning after the dad had rowed his daughter and their dog to shore. The little girl is a cutie-pie and a real chatterbox. She informed me she was on her way to school. When I asked if she was in kindergarten, she looked at me as if I were a complete moron and scoffed, “No, I’m in PRE-school!” She then practically told me her whole life story, including some details I probably shouldn’t have heard. I got the impression her dad is looking for living accommodations on the island, but for now the boat is their temporary home.

I can’t imagine that staying on a boat over the winter would be very comfortable, even in our fairly mild climate. I hope they find something soon.

17 thoughts on “smoke on the water”

Noortje Russel November 23, 2015 at 8:40 am

What a magnificent photo and a wonderful story 🙂
Is there a follow-up (with girl and dog mayby…)?

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bythebriny Post authorNovember 23, 2015 at 9:35 am

Thank you! No follow-up, unfortunately. These days I feel uncomfortable taking pictures of other peoples’ kids…

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1. AnnetteM November 24, 2015 at 10:13 am
  
  That is such a shame isn’t it. I love photographing children, but these days you can only take those you know and even then you can’t publish them!
2. bythebriny Post authorNovember 24, 2015 at 10:28 am
  
  Yeah, it’s a drag.

Beautywhizz November 23, 2015 at 8:59 am

Magical.

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bythebriny Post authorNovember 23, 2015 at 9:35 am

Thanks!

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Laura November 23, 2015 at 10:23 am

What a gorgeous photo. It is amazing what kids will say. I also hope they find a better place to live.

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bythebriny Post authorNovember 23, 2015 at 2:19 pm

Thank you!

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Paige November 23, 2015 at 6:41 pm

Don’t underestimate “boat people”. My husband loved boats and lived on one for years, It may be less of a necessity and more of a choice. They are surprisingly cozy and the water rocks you to sleep. : )

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bythebriny Post authorNovember 23, 2015 at 7:24 pm

Good to know!

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rwanderman November 24, 2015 at 3:45 am

Love this.

In the ’90’s my older stepdaughter moved to Sausalito with her boyfriend and was living on a small houseboat. I had business in San Francisco and my wife and I took the opportunity to visit her. Initially we were aghast at the tiny space with the little hibachi grill in the middle. It looked like something one would see in a river in Vietnam or Cambodia. But, she cooked us an amazing meal and we sat back and looked at the lights of San Francisco across the bay and it was magical and incredibly romantic. I won’t forget it. At one point in my life I could have done that, but, alas, we have a house and land and all the stuff that comes with long term home ownership in “the country” and we’re pretty well dug in. Still, one can dream.

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bythebriny Post authorNovember 24, 2015 at 10:25 am

Thanks! Your evening with your step-daughter and her boyfriend sounds wonderful. Oh to be young and free.

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1. rwanderman November 24, 2015 at 11:50 am
  
  Indeed, young and free… the young part is beyond me at the moment and I’m too tired to be completely free. Sigh.