Projects, and Worst Case Scenario(s) - Three have already happened!

Before we moved on board, I might have had a few ideas about some of the worst case scenarios of living aboard. I might have had a few great ideas about how to prevent them, and what we would do if they happened.

We have had no home but the boat for exactly one week now, and a few 'worst case scenarios' have already occurred. I wonder what week 2 holds!?!

On  Week 1, Day 1, I got the stomach flu/food poisoning. The effects of being very ill are magnified in a very small space, with a marine toilet, and we learned in 24 hours about an entirely uncomfortable and unpleasant level of intimacy. The positive side, however, is that I was never more than 10 steps away from the bathroom! And getting the pump out scheduled on a day's notice worked!

On Week 1, Day 2, after spending 24 hours in bed, I discovered a previously undiscovered, but oobvious recurring leak, dumping moisture and dew directly into our bed. This was on top of Rob already feeling that the number of projects were piling up, and my inability to help was weighing on him. Saying to him "by the way,  I am headed to work, but I just noticed that we have a leak you need to fix" was not a great start to the day. That said, he is my hero, and upon my return, the bed was dry, the leak repaired, and the rotten wood removed from the cabin walls. I am lucky to have such a handy captain.

On Week 2, Day 1, A (age 4.5) fell into the water trying to do something her brother R (Age 7.5) was doing above decks. Dad was below decks, and flew up above decks upon hearing the splash, and pleas for help from brother R. A was hanging on the dock edge, and not even crying, so crisis averted, but nerve -wracking nonetheless. We have netting up, so this really goes to making sure that the RULES for safety are understood and adhered to at all times. Mandatory life jackets when above deck even in the slip? Maybe so.

I think the lesson for me is that walking through worst case scenarios as a family and having a plan for how we will prevent, or deal with them is a good idea. Do fellow cruisers/live aboard people have a list we should consider? Here are mine for while we are living in the slip..

1. Falling in
2. Severe Cold Spell - too cold, despite the heating sources we have.
3. Fire
4. Propane leak
5. Leaks/Moisture/Water

Our goal for moving on board was to take on boat projects and expedite our readiness, and without a doubt that is happening. On top of taking care of the kids, and managing the day to day tasks of laundry, food, dishes, etc, Rob's projects this week included:

• Rebuilding the table in the main salon, so that we have more room for living, while still having a homework table, art table and dinner table.
• Adding storage and hooks in kids cabin, bathroom
• Installing a much deeper and more efficient galley sink
• Researching and purchasing our home entertainment solution, ordering wi-fi and phone service, etc.
• Reorganization of storage to create a 'cat house' for Charlie, and get the litter box off the salon floor.
• Dealing with the anchor chain and testing windlass.
• And I re-did the netting on the lifelines on one side of the boat.

Up next,

• Finish the netting
• Re-do Propane tanks - moving them to the Rail, and rerouting Propane lines to the kitchen so we can really start cooking on board.
• V-berth divider so kids can't kick each other at night :)
• Re-organize storage unit to get bikes in for winter
• Keep purging clothes (mom and kids)
• Organize galley storage
• Organize Dock Boxes
• Re-cover Dinghy, get Dinghy motor working.
• Create 'outdoor' living space in cockpit for winter with Isinglass installation and cozy blankets and lights.
• Complete headliner installation

What other projects should we be taking on? What else really helps with 'liveability'?

Thanks for reading!