I Lived on a Sailboat Full Time; Quit, Moved Back on Land After a Year

In March 2021, my partner, greyhound, and I started living aboard a 42-foot sailboat.

In the years leading up to moving aboard, I daydreamed about our nomadic lifestyle — but after a year of sacrificing hygiene, stability, and family time, the wanderlust had worn off.

Simple day-to-day activities, like showering and grocery shopping, became complicated endeavors. We spent a lot of time and energy simply maintaining our basic needs.

By August 2022, we’d moved back on land and into an apartment.

Our decision was ultimately the result of these challenges, which wore on me physically and emotionally.

Limited water led to limited showers

Although I consider myself low-maintenance, boat life pushed my hygiene needs to their limit. 

When sailing, especially to remote locations, we had a finite amount of water we could carry. So we minimized showering to conserve it and instead took “saltwater baths” in the ocean.

Since soap doesn’t lather as well in the ocean and salt sticks to skin and hair, I was never able to truly feel clean.

I went up to a month without a freshwater shower, and the heavy layer of salt and grease in my hair made me uncomfortable and self-conscious.

I longed to establish a daily routine

At first, finding the most convenient grocery store and a nice running path was part of the adventure, but constantly feeling unfamiliar with our location became tiring.

I was relieved when we stayed in a place for a week or more, so I could establish a routine. 

And instead of feeling excited about our next destination, each departure made me sad because I was leaving behind this newfound familiarity. 

Traveling every few days empowered me to become more adaptable, but I continued to have anxiety over access to the resources we needed. 

Homesickness was more difficult than I anticipated

I always knew leaving my friends and family would be challenging, but it surprised me how suddenly waves of homesickness would overcome me. 

While picking up ice cream, I wanted to share it with my dessert-loving nieces. And I yearned to be with my best friend when I tried local hot sauces. 

After missing a year of birthdays and holidays, I’m now embracing every opportunity to create memories with the people I love.

I still learned a lot, and the experience was worth the challenges

Living on a sailboat has helped me appreciate the simple things in life.

Since moving into an apartment, I’m as grateful as ever that showers are readily available and groceries are easily acquired and stored. 

I feel lucky to carry memories of beautiful beaches and diverse cultures, but I’m also looking forward to our next chapter on land. 

This story was originally published on November 27, 2022, and most recently updated on July 23, 2025.