Downsizing, Cherished Items & Quirky Polar Bears

I'm a sucker for a blog hop. They're a great way for introverts like me to get social and meet new people without worrying about what hostess gift to bring, what to wear and the agonies of small talk. When I read about the Cherished Blogfest, I was excited - new people to meet while wearing my PJs and sitting behind my computer. Plus, I was really intrigued by the topic - sharing the story of something you cherish.

For those of you who haven't been here before, there's one important fact you should know. I live in a tiny floating home, a 34' sailboat called Tickety Boo, with less than 300 sq ft of living space.

When you live on a sailboat, the majority of the things you own are devoted to operating your boat, keeping you safe and meeting your basic needs (like sleeping, eating and personal hygiene). There's not a lot of room for stuff with no practical purpose.

As I sat in the living quarters of our boat looking around me, I didn't see anything that I cherished. I saw a fire extinguisher, a VHF radio, an air horn and some groceries I hadn't put away yet. All important things, but I don't cherish them.

Then I went into our sleeping quarters to look for cherished items. Nope. Just clothes, towels and storage cubbies full of canned goods and wine. Don't get me wrong, I like wine and canned tomatoes, but I don't cherish them. If there was a bar of dark chocolate squirreled away in there, that might be a different matter. Sadly, there wasn't.

I didn't even bother going in the v-berth to look for cherished items. There's a lot of stuff crammed in there, but more of the dull and practical variety. And the bathroom, well, it's just your typical bathroom, except much smaller, with a marine toilet and no working shower. Okay, maybe not so typical.

I sat back down in the living quarters and sighed. Was there nothing that I cherished on our boat? Is this what happens when you downsize and don't have room for fun yet impractical stuff?

Then I spied my quirky polar bears sitting on a shelf above our chart table. At last, something cherishable which serves no useful purpose. Better yet - they're small and unbreakable.

Aren't they cute?

My nieces gave these to me, which is one of the reasons why I cherish them. When I was visiting them a few years ago, we had a lot of fun doing a polar bear defense system photo shoot. They've since beomce teenagers and would likely disdain the whole idea of playing with polar bears now.

If you're going to sail in Alaska, you have to be prepared to defend yourself against polar bears.

On the other hand, I'm happy to be utterly goofy, have fun and do photo shoots on our travels with my polar bears. They remind me that growing up is really overrated. All the more reason to cherish my little polar bears.

Polar bears at Death Valley National Park

Polar bears in Key West

Polar bears at Zion National Park

What items do you cherish in your life and why?

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Check out what other things people cherish at the Cherished Blogfest.