Inspiration for today: describing my current surroundings.
Huddled up in bed, with a cold, I am lying underneath a fleece blanket on the top bunk. The bunk is not far from the ceiling, so I can’t quite sit up. Instead, I fold my pillow in two and rest my head upright, with my laptop on my stomach.
On the left side of my bunk is an air-conditioning dial. We have put a piece of black cardboard over the dial so the lights won’t keep us up at night. To my right is a port-hole, where I can look out and see the water. The current is rippling by at an alarming rate. The sun has almost set, creating a mirrored effect on the water.
At the end of my bed is a small book shelf, stacked with books we have been reading over the last few months. There are also several water bottles crammed in for when thirst calls in the middle of the night.
On the back of the door leading into the bathroom is a mini gallery of sorts. From my bunk I can look at all the photos and memorabilia we have collected on our travels. There are photos from home in New Zealand and photos we have taken while away. Several bar coasters are on the door. If a bar coaster has the place-name on it, I try to take one home with me as a souvenir. In case you are wondering, I only have four so far, so don’t imagine a whole door plastered with bar coasters. That would be slightly alcoholic!
I am content and snug in this little space. What really amazes me is I have been living in this room, with my fiance, for nearly a year now. The top bunk is big enough so we can both sleep in it, so we joke that the bottom bunk, is our living room. This is where we hang out if we want to read, or have a change of scene. Hard to believe really isn’t it?
In less than two weeks, we leave the boat and all of this behind, heading back to New Zealand. It is the little things I am really looking forward to when we get a house of our own once again.
I can’t wait to be able to sit up in bed and have a cup of tea. It has been really bothersome to me to sleep in a bed where you can’t do this. It is physically impossible to drink tea in these bunks. Heck, I am looking forward to not sleeping in a bunk! I don’t ask for much, but a little space will be great.
Having a sofa we can veg out on by ourselves will be dreamy.
Sleeping without air-conditioning will do wonders for my soul, and my sinuses. I love fresh, clean air.
It will be so special to have a space to myself, where I can sit up and write. The old laptop on the belly has served me well; although, I cannot wait for the freedom to write sitting up, looking out a window at something beautiful.
On leaving, I am also thankful for this little space, as it has been a great haven for me many times over the last year. It has in a strange way, become my little escape from everything else going on.
Creative juicing 