Hair and Cheese – My Life Sailing

the boat was very small. but somehow, that never really bothered me. over time, i was able to find an accommodation to any adjustment i needed to make in order to make it “habitable”.   From the outset, i had to major issues: my hair, and cheese.

My Hair – My hair is always an issue, regardless of what i’m doing. There’s a lot of it, and as i’ve gotten older, it’s gotten curlier. The curlier it gets, the more prone to “dread-ing” it becomes. When on ocean water for more than 2 days without washing, the under side of my hair dreadlocks. By day three, removal of the knots requires scissors. I’ve lived on a caribbean island for 7 years, and as i tell all my brides – you will lose the battle with your hair. Succumb. My personal anthem is “Hair” by Lady GaGa. (and no, i cant cut it, lest i’d like a permanent enormous helmet o’ hair on my head)

On a 27 foot boat, there is no shower. There was a 5 gallon neoprene bag, with a hose. I tried to wash my hair in a bucket once, but it took about 2 gallons of water, and water is a commodity on a boat. We were seldom in a place to acquire more water, so i had to figure something out. I tried french braids, i tried ‘twists’, i tried pony with braid, and the minute i took my hair out – WHOOSH – an enormous fuzzy mass atop my head. There was a sheepskin on the boat, i looked exactly like it. And of course, when one’s hair is a fuzzy frizzy salty mass, it breaks and falls out. So now, there’s hair all over the tiny space. Not fun.

About a week or so in, i figured i could go three days without washing my hair, however i had to leave a good bit of conditioner in my hair, and then spray it with coconut oil. I found the right balance of products to make it actually quite pleasant…until about day 2.5. At which point i was just plain greasy.

By the end, i could shower, shave, exfoliate face and body, wash and condition my hair in 1.5 gallons of water.  I rock. And I was Clean. amen.

I would sit on the floor of the “cockpit”, remove my skivvies, leave my bikini top on,  and i could  have some modicum of privacy in the harbors.  And i was Clean. Amen.

Cheese:  We had no refrigerator, but we had a small cooler. It would fit about a 12 pack.  In Trinidad, bagged ice was about $1 – $2.  Totally worth it, as cheese, drinks, anything is lovely with a bit of a chill.  The cool water the next day was nice for rinsing clothes as it was good fresh water.  But after Trinidad, a bag of ice was about $5 usd.  Since we were going to be days between locations where ice could be had, it wasnt even worth buying it..especially at that price.

Right, wrong or indifferent, i eat about an 8 oz brick of cheddar cheese every 2 – 3  days when i’m at home.  I eat the same basic foods all the time, and they all have cheese.  Cheese omelet for breakfast, tuna with cheese for lunch, and taco’s or pizza or something like that for dinner – all cheese, and all very easy to make on a small boat.

Never fear, I’m an island girl after all.  I dont care where you are in the Caribbean, Central America or Mexico, you will find “Happy Cow” cheese.  And as i say, Happy Cow, makes for a happy cow!  After about a week, i was able to find said product from the heavens, and i was solid.   Then, as if a girl couldnt be happy enough, i was standing in a “chandlery” (store just for the sailing set with stuff for boats) and there was a book, the name of which i regret i do not recall, and it said that the sealed package cheese would stay good for days without refrigeration.  It said the cheese would separate, but it would still be good.

The “New Zealand Anchor” brand cheese is also as ubiquitous as Happy Cow.  And now i know why.  It does. It really really does last.  For a couple days.  It cost about $4 usd a brick for cheddar.  I would buy two bricks, as i normally eat about a brick every two days at home of regular cheddar.  I’m a cheese-avor. Everything is better with cheese.  So, cheese problem solved, i basically ate exactly as i did at home, especially once we found soy and taco seasoning on Union Island, Grenada.