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Originally Posted by Trim50
This weekend Lori and I packed-up our 1 bedroom apartment and moved it down to a cargo container located in the not-so-nice parts of Long Beach. We are now officially living on board our boat.
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Does anybody out there have some suggestions for dealing with storage? Should we keep a storage unit while cruising? It seems like a waste of money to me.
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Congrats! for getting onboard the boat! All that much closer to taking off for your trip. This is exciting !!!
Regarding the storage, the clothes go out of style fairly quickly--I would chuck things that aren't truly special/lasting and keep those that are. e.g. keep the designer gown that will work for formal parties for years to come, chuck the designer suit that will be out of style next year.
Regarding the other "stuff"--if you have precious and/or priceless antiques and art collected over many years--face it, if its high value, you're better off storing it in a conditioned storage locker than getting rid of it or farming things out to friends/family, especially if you're only planning on being gone 2 years. I believe that's your goal, right, a couple years around the world sailing? Then, back home? If you're planning on sailing "forever", well then, probably no need for all the home furnishings for many years to come. Sell them, farm them out, whatever if no money for storing them.
I know I've made a lengthy post of this before and won't repeat all that I said there--it really comes down to finances. If one does have enough money that $300-$400/month fits in without a problem, then one won't worry about spending it on storage. If it makes other things for your trip "too tight" then, well, the conversation has to be had about chucking things, seriously.
We did a HUGE downsize getting rid of everything "ordinary" only keeping the "hard or expensive to replace" things. Clothes were not our issue! Furniture, art, antiques, crystal, family heirlooms, rugs, specialized tools, etc were the things we kept. We're spending $394/mo for conditioned storage for an indefinite period of time. We also have a safety deposit box that runs $200/year for important records, jewelry, etc. The only thing farmed out to a friend is a grand piano we own (all the friends/relatives offered to babysit that, for sure

). We'll re-evaluate the whole situation in a couple years. Even if living aboard we'll likely have a small home somewhere and have our stuff there eventually.
I hope your partner is able to go through all her stuff and consolidate since this seems to be what will make you happiest. I also hope that if its not dire situation, you can go-with-the-flow and let her deal with this as she needs to.
Best of luck! in your new adventures.
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