Repurposed Boats: Water, Weather and Whim

“Have a happy passing, purchase ” quipped our captain as our ferry headed out to sea towards the island. As we debarked and drove down the unpaved road on the island I have visited every year since I was 20, pilule I noticed small changes. The insular world of living on an island constantly changes and unfolds, as water, weather and whim dictate.

Off-season...

1. It’s quiet. This is always obvious once the swell of summer people fade away. In the spring, it’s a different kind of quiet – one that is laced with the anticipation of new growth, brighter skies, fishing and the upcoming summer season. 2. Everyone knows everyone. During the high season, islanders tolerate the seasonal visitors. On the shoulder seasons (fall and spring), the two groups co-mingle naturally. 3. People who live on islands are forever adaptive and resourceful. While much of the local economy depends upon the glut of summer people, year-rounders know they need to be both practical and imaginative to survive the off-season.

On an island, lighting and wind may change from season to season, but one thing remains constant - boats are a lifeline. When a boat’s usefulness ends, why not give it a new life?

Canoe ‘O Plants

Fishing Boat Storage Sheds

Floating Garden

Credits: Ben Scott, Recylart, Inhabitat, Garden Design

Pothole

“I got the key to the highway, and I'm billed out and bound to go I'm gonna leave here runnin', cause walkin' is much too slow” ~ Eric Clapton

I was cruising down the road Saturday morning maintaining a respectable speed, and listening to music on my iPod that would make my son, who was arriving any moment for spring break proud. My little Jetta diesel was humming along when it hit a pothole and started to shake. In that split second, I remembered not to slam on the brakes and lose control. Slowly, I drifted over to the side of the road to inspect the damage. The right front tire was obliterated.

Next, I did the least gender-bending thing I could think of and called my husband. So much for all those women's studies classes in the ‘70’s…sexism reigns when there's a flat tire. He was about 20 minutes away at the hardware store – his Saturday morning home away from home.

After about a half an hour, a very pleasant police officer pulled over and surveyed the damages. I explained that my guy was tool ogling and would be by shortly. The nice cop and I discussed how to deal with the broken highway. He said he’s seen a sharp rise in pothole vs. car incidents these last few weeks. He had no idea when the highway department would get around to making the repairs on all the potholes. After a short discussion about our mutual love of rockin' to Clapton while driving, he bid me farewell and said he would check back in about an hour - just in case my knight in shining armor forgot about me. Ha, cute cop.

As it turned out, I did have a bit more time to think about the pothole situation.

If the highway department fails to deal with the craters before they eat up tires and rims, we might need to find a swifter, slightly more subversive alternative. I had written a post over on Planet Green that might be the key to the highway…Go Bomb Something With Yarn - Knitting Over The Edge.

Credit: Flickr - Pothold Project via CMYBacon

Cabin Fever Dreams

I am told Cabin Fever is not a measurable or diagnosed affliction. It is getting capitalized here like any true disease because I believe it is real. I bet you know others who have been struck with this degenerative mood-altering ailment. What, with the snow, ice, rain, slush, mud, and the freezing, freezing temps this winter, it could strike anyone.

Here's my unofficial definition of Cabin Fever:

Cabin Fever is a type of hysteria brought on by spending too much time indoors during the winter of 2011. No matter how comfortable and beautifully designed the "cabin" is, in severe cases its inhabitants can see no end in sight.

So sad.

A Site

Designtripper is a dreamy website that's fueling a travel fantasy - Pack the bags, ditch the "cabin" and hit the road. What is Designtripper?

"Designtripper explores the intersection of travel and design with genuine curiosity and good taste."

Designtripper will not book a trip for you, but it will narrate bedtime stories with design eye-candy that will,

"…inspire you to see the world through someone else’s home."

Here is the first destination on Designtripper's itinerary I'm dreaming about…

A Place

Swedish fashion brand Elvine, has launched a new design hotel concept, Creators Inn in Stockholm, Sweden. They offer free accommodations for creative people. Yes, you read that right – It's totally free. No hidden fees. The mission of Creators Inn is to promote the local area and give something back to creative travelers who they feel will contribute to making their city more interesting.

To qualify for free accommodations, potential guests need to apply on the Creators Inn website, and write a reason why they deserve a free stay, and what creative activities they will be involved in during their stay. Then their wish may be granted. Hmm, I could think of…a zillion creative activities, none the least of which could be my role as an armchair creative.

Wait, it get's even better…

Creative Social Responsibility

Social responsibility is one of those buzzy eco-terms. It generally describes a company's business model of aspiring to have an impact on the lives of workers. Elvine takes this one step further and defines their model in creative terms:

"We tried to add some creativity to the equation, labeling what we do as CSR - Creative Social Responsibility. By offering visiting creators free accommodation, we hope to remind people of a lovely little thing called hospitality. And in addition to making the visiting creators happy and Gothenburg a more interesting city because of their presence, we hope this simple idea can be exported and implemented around the globe."

Travel, giving back, creative stimulation, design inspiration, feeling good – Just what the doctor ordered...

Cabin. Fever. Cured.

Credits: Creators Inn