Order where there once was disorder
Those that have sailed on Shimshal will know about the quantity of tools and spares carried. Those that have sailed significantly off piste will understand the need for preparedness. Probably everyone else will wonder what the heck I’m going on about.
In 25 years of offshore sailing we have accumulated a treasure trove of bits and bobs, screws, nuts,bolts and leftovers from a job done a decade ago. Most of this clobber has found it’s way into Shimshal’s work room and is stored in fictitiously labelled plastic storage boxes that slosh too and fro as we sail the ocean swells. The labels pretend to the tidy minds that sail with me that they give some clue about the boxes contents. The truth is most of the boxes have been shaken, stirred, rummaged and spilled so many times that those labels really are a load of rot!
Mostly my chaotic brain can make order out of chaos and usually I can find what I need but if I can’t I just buy another bit to replace the misplaced nut or bolt. Tidy minds don’t work like mine and I think it’s fair to say my ‘tool and spares” habits drives them nuts.
So today I took the bull by the horns and offered up my workroom to the librarian who, as I write, is busily (and happily) counting, cataloging, sorting and sifting.
The trouble is I am going to have to keep it that way!
