While you're down there...

A curious behavior develops as a result of the tight living quarters on a boat: assigned multitasking. I will illustrate: if you are in the cockpit and a family member is in the cabin (downstairs), you first ask them to hand you a... New beer, screwdriver (the tool- we're not that bad yet), key to the boat, plastic bag... before you get up and get if yourself.  This is partly laziness (more so when asking for a beer), but mostly  because it really is easier for the family member in the cabin to grab something on their way up through the one person companionway than for both family members to do an awkward stop and wait/maneuver dance to get past each other- this happens enough just getting to the head and fixing breakfast.  

The assigned multitasking also takes other forms.  If you're going to shower in the marina shower, you might as well do a load of laundry.  If you're going on a run, take the dog and return a movie.

On an even larger scale, Tyler gave a perfect demonstration of this concept in his work today.  He had to fix a cracked sewage plumbing pipe- while he was down there and the interior of the boat was upside-down and everything was uncovered, he replaced all the sewage pipe (3 total), cleaned the valves and checked the seacock- all things he had wanted to do at some point, but necessity through the tasks together in a nice, albeit stinky and grimy, project.  

Unlike the trip up the mast, this project was highly productive and Tyler is now sleeping soundly knowing that at least one system is almost all new again.  

I am very lucky and grateful that Tyler understands mechanical systems so well.  So, I will continue to  happily hand him a new beer when I'm closer to the cooler and the companionway.