Loneliness

[Rider1966]

Hi all,

I'm new here today!

Seriously thinking about making the transition to water as a solo ccer

 

One of my few concerns though would be loneliness.

 

I know this topic has been covered before, but that was pre the more rigid application of the cc rules, and I imagine, break up of various cut communities.

 

Looking forward to your responses,

Christian

[mrsmelly]

Why should you be more lonely than say someone living in a house?

[Rider1966]

Because in a house you have a fixed location and therefore a chance to access community

 

[system 4-50]

With a name like that, a remedy to any loneliness is obvious...

[Athy]

Just now, Rider1966 said:

Because in a house you have a fixed location and therefore a chance to access community

 

Is it not possible that you might not like the people in your fixed community? In a boat, if you didn't like the neighbours, you could chug off and find some new ones. (I speak as a house dweller but it sounds feasible).

[mrsmelly]

Just now, Rider1966 said:

Because in a house you have a fixed location and therefore a chance to access community

 

You will find that the boating community in general are far friendlier than peeps who keep themselve to themselves in houses. You meet people as you travel the system. I have friends and aquaintances living on nearly every canal in the UK I have built up over the years ?

[Rider1966]

even continuously cruising?

 

 

[mrsmelly]

9 minutes ago, Rider1966 said:

even continuously cruising?

 

 

Yes.

[robtheplod]

I know the names of some people we meet on the canals, but I couldn't name the people in my cul-de-sac - you'll be fine!!

[MtB]

2 hours ago, Rider1966 said:

I know this topic has been covered before, but that was pre the more rigid application of the cc rules, and I imagine, break up of various cut communities.

 

 

1) As a newbie you may not have realised not all liveaboards are CCers. You could get a permanent mooring in one of the hundreds of static boating communities. You can still go off 'CCing' but you'll have a base community to return to.

 

2) Quite a high proportion of CCers I know of myself do nothing of the sort, i.e. don't literally cruise every day, month in, month out. There are plenty who cruise at the other extreme, i.e. for a couple of hours once a fortnight, just two or three miles at a time between 13 day stops over a 20 mile stretch of canal, and seem to get to know one another really well. 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 9, 2020 by Mike the Boilerman
Clarify.

[Guest]

It can be as lonely or involved as you choose. I am a continuous cruiser and there have been many opportunities to make friends along the way, but I value my alone time and it's also very easy to fade into the background without any disturbance from anyone if you wish. 

Edited April 9, 2020 by Rumsky
Spillchucker

[Jen-in-Wellies]

14 hours ago, Athy said:

In a boat, if you didn't like the neighbours, you could chug off and find some new ones untie their mooring lines and watch them drift away.

Fixed that for you. ?

Jen

[The Welsh Cruiser]

There are many opportunities to socialise when ccing. There are exceptions, but I'd suggest most folk who cc are relatively comfortable with their own company, for longish periods. The socialising you'd do would often be of the more casual type; chat for half an hour over a cup of tea etc. rather than the more solid, perhaps even lifelong friendships you might develop if you live in a fixed place, or perhaps at work. There are exceptions of course.

 

Ccing is probably best for people who are either comfortable in their own company, are open to becoming this way, or are happy with the company of a dog.   

[Athy]

11 minutes ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

Fixed that for you. ?

Jen

But not for the better.

So, if you lived in a house and didn't get on with the next door neighbours, rather than moving away you would set fire to their house?

[Jen-in-Wellies]

1 minute ago, Athy said:

But not for the better.

So, if you lived in a house and didn't get on with the next door neighbours, rather than moving away you would set fire to their house?

 I didn't suggest setting fire to their boat either. Oh dear.

[Athy]

Just now, Jen-in-Wellies said:

 I didn't suggest setting fire to their boat either. Oh dear.

[BWM]

In the same way that communities change to a degree by region, the same applies to the canals. London may have more people and boats but it may be harder to engage, whereas some of the more rural areas may have less but you often get to know them sooner. As with buying a boat, it is worthwhile to so some research into potential regions of interest, walks, visit some canalside pubs, etc.

[Jen-in-Wellies]

Canal mooring communities share both the up sides and the down sides of any small community, like a traditional village. You know all your neighbours and they know all about you. When everyone gets on it is very good. If some of them don't get on it can go very bad for all. Fortunately, boats are mobile and changing moorings is easier, quicker and with minimal financial penalty compared with moving house. CC 'ing is different, as @mrsmelly describes. You build up friendships with people you meet occasionally. Similar to how the old working boating families did things.

 

[blackrose]

15 hours ago, Rider1966 said:

Because in a house you have a fixed location and therefore a chance to access community

 

Well get a mooring then and scrap the idea of CCing if that's your concern

[The Welsh Cruiser]

2 minutes ago, blackrose said:

Well get a mooring then and scrap the idea of CCing if that's your concern

I agree. If someone is concerned about the possibility of being lonely they probably aren't comfortable with too much of their own company. They could probably learn to be, but it would be a long and difficult journey. A marina would be better.

[Alan de Enfield]

Remember that for some, the financial commitment of £2,000 - £15,000 per annum for a mooring is beyond their means.

 

For an ever increasing number of folks, its not about 'boating' it is just a cheap way of finding somewhere to live.

[Mad Harold]

cruising during the day is fine.You are busy with locks and enjoying boating,and stopping for lunch or coffee there are generally people around,both boaters and towpath walkers to have a natter with.

Nights can be lonely,so I bought a 12v telly and radio and a selection of paperbacks.If you moor near a pub,then you can find company there.

Several livaboard boaters I know have a dog.They are usually good listeners,but don't contribute much to the conversation.

I tied up for lunch one day,I think on the Macc or Peak Forest and was poking out the drain holes in the window frames when a lady walking her dogs asked me what I was doing.I explained but her face seemed very familiar so during conversation I asked if she was a musician (as a musician myself I played al over the country) She wasn't and eventually and because I was sure I had seen her in the past I cheekily asked her name.   Edwina Curry!

You can meet some interesting people boating.

 

Edited April 10, 2020 by Mad Harold

[Jen-in-Wellies]

9 minutes ago, Mad Harold said:

cruising during the day is fine.You are busy with locks and enjoying boating,and stopping for lunch or coffee there are generally people around,both boaters and towpath walkers to have a natter with.

Nights can be lonely,so I bought a 12v telly and radio and a selection of paperbacks.If you moor near a pub,then you can find company there.

Several livaboard boaters I know have a dog.They are usually good listeners,but don't contribute much to the conversation.

Even living in a marina can feel isolating in the winter. In the summer, boaters are living as much outside as inside their boats. In the winter everyone tends to be snug inside with the stove going. Short days and long dark nights and it is easy not to see another person on your mooring, or along the towpath for days.

Jen

[Nightwatch]

Where ever we have been in the past, nearly six years, we have had no problems socialising. In the majority of locations, until very recently, there have been pubs. A remarkably ideal place to meet people of differing attitudes, likes and dislikes. And as a bonus you can sample some excellent local ales if you so wish. 

[mrsmelly]

7 minutes ago, Nightwatch said:

Where ever we have been in the past, nearly six years, we have had no problems socialising. In the majority of locations, until very recently, there have been pubs. A remarkably ideal place to meet people of differing attitudes, likes and dislikes. And as a bonus you can sample some excellent local ales if you so wish. 

Yep. I agree. Trouble is now so many peeps actualy believe that Twatter and Farcebook are for real. There are thousands of dating agencies sprung up now because peeps dont know how to interact in pubs and such like that we always did. Met both my wives in pubs lol.  I even talk to you sometimes