Life Aboard – Living on a Sailboat and Finding a Sustainable Lifestyle

For six years, I lived aboard my 33-foot sailboat in Lilla Bommen harbor in Gothenburg. With only four square meters of floor space, I had to learn everything about living in a confined space. It was one of the most educational experiences I have ever had in terms of housing and lifestyle. It wasn’t just a physical adjustment but also a mental journey that changed how I viewed consumption and community.

Just like in the video I recently watched, where people have chosen alternative ways of living, life in the harbor created a strong bond between those of us living on boats. We shared experiences, helped each other with repairs, and learned how to tackle the challenges of living on the water. Many of these relationships have turned into lifelong friendships. This lifestyle wasn’t for everyone, but for those of us who chose it, it was a path to a simpler, more sustainable, and freer way of life.

Living in a Small Space – A Lesson in Minimalism

When you live on a boat, there is no room for unnecessary items. Every object must serve a purpose—often multiple. There were no wardrobes filled with clothes I never wore, no kitchen gadgets collecting dust. Instead, I only had what I truly needed: weather-appropriate clothing, tools for maintaining the boat, and a kitchen equipped with the essentials for cooking.

This minimalist lifestyle made me more aware of what I actually needed and how much unnecessary stuff we accumulate in larger homes. It was liberating to live with less, and it gave me a sense of freedom I had never felt before.

A Sustainable Lifestyle

Living on a boat also meant becoming more environmentally conscious. Electricity was limited, and I used solar panels to charge the batteries that powered the boat’s systems. Water was a resource I had to manage carefully—every drop mattered. Food waste and garbage needed to be handled responsibly, which led me to cook more from scratch and plan my purchases to minimize waste.

This type of living is a perfect example of a circular economy in practice. Nothing goes to waste; everything is used. If something broke, I tried to repair it rather than replace it. As I spent more time in the harbor, I met others who lived similarly, and we exchanged knowledge about sustainable solutions for boat life. Many grew small herb gardens onboard, collected rainwater, and developed ways to make their lives more self-sufficient.

A Community Unlike Any Other

One of the most valuable aspects of living on a boat was the community that developed in the harbor. Unlike in a traditional neighborhood, where neighbors often barely greet each other, we boat dwellers depended on one another. If a storm was coming, we helped each other secure the moorings. If someone needed a tool or spare part, we lent what we had. We sat together on deck and shared stories from our lives, sometimes over a cup of coffee, sometimes over a bottle of wine.

This sense of camaraderie was something I had never experienced before. We were a group of individuals from different backgrounds, but we all understood the lifestyle we had chosen. Living on a boat is an adventure, but it’s also a challenge—and having people around who understand those challenges makes all the difference.

Challenges and Adaptation

Despite all the benefits, there were, of course, challenges to living on a sailboat. Weather and wind dictated much of my daily life. In winter, the cold was a constant reminder that I wasn’t living in a traditional home. Keeping the boat warm required planning and the right equipment. In summer, however, the sun could turn the small space into an oven, often forcing me to spend more time outdoors.

On stormy nights, I sometimes had to wake up and go out on deck to check the moorings. Having a boat as a home meant constant maintenance. There was always something to fix—a leaking window, a broken pump, or a rope that had worn out after a windy night.

But these challenges also developed my adaptability. I became more solution-oriented, learned new skills, and realized I was capable of more than I had thought.

Is Boat Living a Future Housing Solution?

In an era of rising housing prices and an increasing number of people searching for alternative living solutions, boat living could become a viable option for more people. With the right mindset and willingness to embrace a simpler lifestyle, it can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Moreover, it aligns with growing demands for sustainability and environmental consciousness.

As more people seek self-sufficient and minimalist lifestyles, living on the water may become part of future housing solutions. Combining new technologies, such as energy-efficient systems and better insulation, with traditional seafaring knowledge could make boat living even more attractive.

A Journey I Never Regret

Moving aboard my sailboat was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It gave me a new understanding of what I truly need in life, a stronger sense of freedom, and a community I would never have found in a traditional neighborhood.

Even though I eventually moved back on land, the experiences remain. I carry with me the knowledge of how to live with less, how to respect nature’s forces, and how to find joy in simplicity. And above all, I carry with me the friendships and memories from those years in Lilla Bommen— a time in my life when I truly felt free.