*

site/small_space.html

@@ -45,15 +45,18 @@
 
 <h1>small space</h1><img src='../media/content/blog/small_space.jpg' alt='a shot of our cramped but lovely galley' loading='lazy'>
 
-<p>We like to simplify many of the systems onboard so we can maintain them ourselves, but simplicity often comes at the cost of space. For instance, we installed a <a href='woodstove.html' class='local'>woodstove</a> for heating. It’s a great system with few moving parts, and with no electronics that can fail, but we have to carry wood to fuel it, and the amount we can store isn’t enough to carry us through winter. Our firebox can only accommodate pieces that are 9 inches long, we have to stoke our fire often but it could never last the night. In the morning neither of us want to brave the cold to light it, but whoever has to pee first is obligated to do the deed.</p>
+<p>Over the years, after many breakages and frustrations with expensive systems and their proprietary parts, we simplified many of the systems onboard so we could maintain them ourselves. Our new designs had fewer moving parts, with no electronics that could fail. While this sounds ideal, every big change has a cost.</p>
+
+<p>A <a href='woodstove.html' class='local'>woodstove</a> replaced a diesel forced-air heater.<br><b>Pros:</b> Simple design, provides good heat, no fossil fuel, won't deteriorate if not used, easy to clean, easy to find fuel, comforting presence.<br><b>Cons:</b> Must store wood, occupies more space in the cabin, must tend to fire.</p>
+
+<p>A <a href='dry_toilet.html' class='local'>dry toilet</a> replaced a marine seawater toilet. <br><b>Pros:</b> Simple, no hoses/thruhulls/holding tank/macerator, can dispose of waste ourselves.<br><b>Cons:</b> toilet occupies more space in the head, must carry medium to cover solids.</p>
 
 <img src='../media/content/knowledge/simplesystems.jpg' alt='devine pedaling to charge a laptop battery' loading='lazy'>
 
-<p>A <a href='dry_toilet.html' class='local'>dry toilet</a> is as simple as it gets, with no hoses, thru-hulls or a holding tank, but the toilet itself occupies more space and we must carry medium to keep the solids covered. Boaters typically make use of shore facilities to pump out the sewage in their tanks, but with a dry toilet the task of emptying the bin becomes ours.</p>
 
-<p>Living in a boat, your living space is restricted when compared to a house. Our home contains our food, fuel, sailing and maintenance gear. It's a lot to carry and to manage. When choosing to live in a small space, you've got to learn to cohabit with these items.</p>
+<p>Living in a boat, our living space is restricted when compared to a house. Our home contains our food, fuel, sailing and maintenance gear. It's a lot to carry and to manage. When choosing to live in a small space, we had to learn to cohabit with these items.</p>
 
-<p>In the winter our space shrinks further because our two road <a href='bikes.html' class='local'>bikes</a> are allergic to wetness. One morning, having forgotten to check the weather, we woke up to find our boat with a thick blanket of snow—our bikes did not enjoy the experience, and neither did we because we had to dig them out.</p>
+<p>In the winter our space shrinks further because our two road <a href='bikes.html' class='local'>bikes</a> are allergic to wetness. One morning, having forgotten to check the weather, we woke up to find our boat with a thick blanket of snow, our bikes did not enjoy the experience, and neither did we because we had to dig them out.</p>
 
 <img src='../media/content/travel/victoria_snow02.jpg' alt='pino in the winter, covered in snow' loading='lazy' />
 

src/inc/small_space.htm

@@ -1,14 +1,17 @@
 <img src='../media/content/blog/small_space.jpg' alt='a shot of our cramped but lovely galley' loading='lazy'>
 
-<p>We like to simplify many of the systems onboard so we can maintain them ourselves, but simplicity often comes at the cost of space. For instance, we installed a {woodstove} for heating. It’s a great system with few moving parts, and with no electronics that can fail, but we have to carry wood to fuel it, and the amount we can store isn’t enough to carry us through winter. Our firebox can only accommodate pieces that are 9 inches long, we have to stoke our fire often but it could never last the night. In the morning neither of us want to brave the cold to light it, but whoever has to pee first is obligated to do the deed.</p>
+<p>Over the years, after many breakages and frustrations with expensive systems and their proprietary parts, we simplified many of the systems onboard so we could maintain them ourselves. Our new designs had fewer moving parts, with no electronics that could fail. While this sounds ideal, every big change has a cost.</p>
+
+<p>A {woodstove} replaced a diesel forced-air heater.<br><b>Pros:</b> Simple design, provides good heat, no fossil fuel, won't deteriorate if not used, easy to clean, easy to find fuel, comforting presence.<br><b>Cons:</b> Must store wood, occupies more space in the cabin, must tend to fire.</p>
+
+<p>A {dry toilet} replaced a marine seawater toilet. <br><b>Pros:</b> Simple, no hoses/thruhulls/holding tank/macerator, can dispose of waste ourselves.<br><b>Cons:</b> toilet occupies more space in the head, must carry medium to cover solids.</p>
 
 <img src='../media/content/knowledge/simplesystems.jpg' alt='devine pedaling to charge a laptop battery' loading='lazy'>
 
-<p>A {dry toilet} is as simple as it gets, with no hoses, thru-hulls or a holding tank, but the toilet itself occupies more space and we must carry medium to keep the solids covered. Boaters typically make use of shore facilities to pump out the sewage in their tanks, but with a dry toilet the task of emptying the bin becomes ours.</p>
 
-<p>Living in a boat, your living space is restricted when compared to a house. Our home contains our food, fuel, sailing and maintenance gear. It's a lot to carry and to manage. When choosing to live in a small space, you've got to learn to cohabit with these items.</p>
+<p>Living in a boat, our living space is restricted when compared to a house. Our home contains our food, fuel, sailing and maintenance gear. It's a lot to carry and to manage. When choosing to live in a small space, we had to learn to cohabit with these items.</p>
 
-<p>In the winter our space shrinks further because our two road {bikes} are allergic to wetness. One morning, having forgotten to check the weather, we woke up to find our boat with a thick blanket of snow—our bikes did not enjoy the experience, and neither did we because we had to dig them out.</p>
+<p>In the winter our space shrinks further because our two road {bikes} are allergic to wetness. One morning, having forgotten to check the weather, we woke up to find our boat with a thick blanket of snow, our bikes did not enjoy the experience, and neither did we because we had to dig them out.</p>
 
 <img src='../media/content/travel/victoria_snow02.jpg' alt='pino in the winter, covered in snow' loading='lazy' />