Photo by Xavi Carpio
Sept ’24, London.
Laura and Roger chose a simple living lifestyle when they decided to build a houseboat in London. Both creatives from Barcelona, they met in Colombia, where Laura used to live, before deciding to move to the UK where Roger was based.
Now, they’re about to take their lives on another turn.
Can you both give a little intro about who you are and what you do?
Hey, it’s me Roger, I would describe myself as a chill person who loves hummus, chocolate and silence. Working in the photography field and loving all kinds of technology to create images, I also enjoy cooking to remember that time ago I was chef. In my free time I enjoy doing my own personal projects, learning new things or sharing my time with my people.
I am Laura, a curious human being who loves nature, freedom and yoga, and is inspired by the mystery of life itself. I work as an interior designer and visual artist, and I am passionate about my work. Over 10 years ago, I felt called to study yoga and meditation, and I turned it into my profession. I love sharing these two facets with the world and exploring the creative potential within all human beings. I am a positive person who loves sunlight and is not very fond of the night, an early bird that enjoys making the most of my days
When did you realize you wanted to live on a boat?
I (Laura) faced a tough decision after living in Colombia for nearly 7 years, surrounded by light, sun, and nature, and then moving to London to live in a room in a shared flat. It wasn’t the ideal situation for us. Roger and I considered different options, and living on a boat seemed to be the best choice for us as we admired the lifestyle of people living on boats. Initially, it was challenging for me (Laura) to transition from a spacious, bright, and natural environment in Colombia to a small space on the water in Central London.. but in 2020, during the lockdown, we began sketching and designing our dream boat. Time flew by, and before we knew it, we had our perfect home designs and had placed a deposit with the boat supplier.
Why a boat and not something in land?
From the start, living on a boat was the only option we could afford in London without a mortgage. We had some money saved and knew that we wanted to be free in spirit and economically. It was the only available option for us to be honest. When we started exploring boats, we realized how magical it would be to live on the water, surrounded by nature and animals, and feel the freedom to change the space whenever we wanted.
What’s the one thing that’s most important to you in life?
One of the most important things in our life is living our days with meaning and purpose. If we feel that the day-to-day doesn’t make sense and is not aligned with who we are, we don’t feel well at all. It’s also crucial for us to have our home, our little space, decluttered and in order. If the house is chaotic, the mind is chaotic. After that, we can talk about how important the people we love the most are to us.
What do you like the most about this lifestyle?
We really love living on board because of the continuous sense of calmness. Even after spending the day in the rush of the city, dealing with bad weather conditions, and commuting long distances, as soon as we arrive home, it feels like our little sanctuary. It’s a refuge in the middle of the city, free from noise and with everything we need. Living in a tiny space has taught us to be mindful of what we consume and store. We’ve realized that we don’t need half of the things we had in the past. This experience has made us more conscious about our needs, choices and consumption, which has influenced all aspects of our lives. We’ve created a cozy, minimalistic space that immediately makes us feel at ease.
How do you deal with the challenges of space?
Regarding our minimalistic and non-consumerist lifestyle, we have a rule: if we buy something new or maybe second hand, such as deco or clothes, we need to give away one thing from our home. This helps us maintain the same quantity of things and live in a decluttered house, doing very well so far! 🙂
What are you wearing today?
Today, we just got up very early and made ourselves comfortable at home wearing some casual, organic cotton clothes and our beautiful Weeam shirt, which we share and love the most! ready to go out for a morning walk!
I heard you’re off on a new adventure. Where to this time?
We are thrilled about it! After living on the Tayrona boat for more than three years and traveling to various European cities (mostly by flight, haha), we felt ready for a new challenge. Roger has been in London for 12 years, and I’ve been here for five. I moved here because of him, and after five years here together, we both want to explore the world together and develop our creative ideas in a new environment. We are grateful for the cost-saving opportunity that living on a boat provided, and now we are prepared to embrace change! We see ourselves in a warm and natural setting, slowing down the fast-paced city life and its demanding rhythm.
What are the top three things you learned from living on a boat that you’re taking with you?
One of the main challenges is space. Firstly, we have learned to respect each other’s space, personal space, and workspace. We have learned to make the most of our small living area, where we work, cook, and relax.
We’ve become more conscious about waste, especially in a country where supermarkets package every fruit and vegetable and there is a big culture about take away… Living on a boat has made us mindful of the waste we produce, as there aren’t always large bins available when we are on the move. We have learned to buy and consume less and choose options that produce minimal waste.
Lastly, we have become quite handy, as living on a boat has taught us to handle too many hardware tasks, now we are ready to design and build our new home inland! 😉
Laura and Roger are Weeamers at the core. Making a life change is not easy. Leaving a comfortable setting requires not only confidence but creativity in many ways. And the rewards are many.
You know now! If you are interested on boat life, the beautiful Tayrona is a cozy home made with care and love.
Follow Laura and Roger on their new adventure!
From Weeam we wish you the best of luck.
