I probably don't spend as much time "aboard" as you, but the last time I was
"underway', it was for just over 6 days, none of it coastal, and I recall
that there didn't seem to be much time for leisure activities like watching
TV,

John, your comment is not worth one cent. I guess carrying books on board is
also bad, since you had all that "interesting" discourse?! Leave the music home
as well, right?
The TV is NOT for watching underway or to displace interesting conversation.
People are soooo thick that they believe the presence of a TV is commanding and
they must watch. No, john. The TV can be used at the END of a passage or even
rarely. Last summer we used our TV/DVD mostly late at night at anchor and a few
times in the slip. It's pretty much for rare occasions, but when the time is
right it can be a welcome diversion to slip on a favorite film. If you hate
books, movies and music you can certainly make the choice to leave it all home.
Of course of all these, the books present the greatest stowage and flying
object dangers. A electronic book reader is the best way to go and a good one
won't hurt the eyes.

RB