One of the strings(chains) holding onto us is our grandkids. We have 4 now with two more in March!!!! They range in age from 8 to fetal. The youngest is 4 months. It is fun to watch them grow and spend time with them. Unfortunately as they are growing up I am just growing old,growing fat, growing balder.
How much $$ to cruise for 1 year?
- Thread starter Cpt. Jon
- Start date
- Status
I believe in the philosophy that we choose our
lifestyle, and once chosen, rarely change, particularly over the long haul. We like to eat out a couple of times a week at least. Cruising, we're not going to change that, even though the thought of saving money is attractive. If I can't afford to enjoy cruising in the style I enjoy, I won't enjoy cruising, will I? Same goes for showers, laundry and dare I say it, TV!
That's just us. Cruising, we'd be spending at least as much as we spend now. Ross, on the other hand, not only loves to cook, but has done his homework and knows how much he saves doing his own cooking, canning, etc. My belief is Ross and his wife would spend less than me and mine. But I'll bet he spends less NOW. Just my opinion, but again, costs for him would probably not change that much.
On the other hand, being away from the grandkids? That's a lifestyle change I'd have a tougher time with than the Admiral...
We're currently looking to buy a live-aboard and start our cruising, so I'll let you know if I was right.....
cup
lifestyle, and once chosen, rarely change, particularly over the long haul. We like to eat out a couple of times a week at least. Cruising, we're not going to change that, even though the thought of saving money is attractive. If I can't afford to enjoy cruising in the style I enjoy, I won't enjoy cruising, will I? Same goes for showers, laundry and dare I say it, TV!
That's just us. Cruising, we'd be spending at least as much as we spend now. Ross, on the other hand, not only loves to cook, but has done his homework and knows how much he saves doing his own cooking, canning, etc. My belief is Ross and his wife would spend less than me and mine. But I'll bet he spends less NOW. Just my opinion, but again, costs for him would probably not change that much.
On the other hand, being away from the grandkids? That's a lifestyle change I'd have a tougher time with than the Admiral...
We're currently looking to buy a live-aboard and start our cruising, so I'll let you know if I was right.....
cup
Don't use your family as an excuse to avoid living.
You can go cruising and still spend time with your grandkids if their parents will put them on a plane to join up with you. Imagine how you would influence their lives and the life they could have with a cruising grandpa, compared to a grandpa that comes over to their house once a week.
You could inspire them to think beyond their backyard and demonstrate how to be involved in life. You could be to cool grand dad, or you can be sensible and stay home.
Last edited:
Cup, I go to restaurants rarely and reluctantly because I am almost always disappointed with the quality of the cooking when I eat out.
Wednesday evening Nancy and I celebrated 42 years of marriage with a supper of : cream of asparagus soup, Broiled lobster tails with tarragon butter and steamed asparagus spears, fresh crescent rolls and a very good Chardonnay wine. The cost was about $50. There was enough leftover lobster that I was able to make a lobster quiche for supper last night. That cost the price of a couple of eggs and a glass of milk. you have a better feel for the restaurant cost of those two meals then do I.
Wednesday evening Nancy and I celebrated 42 years of marriage with a supper of : cream of asparagus soup, Broiled lobster tails with tarragon butter and steamed asparagus spears, fresh crescent rolls and a very good Chardonnay wine. The cost was about $50. There was enough leftover lobster that I was able to make a lobster quiche for supper last night. That cost the price of a couple of eggs and a glass of milk. you have a better feel for the restaurant cost of those two meals then do I.
Cost of eating out is ?!?!?
Ross, you got it! My daughter and son-in-law told us the other day that they'd gone out to celebrate Valentine's Day and dropped $300 for dinner! I understand the sentiment, because not all wives like to cook in day after day (my Admiral doesn't necessarily think cruising is a "vacation" for her because she "gets" to cook at home everyday anyway!). But even the kids thought that was extravagant. Finally...they're beginning to get it. Only way I can justify that kind of $$ is a business trip, gotta keep the economy going somehow.
Napa Ed - Yes, I do understand, we're all different. And Napa is one of our favorite cruises, too! I was up there all the way to the turning basin earlier this year, but the docks were gone during the construction of the apartment complex. I heard they're planning on replacing the docks once that's finished, but there sure isn't a lot of room there. Darn, nice place to visit. Maybe anchoring out below the Napa Yacht Club and dinghying in would work better.
Ross, you got it! My daughter and son-in-law told us the other day that they'd gone out to celebrate Valentine's Day and dropped $300 for dinner! I understand the sentiment, because not all wives like to cook in day after day (my Admiral doesn't necessarily think cruising is a "vacation" for her because she "gets" to cook at home everyday anyway!
). But even the kids thought that was extravagant. Finally...they're beginning to get it. Only way I can justify that kind of $$ is a business trip, gotta keep the economy going somehow.Napa Ed - Yes, I do understand, we're all different. And Napa is one of our favorite cruises, too! I was up there all the way to the turning basin earlier this year, but the docks were gone during the construction of the apartment complex. I heard they're planning on replacing the docks once that's finished, but there sure isn't a lot of room there. Darn, nice place to visit. Maybe anchoring out below the Napa Yacht Club and dinghying in would work better.
Ross, sometimes I use your name just to get you
to describe what's on the menu!! I swear, if my wife COULD cook like you, we'd eat out alot less (not being sexist, the admiral has always been a stay-at-home, and it's her world).
She's gotten better, but 31 years ago, the only thing she could make was reservations...
Stu, $300 for a meal? The last time I paid that was the rehearsal dinner before the wedding, and there were 16 of us.
My point about the cost of cruising is unless you enjoy camping 5 days a week, your not gonna spend much, if any, less that being home. IMHO
cup
to describe what's on the menu!! I swear, if my wife COULD cook like you, we'd eat out alot less (not being sexist, the admiral has always been a stay-at-home, and it's her world).
She's gotten better, but 31 years ago, the only thing she could make was reservations...
Stu, $300 for a meal? The last time I paid that was the rehearsal dinner before the wedding, and there were 16 of us.
My point about the cost of cruising is unless you enjoy camping 5 days a week, your not gonna spend much, if any, less that being home. IMHO
cup
Re: Ross, sometimes I use your name just to get you
The next time you eat out make note of the price of the entre` and the size of the serving. Then make point of going to the grocery store and checking the price per pound for the same item.
Nancy likes my cooking well enough that she tells me if I will do the cooking and food shopping she will do the clean-up. She says it isn't fair to expect one person to do the cooking and the clean-up. I try not to make too big a mess.
The next time you eat out make note of the price of the entre` and the size of the serving. Then make point of going to the grocery store and checking the price per pound for the same item.
Nancy likes my cooking well enough that she tells me if I will do the cooking and food shopping she will do the clean-up. She says it isn't fair to expect one person to do the cooking and the clean-up. I try not to make too big a mess.
This topic is very interesting to me at this time. I am working at a business that is very likely to fail shortly. My thoughts are leaning toward going cruising. I have been working on budgets and scenarios and think that this might be possible. It will be very, very tight but it might be do-able. I need to get my alcohol stove working and I've started adapting my solar cooker so it will be usable on the boat. I am modifying my diet back to a primarily vegetarian one as I think this will be easier without refrigeration (ala Reid Stowe). Tonight I had falafel and sprouts on pita bread. Next I need to build a still :dance:. I am very thankful that I bought my dream boat a year ago (1980 h27). I'll keep you all posted.
Buy the Ball Blue book of home canning (about 6 bucks) and decide if you want to invest in a pressure canner/cooker. I can all manner of soups and meats for a small fraction ot the cost of store bought and you don't need refrigeration for canned goods.
Google it or most neighborhood hardware stores should be able to get it for you.
I guess I assume everyone can cook. I too prefer to cook the same meal at home vs. going out. Like Ross, all too often I am rather disappointed in what I get at resturants. I do eat lunch out just about every day, but usually salad... sometimes a burger.
The one thing I really like going out for is Sushi, we went out last night for sushi, my wife and daughter (3) love it too, so I don't really mind dropping some coin on that good meal that I can really make at home. I do make the sushi rolls without fish sometimes, but it not exactly the same as the raw fish we get out.
The one thing I really like going out for is Sushi, we went out last night for sushi, my wife and daughter (3) love it too, so I don't really mind dropping some coin on that good meal that I can really make at home. I do make the sushi rolls without fish sometimes, but it not exactly the same as the raw fish we get out.
I think that the reason most people go out to eat is the inability to cook a variety of good meals quickly and without a lot of fuss. In two earner families both are tired and supper is just something to get out of the way, thus the abundance of pre-cooked and frozen foods in the stores. I have even seen mashed potatoes offered for about 2 dollars per pound. Cut potatoes cook in fifteen minutes! Mac and cheese is quick and easy and can be table ready in 15 minutes but I like to bake mine for a little while and enjoy a glass of wine while it is finishing. Soups, stews and chili all freeze perfectly and with a microwave can be table ready in less time than it takes to drive to a restaurant let alone order. Fresh turkey can be cut into cutlets and frying pieces and cooked as quickly as beef or pork.
I often come in from work and fix lunch from scratch and go back to work in an hour.
Red Lobster Restaurants make an herbed cheese biscuit that is delicious and can be made at home and table ready in a half hour.
Consider that most of the food that you order out is started after the order is delivered to the kitchen. Potatoes are baked ahead of time but meat and green veggies aren't started before the meat is on the fire. The secret is to not isolate and ignore the cook. When you eat out you pay attention to each other and don't have all the stuff at home to distract you. Just pay attention to each other at home.
I often come in from work and fix lunch from scratch and go back to work in an hour.
Red Lobster Restaurants make an herbed cheese biscuit that is delicious and can be made at home and table ready in a half hour.
Consider that most of the food that you order out is started after the order is delivered to the kitchen. Potatoes are baked ahead of time but meat and green veggies aren't started before the meat is on the fire. The secret is to not isolate and ignore the cook. When you eat out you pay attention to each other and don't have all the stuff at home to distract you. Just pay attention to each other at home.
- Status