I assume that most who are living the dream are doing something much more interesting than surfing the computer. But if you are living the dream some comments please!!! 1. Did you sell the house??? My wife wants to keep a house to come home to. 2. Do you cruise year round or spend part of the year on land?? We love to hike especially in the desert southwest. 3. If you are back how long did you actually cruise?? We are thinking a year or two. But with a house we could cruise a few months a year until we get too old. 4. How far did you cruise??? 5. Mostly Coastal or longer passages??? 6. If you only cruise part of the year do you work or play the other part of the year?? With our Pearson 323 being a coastal boat our present plans are to sail around Florida and the Bahamas maybe north to the Chesapeake. If we keep a house it will probably be in Northern Alabama or Tennessee and we'll spend hurricane season on the Tennessee river and the cooler months on the ocean. Sadly we won't know how much we like cruising until we know. We know that we love a couple of weeks on the boat. We have met a few "cruisers" living almost like homeless people. We really don't have any interest in "living aboard". The only reason we see for living in a tiny boat is the joy of cruising to new places. If we are staying in one place we want a house!!!
Living the Dream...anyone???
- Thread starter MoonSailer
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Good Book...
...to read is Don Casey's "Practical Cruising; the Thoreau Approach." There is a lot of good insight therein, not least of which is that it's a good idea to start small in terms of your plans. Go, now, but start small. In other words, your wife is right. Don't sell the house and all your worldly (landly) posessions - you may find cruising long-term is not for you. Plan, say, a six month trip and agree to stick to it. There is tons out there to read that will no doubt be useful.
...to read is Don Casey's "Practical Cruising; the Thoreau Approach." There is a lot of good insight therein, not least of which is that it's a good idea to start small in terms of your plans. Go, now, but start small. In other words, your wife is right. Don't sell the house and all your worldly (landly) posessions - you may find cruising long-term is not for you. Plan, say, a six month trip and agree to stick to it. There is tons out there to read that will no doubt be useful.
Living Aboard and Cruising
Moonsailer, For me personally I need a fixed base to get off the boat once in a while, or whenever the mood strikes. I live on a canal in S.Louisiana, close to New Orleans. Boat is about twenty paces from the back door. I have cruised/traveled from the Mexican border as far north as Long Island Sound since I retired. Plans are to head towards the Yucatan/Belize areas after hurricane season this year. Maybe stay down that way for a year of more. But still like that fixed place to call home. When here, I sail quite a bit, and a lot with friends who have boats. A trip over to Pennsacola is a nice easy way to spend two or three weeks, and don't want to get too far off from a safe harbor during hurricane season. But for me now, work is a four letter word.
Moonsailer, For me personally I need a fixed base to get off the boat once in a while, or whenever the mood strikes. I live on a canal in S.Louisiana, close to New Orleans. Boat is about twenty paces from the back door. I have cruised/traveled from the Mexican border as far north as Long Island Sound since I retired. Plans are to head towards the Yucatan/Belize areas after hurricane season this year. Maybe stay down that way for a year of more. But still like that fixed place to call home. When here, I sail quite a bit, and a lot with friends who have boats. A trip over to Pennsacola is a nice easy way to spend two or three weeks, and don't want to get too far off from a safe harbor during hurricane season. But for me now, work is a four letter word.
Living on the road or on a boat takes some
getting used to. Pay attention to how often you do some simple thing at home, fix a cup of tea, go on a book search, walk outside for the exercize change chairs during the evening. Then when you next spend a week on the boat sailing for one day out of three and anchoring most of the time and cooking as you need to, consider how much you change your routine while living on the boat. Then sometime when the weather is cold and rainy for a week think how life on the boat will be. Today is just plain wonderful. It is about 75 degrees. visibility is about 20 miles, the winds are north at 8-10 gusting to twenty-five. In a well sheltered anchorage it would be great but for sailing half of the time you will be way over canvased or way under canvased.
getting used to. Pay attention to how often you do some simple thing at home, fix a cup of tea, go on a book search, walk outside for the exercize change chairs during the evening. Then when you next spend a week on the boat sailing for one day out of three and anchoring most of the time and cooking as you need to, consider how much you change your routine while living on the boat. Then sometime when the weather is cold and rainy for a week think how life on the boat will be. Today is just plain wonderful. It is about 75 degrees. visibility is about 20 miles, the winds are north at 8-10 gusting to twenty-five. In a well sheltered anchorage it would be great but for sailing half of the time you will be way over canvased or way under canvased.
Six months a year
We cruise six month a year .. in the winter of course. We only do the Bahamas. In the summer we sail on weekends. We still have a home and unless you intend to circumnavigate, a home is important. After six months solid on the boat we're ready for living on land again, flush toilets and endless hot water is important after six months of pumping heads and lugging water in jerry jugs. We've been doing this since 1990.
We cruise six month a year .. in the winter of course. We only do the Bahamas. In the summer we sail on weekends. We still have a home and unless you intend to circumnavigate, a home is important. After six months solid on the boat we're ready for living on land again, flush toilets and endless hot water is important after six months of pumping heads and lugging water in jerry jugs. We've been doing this since 1990.
I find a house necessary as a place to
keep tools and "extra" boat parts if nothing else, oh, and extra boats, the small ones that seem to accumulate when you got room for them.
keep tools and "extra" boat parts if nothing else, oh, and extra boats, the small ones that seem to accumulate when you got room for them.
We sold 3 houses, 7 autos
and everything else in the last two years, that wouldn't fit on either boat. The wife and I are now 1400 NM on a 7600 mile trip around the eastern half of the US "The Great American Loop" on our Hunter 260. We started in Jacksonville FL on March 24. When we close the Loop in Jacksonville FL (18 months)we will then move on our Corbin 39 for an around the world sail and expect to take 12-15 years. LKYusnret, S/V Baums Rush, doing the loop, Living the dream, we are both 55 years young. After spending 24 years in sub, I want to see where I'm going. We are currently on the Erie canal lock 11.
and everything else in the last two years, that wouldn't fit on either boat. The wife and I are now 1400 NM on a 7600 mile trip around the eastern half of the US "The Great American Loop" on our Hunter 260. We started in Jacksonville FL on March 24. When we close the Loop in Jacksonville FL (18 months)we will then move on our Corbin 39 for an around the world sail and expect to take 12-15 years. LKYusnret, S/V Baums Rush, doing the loop, Living the dream, we are both 55 years young. After spending 24 years in sub, I want to see where I'm going. We are currently on the Erie canal lock 11.
We thought about the Loop
We have been on part of the loop. The Tenn-tom waterway from Mobile to Pickwick lake. The biggest obstacle for us is having to pull the mast. A hunter 260 seems like a good boat for the loop as I assume that the mast is easy to drop. Good luck on your trip!!!! If you contact me we can try to meet you when you are near Pickwick lake. We may be starting our cruise in about 12 months or so and might be going down the TN-Tom about the same time as you.
We have been on part of the loop. The Tenn-tom waterway from Mobile to Pickwick lake. The biggest obstacle for us is having to pull the mast. A hunter 260 seems like a good boat for the loop as I assume that the mast is easy to drop. Good luck on your trip!!!! If you contact me we can try to meet you when you are near Pickwick lake. We may be starting our cruise in about 12 months or so and might be going down the TN-Tom about the same time as you.
There is an amazing
variety of cruising lifestyles, and how long you cruise/stay with the boat is just a subset this. There are several different approaches and they all work well for different people. Some people cruise for awhile and then go 'home' for awhile: http://windom.cybox.com/blogger/ Even if you are going to cruise the Gulf/Southeast or the Bahamas/Caribbean indefinitely, you want to hole up for hurricane season anyway. Some people stay with the boat in places like Trinidad, Grenada, Venezuela, Panama, etc. Others have the boat hauled and go home. Others sail home. Some people change approaches from year to year: http://www.boatus.com/cruising/littlegidding/archivelog.asp http://www.wind-borne.com/ http://www.geoffschultz.org/trip_reports.shtml If you are just planning to cruise for a year or two on a small boat, here are some of the most entertaining logs ever written: http://www3.sympatico.ca/destinycalls/Bigtrip1.html
variety of cruising lifestyles, and how long you cruise/stay with the boat is just a subset this. There are several different approaches and they all work well for different people. Some people cruise for awhile and then go 'home' for awhile: http://windom.cybox.com/blogger/ Even if you are going to cruise the Gulf/Southeast or the Bahamas/Caribbean indefinitely, you want to hole up for hurricane season anyway. Some people stay with the boat in places like Trinidad, Grenada, Venezuela, Panama, etc. Others have the boat hauled and go home. Others sail home. Some people change approaches from year to year: http://www.boatus.com/cruising/littlegidding/archivelog.asp http://www.wind-borne.com/ http://www.geoffschultz.org/trip_reports.shtml If you are just planning to cruise for a year or two on a small boat, here are some of the most entertaining logs ever written: http://www3.sympatico.ca/destinycalls/Bigtrip1.html
LKY...
Hi, I think my wife & i met your wife in Beaufort NC/SC(?) at the Marina Laundry there... Gave her our phone # We're at Trent Canal Lock 32, Bobcaygeon... Small world. Keep-on-sailin'!! Roger
Hi, I think my wife & i met your wife in Beaufort NC/SC(?) at the Marina Laundry there... Gave her our phone # We're at Trent Canal Lock 32, Bobcaygeon... Small world. Keep-on-sailin'!! Roger
Bobcayageon
Hi Anita, nice to find your trip is progressing so well. Look forward to getting details... 1-705-878-0399 (Skype too) xrogerh@Yahoo.ca Roger
Hi Anita, nice to find your trip is progressing so well. Look forward to getting details... 1-705-878-0399 (Skype too) xrogerh@Yahoo.ca Roger
Gotta have a plan!
Doug,thanks for the link to the cruisers log. Great reading about George Town,and it's so familiar. We have been going to George Town for the past 6 years on kayaking trips,but also spend time with our sailing friends at Volleyball Beach. I got to play volleyball with the cruisers,and ther'es no place else I would rather be! A cold Kalik at the Chat n' Chill is where it's at. Our cruising friends introduced us as"the new neighbors who aren't here yet". But we will be. Getting our 26M ready to go,and all mods to the boat have Exuma in mind. We're still a couple of years away,but the plan is to spend Jan-March in Exuma,while the skiers pay our way,renting our NH house. Next year we will be sailing for the week in Exuma. That's my plan-and I'm stickin' to it! Moonsailer...start slow and work your way into it,but whatever you do,put a plan together and run with it!
Doug,thanks for the link to the cruisers log. Great reading about George Town,and it's so familiar. We have been going to George Town for the past 6 years on kayaking trips,but also spend time with our sailing friends at Volleyball Beach. I got to play volleyball with the cruisers,and ther'es no place else I would rather be! A cold Kalik at the Chat n' Chill is where it's at. Our cruising friends introduced us as"the new neighbors who aren't here yet". But we will be. Getting our 26M ready to go,and all mods to the boat have Exuma in mind. We're still a couple of years away,but the plan is to spend Jan-March in Exuma,while the skiers pay our way,renting our NH house. Next year we will be sailing for the week in Exuma. That's my plan-and I'm stickin' to it! Moonsailer...start slow and work your way into it,but whatever you do,put a plan together and run with it!
Kayadan about kayaking
We have two sea kayaks that we have used in the gulf of mexico and Okeefenoke swamp and lakes, slow rivers. We haven't crossed any big water with about 1 mile across a lake being the max. What do you do in the Bahamas with your kayaks?? We've talked about crossing Mississippi sound in our yaks but 10 miles or so of open water is a little scarey with both sharks and gators being in the sound. We are OK with small gators but once they are over about 6' we get cautious. What about Boston??? I noticed that there are islands around Boston. Do people kayak out to them?? My daughter lives in Boston so I go up there once or twice a year. A little ocean kayaking around those islands sounds like fun. Cruising I do need a plan. My wife is the biggest unknown. She was supposed to have early-retired this past September and we were supposed to be cruising but she chickened out. Now they have stopped early retirements so she must wait 1 1/2 years until she is 55 to retire. But this weekend she said that she wouldn't have 30 years until April 2009... I guess she figures if she delays my dream long enough I'll develope health problems and not go. We have the boat paid for and with a few thousand dollars it should be ready to go. I have a 401K plan that I can stop working anytime. Not much money in it but the plan is to let the 401k grow and live off my wife's defined benefit plan while cruising. If she hadn't chickend out we'd be on the Chesapeake now!!!! She can retire at 55 in July 2008. Then we start getting close to my 10 year vested at my current job. If I stay until August 2010 I will get a small fixed benefit retirement at age 60 in addition to my 401K.... But I am ready to go when the wife is ready...I've even thought about going alone and have been sailing alone some weekends. It would be a lot harder alone but doable. Right now I don't think that I can lock through to get to the gulf alone. Once on the gulf the only problem would be anchoring and docking..especially docking alone. I guess with big fenders anything is possible.
We have two sea kayaks that we have used in the gulf of mexico and Okeefenoke swamp and lakes, slow rivers. We haven't crossed any big water with about 1 mile across a lake being the max. What do you do in the Bahamas with your kayaks?? We've talked about crossing Mississippi sound in our yaks but 10 miles or so of open water is a little scarey with both sharks and gators being in the sound. We are OK with small gators but once they are over about 6' we get cautious. What about Boston??? I noticed that there are islands around Boston. Do people kayak out to them?? My daughter lives in Boston so I go up there once or twice a year. A little ocean kayaking around those islands sounds like fun. Cruising I do need a plan. My wife is the biggest unknown. She was supposed to have early-retired this past September and we were supposed to be cruising but she chickened out. Now they have stopped early retirements so she must wait 1 1/2 years until she is 55 to retire. But this weekend she said that she wouldn't have 30 years until April 2009... I guess she figures if she delays my dream long enough I'll develope health problems and not go. We have the boat paid for and with a few thousand dollars it should be ready to go. I have a 401K plan that I can stop working anytime. Not much money in it but the plan is to let the 401k grow and live off my wife's defined benefit plan while cruising. If she hadn't chickend out we'd be on the Chesapeake now!!!! She can retire at 55 in July 2008. Then we start getting close to my 10 year vested at my current job. If I stay until August 2010 I will get a small fixed benefit retirement at age 60 in addition to my 401K.... But I am ready to go when the wife is ready...I've even thought about going alone and have been sailing alone some weekends. It would be a lot harder alone but doable. Right now I don't think that I can lock through to get to the gulf alone. Once on the gulf the only problem would be anchoring and docking..especially docking alone. I guess with big fenders anything is possible.
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