Does it ever end? I think it's a universal dream of sailors to ride off into the sunset in their beautiful dreamboat. OK, then what? Is it the basic psycoligy of people who actually have the hutzpa to do it, to live for the beauty of today and not worry about it? Here's my actual reason for asking, I'm 51, single, sort of (uh hum, hi honey), and my carreer is looking iffy. I fantasize about flying to California, buying a boat and bringing it back to Baltimore. Life, REAL LIFE, for 6 months or a year. Then the stick in my butt says what about health insurance, what about the house, what if my lunatic 20yo kid does something stupid. I'll never get a job at this level again and I don't want to work at Wal mart. Doubt and responsibility vs. life. Anybody actually toss in the towel and grabbed the gusto? Once you grabbed it then what? Did or could you ever go back to a traditional life?
- Status
My take on it
I went in to the Navy at 17 got out when I was 40 started work at a car manufacturing plant worked there till I met the minium for retirement, went to work for a big truck manufacturing company and this January I met the minium for retirement. Thru all that I was married 4 times , raised 2 kids (now 34), lived in 8 different houses etc, etc, etc. This morning I placed a bid (and think it will be excepted) on a 39ft blue water boat. This Jan. I'm done, The wife and I is taking my 260 Hunter on a 10 month trip around the eastern half of the US (The Great Loop) and after that trip is done , do a refit on my "new" boat and sail around the world. I've made up my mind to do these things for me the second half of my life.That might sound selfish but I figure that I have paid my dues to my country, family, and the human race. My turn now. Maybe after 15 years on the oceans of the world I'll think about doing some teaching, maybe, just maybe and then maybe not. John USNret
I went in to the Navy at 17 got out when I was 40 started work at a car manufacturing plant worked there till I met the minium for retirement, went to work for a big truck manufacturing company and this January I met the minium for retirement. Thru all that I was married 4 times , raised 2 kids (now 34), lived in 8 different houses etc, etc, etc. This morning I placed a bid (and think it will be excepted) on a 39ft blue water boat. This Jan. I'm done, The wife and I is taking my 260 Hunter on a 10 month trip around the eastern half of the US (The Great Loop) and after that trip is done , do a refit on my "new" boat and sail around the world. I've made up my mind to do these things for me the second half of my life.That might sound selfish but I figure that I have paid my dues to my country, family, and the human race. My turn now. Maybe after 15 years on the oceans of the world I'll think about doing some teaching, maybe, just maybe and then maybe not. John USNret
I did it!!!
Stick with me on this one Doug.... I sold our house, cars, had a garage sale, placed valuables in storage, took a two year child and wife, who's only interest was the "alternate lifestyle" and bought a Coronado 35 Sloop in Florida (1984). I was 30, into my career (Environmental Scientist) and my co-workers thought I was absolutely insane to do this. Ever since I started sailing as a kid in Chicago and was the Commodore of my sailing club in college, the burning desire to cruise and liveaboard hounded me. I just had to do this! I gathered a library together (Dolphin Book Club back then) of reference books including everything Katy Burke and Bruce Bingham wrote about living aboard in my library, walked docks whenever on the coast to look at all types of sailboats to get ideas, was a very early member of BoatUS, and was very methodical in my planning and execution. We are all confronted with the fear of leaving behind what we feel secure with and its addressing that fear that is the battle. I was not going blue water, but simply desiring to explore the US coast by boat. I weighed everything out, did my research (ICW cruising), let safety be my mantra, and wondered if my two year old son would ever remember the experience. We worked on "Rozinante" at St. Augustine (Comanchee Cove Marina) for several months acclimating, learning, repairing, refreshing all systems as this was not a brand new boat before we headed out. That was the toughest challenge of all; being a mechanic, electrician, plumber, etc, etc, but we prevailed and headed out for almost three years. It was a fantastic exploration, frought with storms, hurricanes, groundings and all the stuff that builds character thats keeps you grounded to the real world, BUT, the sense of independence, the sunsets, the people, the sights and most of all the pride in the accomplishment, made it all worthwhile. And you know what? We all bounced back quite well, better for the experience, enriched and ready to go again so many decades later. I really could not believe how easy one could get back into the landlife again, getting employed rather quickly, selling the boat without much of a loss and getting back into the groove rather easily. Whats there to fear anyways? We came upon many senior folks, retired and living their dream of cruising, but they collectively felt that they wished they had done it earlier in their lives. Keep that in mind............... The only thing I would do differently today is rent my home rather then sell it. Market changes over the years and the cost of home buying would require that I keep my house if I deceided to take off for several years of cruising, which by the way is in the planning stages. Consider the demise of marinas these days, tougher ordinances on anchoring, general attitudes toward boaters in general along the ICW (Florida)and you see tremendous changes since I cruised the ICW in the 80's. It can only get worse, so you have to wonder if the time is right before conditions degrade more for the cruiser/liveaboard if the ICW is your target crusing ground. To my fellow sailors who are reading this, I speak from experience when I say that casting off and letting yourself run free on the water for extended times is worth every moment and you can look back as I do and recall that moment of decision and how worth it it truely was. What about my son? Well, he just bought a 30 foot sailboat to liveaboard. Isn't that fabulous.... Bob Catalina 30 Breezin II Lake Lanier, GA
Stick with me on this one Doug.... I sold our house, cars, had a garage sale, placed valuables in storage, took a two year child and wife, who's only interest was the "alternate lifestyle" and bought a Coronado 35 Sloop in Florida (1984). I was 30, into my career (Environmental Scientist) and my co-workers thought I was absolutely insane to do this. Ever since I started sailing as a kid in Chicago and was the Commodore of my sailing club in college, the burning desire to cruise and liveaboard hounded me. I just had to do this! I gathered a library together (Dolphin Book Club back then) of reference books including everything Katy Burke and Bruce Bingham wrote about living aboard in my library, walked docks whenever on the coast to look at all types of sailboats to get ideas, was a very early member of BoatUS, and was very methodical in my planning and execution. We are all confronted with the fear of leaving behind what we feel secure with and its addressing that fear that is the battle. I was not going blue water, but simply desiring to explore the US coast by boat. I weighed everything out, did my research (ICW cruising), let safety be my mantra, and wondered if my two year old son would ever remember the experience. We worked on "Rozinante" at St. Augustine (Comanchee Cove Marina) for several months acclimating, learning, repairing, refreshing all systems as this was not a brand new boat before we headed out. That was the toughest challenge of all; being a mechanic, electrician, plumber, etc, etc, but we prevailed and headed out for almost three years. It was a fantastic exploration, frought with storms, hurricanes, groundings and all the stuff that builds character thats keeps you grounded to the real world, BUT, the sense of independence, the sunsets, the people, the sights and most of all the pride in the accomplishment, made it all worthwhile. And you know what? We all bounced back quite well, better for the experience, enriched and ready to go again so many decades later. I really could not believe how easy one could get back into the landlife again, getting employed rather quickly, selling the boat without much of a loss and getting back into the groove rather easily. Whats there to fear anyways? We came upon many senior folks, retired and living their dream of cruising, but they collectively felt that they wished they had done it earlier in their lives. Keep that in mind............... The only thing I would do differently today is rent my home rather then sell it. Market changes over the years and the cost of home buying would require that I keep my house if I deceided to take off for several years of cruising, which by the way is in the planning stages. Consider the demise of marinas these days, tougher ordinances on anchoring, general attitudes toward boaters in general along the ICW (Florida)and you see tremendous changes since I cruised the ICW in the 80's. It can only get worse, so you have to wonder if the time is right before conditions degrade more for the cruiser/liveaboard if the ICW is your target crusing ground. To my fellow sailors who are reading this, I speak from experience when I say that casting off and letting yourself run free on the water for extended times is worth every moment and you can look back as I do and recall that moment of decision and how worth it it truely was. What about my son? Well, he just bought a 30 foot sailboat to liveaboard. Isn't that fabulous.... Bob Catalina 30 Breezin II Lake Lanier, GA
I tossed it all.
I tossed it all, and lost it all, but for other reasons than sailing. Discovered sailing about 12 years ago. Became a full time live aboard and part time traveler about 8 years ago. The traditional lifestyle is a thing of the past. Lots of ways to make a really good income part of the year and take the rest of the year off to travel. Looking back, it was probably one of the smartest things i have ever done. I'm currently 59 and wish that i could turn the clock backwards and have started this life much earlier. There is way too much to discuss and I dont feel like spending the rest of the week typing. If you are serious, e-mail me with your telephone number and i will call you.....sailortonyb@msn.com. By the way, this may sound like an ad, but its not. I work as an Inspector in the oil fields. I am not a salesman or promoter. I just enjoy sharing my thoughts about living aboard and cruising.
I tossed it all, and lost it all, but for other reasons than sailing. Discovered sailing about 12 years ago. Became a full time live aboard and part time traveler about 8 years ago. The traditional lifestyle is a thing of the past. Lots of ways to make a really good income part of the year and take the rest of the year off to travel. Looking back, it was probably one of the smartest things i have ever done. I'm currently 59 and wish that i could turn the clock backwards and have started this life much earlier. There is way too much to discuss and I dont feel like spending the rest of the week typing. If you are serious, e-mail me with your telephone number and i will call you.....sailortonyb@msn.com. By the way, this may sound like an ad, but its not. I work as an Inspector in the oil fields. I am not a salesman or promoter. I just enjoy sharing my thoughts about living aboard and cruising.
Sell out!
WODR William, Doug WANTS to live the dream, survive the sea, feel the salt spray, eat stuff that would make a billgoat puke, go for the gusto. That cozy cabin w/ tv sitting in the harbor and 3 hour sails to the next protected harbor won't work. It's selling out! IMHO
WODR William, Doug WANTS to live the dream, survive the sea, feel the salt spray, eat stuff that would make a billgoat puke, go for the gusto. That cozy cabin w/ tv sitting in the harbor and 3 hour sails to the next protected harbor won't work. It's selling out! IMHO
I've started my plan
I sold the house, traded in the truck for a cheap car, currently paying off the credit cards (should take 3 more months) and then all my money goes to savings for my kitty. When I get about $150,000 saved I will head out. First I will go to Tampa, Keys, PR, the VIs, BVIs, all the other islands on over to Venezuela, down to Brazil, then back up to Venezuela and over to Panima to the Pacific side, up to CC and then out to Hawaii, up to Alaska, down the west coast to the islands off of Peru. That's the first year or so of travel. I might at some time during that trip change boats, depending on how my boat handles the trip so far, but I will be going and conituning across the South Pacific to New Zealand and so on. I now have been living aboard for 6 months and love it. I am slowly but surely getting my boat ready for serious cruising (new engine, larger battery bank, big bilge pumps, nice big dinhgy with new 6hp 4 stroke, insulated the 3.5kw generator, new below deck auto-pilot, added insulation to refrig and a lot more to do like new stronger hatches, new sails, solar panels, satilitte system, SSB radio and all the safety gear...maybe a watermaker). I think this dream is a good dream and can be done happily with the right planning and fitting and learning. It's not something to just jump into. One needs to know every sailing trick there is. One needs the right equipment. One needs to make the right decisions. BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD ONE CRUISER SAY THEY DIDN'T LOVE IT and just about every cruiser can't wait to go again. As for re-entering the land life. Not really worried about that. I'm a pretty good day trader so I hope to be making a little money while I'm cruising. If all goes as planned, when I'm done, I'll still have as much as I did when I left so I'll be able to ask myself "ok...now what" and money not be a factor in the decision. The worste that can happen is I loose all my money and have to stop someplace and get a job. I'm in software so all I need is a laptop and an internet connection. If I can't do that, then I'll get a license and take people sailing for a living
I'll have plenty of experience in no time out there so getting a license shouldn't be a problem.
I sold the house, traded in the truck for a cheap car, currently paying off the credit cards (should take 3 more months) and then all my money goes to savings for my kitty. When I get about $150,000 saved I will head out. First I will go to Tampa, Keys, PR, the VIs, BVIs, all the other islands on over to Venezuela, down to Brazil, then back up to Venezuela and over to Panima to the Pacific side, up to CC and then out to Hawaii, up to Alaska, down the west coast to the islands off of Peru. That's the first year or so of travel. I might at some time during that trip change boats, depending on how my boat handles the trip so far, but I will be going and conituning across the South Pacific to New Zealand and so on. I now have been living aboard for 6 months and love it. I am slowly but surely getting my boat ready for serious cruising (new engine, larger battery bank, big bilge pumps, nice big dinhgy with new 6hp 4 stroke, insulated the 3.5kw generator, new below deck auto-pilot, added insulation to refrig and a lot more to do like new stronger hatches, new sails, solar panels, satilitte system, SSB radio and all the safety gear...maybe a watermaker). I think this dream is a good dream and can be done happily with the right planning and fitting and learning. It's not something to just jump into. One needs to know every sailing trick there is. One needs the right equipment. One needs to make the right decisions. BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD ONE CRUISER SAY THEY DIDN'T LOVE IT and just about every cruiser can't wait to go again. As for re-entering the land life. Not really worried about that. I'm a pretty good day trader so I hope to be making a little money while I'm cruising. If all goes as planned, when I'm done, I'll still have as much as I did when I left so I'll be able to ask myself "ok...now what" and money not be a factor in the decision. The worste that can happen is I loose all my money and have to stop someplace and get a job. I'm in software so all I need is a laptop and an internet connection. If I can't do that, then I'll get a license and take people sailing for a living
I'll have plenty of experience in no time out there so getting a license shouldn't be a problem.They'll never take me (back) alive
I hate to be crude, but it takes balls to do things other than run laps in the rat race for salary and benefit pellets. The predominate lifestyle for Americans in general is the rat race. To walk away from it to pursue a passion is rare. When I got the balls to do it I did it and jumped. Been living on or around the water evr since....six years ago. They'll never get me back, haha. And it was scary. Still is. Big difference is my fears are right in front of me and the fears of those in the rat race are behind boardroom doors or bureaucrat offices. I haven't missed a meal yet so all the fear and worry was for naught. A life as a Walmart greeter who had many hours to sail and work on boats and make a little on the side trading in boats sounds a lot better than a life that allowed sailing 4 times a year, with health insurance and a 401k. I think the Walmart guy got the better deal , haha. I don't work at Walmart. But I would before I'd head back to the tall buildings in Dallas, haha. Come on jump. I have yet to learn of one fatality from it. IJ
I hate to be crude, but it takes balls to do things other than run laps in the rat race for salary and benefit pellets. The predominate lifestyle for Americans in general is the rat race. To walk away from it to pursue a passion is rare. When I got the balls to do it I did it and jumped. Been living on or around the water evr since....six years ago. They'll never get me back, haha. And it was scary. Still is. Big difference is my fears are right in front of me and the fears of those in the rat race are behind boardroom doors or bureaucrat offices. I haven't missed a meal yet so all the fear and worry was for naught. A life as a Walmart greeter who had many hours to sail and work on boats and make a little on the side trading in boats sounds a lot better than a life that allowed sailing 4 times a year, with health insurance and a 401k. I think the Walmart guy got the better deal , haha. I don't work at Walmart. But I would before I'd head back to the tall buildings in Dallas, haha. Come on jump. I have yet to learn of one fatality from it. IJ
Buy a Boat
We spent two weeks this spring moving the boat and never felt deprived....but it is different. Buy a boat and sail locally then explore farther afield. If you like it keep going. We have decided that we want a boat and a home. We are trying to get in a place where we spend about 6 months ashore and six months aboard each year. If we do that for a few years we'll know where we belong and continue 6/6 or go 100% one way or the other. I've met some pretty miserable people who only had a boat to call home.
We spent two weeks this spring moving the boat and never felt deprived....but it is different. Buy a boat and sail locally then explore farther afield. If you like it keep going. We have decided that we want a boat and a home. We are trying to get in a place where we spend about 6 months ashore and six months aboard each year. If we do that for a few years we'll know where we belong and continue 6/6 or go 100% one way or the other. I've met some pretty miserable people who only had a boat to call home.
It also takes balls
to work 40 hours or more a week for thirty years to support a family. To put other people first. To set aside your own wants to take care of others' needs. To set aside a nest egg so you and your loved ones will not be old and poor. To be the ant and not the grasshopper. That takes balls. To each his own.
to work 40 hours or more a week for thirty years to support a family. To put other people first. To set aside your own wants to take care of others' needs. To set aside a nest egg so you and your loved ones will not be old and poor. To be the ant and not the grasshopper. That takes balls. To each his own.
I'd have to disagree
To work a 40+ work week and bite your lip when you need to and surrender to the boss and do anything he says even if it means spending a lot less time with your family isn't brave. It is commendable and makes a GREAT man, but it isn't brave. Why? Because that's the path well taken. It's the path that is known. It doesn't take balls to follow everybody else. It takes balls to diverge into the unknown where you don't know what is going to happen. The man who is willing to scarofic so much for the good of others is the better man but in no way is he the braver man. A brave man would be a man who thinks he can take the path unknown and turn it into a better path, not only for him, but for those who follow. If he fails he may be considered the foolish man though.
To work a 40+ work week and bite your lip when you need to and surrender to the boss and do anything he says even if it means spending a lot less time with your family isn't brave. It is commendable and makes a GREAT man, but it isn't brave. Why? Because that's the path well taken. It's the path that is known. It doesn't take balls to follow everybody else. It takes balls to diverge into the unknown where you don't know what is going to happen. The man who is willing to scarofic so much for the good of others is the better man but in no way is he the braver man. A brave man would be a man who thinks he can take the path unknown and turn it into a better path, not only for him, but for those who follow. If he fails he may be considered the foolish man though.
Sorry, but I do not agree
Bravery is heading to Africa to fight hunger and disease. Bravery is taking up arms to fight for your country. Heading off to the coast and taking a menial job so you can sail more often is not bravery, it is self gratification. And where do you people work anyway? Maybe that is the problem. Where I work we respect eachother and if the boss is an a**hole then I get a job somewhere else. Blaming the "man" for you life is lame. Working to support a family and living through all the joy and trauma is indeed courageous.
Bravery is heading to Africa to fight hunger and disease. Bravery is taking up arms to fight for your country. Heading off to the coast and taking a menial job so you can sail more often is not bravery, it is self gratification. And where do you people work anyway? Maybe that is the problem. Where I work we respect eachother and if the boss is an a**hole then I get a job somewhere else. Blaming the "man" for you life is lame. Working to support a family and living through all the joy and trauma is indeed courageous.
Easy Does it..........
From my perspective it does not take "balls", rather it takes desire. If your locked into the 40-hour 9 to 5 world thats okay, just do not slame folks who want to get away from that for awhile. I heard the same rap at work when I announced, "I am sailing away for three years". I got responses of "irresponsible", "What about your career", "how are you going to handle an emergency", "what about your family"? Well, as one who experienced the liveaboard/cruising life for three years it was not an escape from crime, pollution, ills of society, mean-ass dockmasters, discourteous power boaters or rip-off marinas as one would hope. True, that part of life is not left behind, but then that is all expected. BUT, what is true is the great sense of independence and the feeling of freedom and the gratification of just doing it, because you always wanted to. It takes skill and knowledge and those attributes carry on when going shoreside again. Some live their dreams and some just sit and ponder til its too late to act. The bottom line, is that you'll never know what you may miss until you go and do it. Everything else is just waiting. Bob
From my perspective it does not take "balls", rather it takes desire. If your locked into the 40-hour 9 to 5 world thats okay, just do not slame folks who want to get away from that for awhile. I heard the same rap at work when I announced, "I am sailing away for three years". I got responses of "irresponsible", "What about your career", "how are you going to handle an emergency", "what about your family"? Well, as one who experienced the liveaboard/cruising life for three years it was not an escape from crime, pollution, ills of society, mean-ass dockmasters, discourteous power boaters or rip-off marinas as one would hope. True, that part of life is not left behind, but then that is all expected. BUT, what is true is the great sense of independence and the feeling of freedom and the gratification of just doing it, because you always wanted to. It takes skill and knowledge and those attributes carry on when going shoreside again. Some live their dreams and some just sit and ponder til its too late to act. The bottom line, is that you'll never know what you may miss until you go and do it. Everything else is just waiting. Bob
Lighten Up Randy
Come on Randy lighten up.... We all work 40 hour weeks, support families, have spent time in the military (Vietnam 68-69, than you), wave the flag, eat apple pie and know the star spangled banner by heart. What we are talking about here is the desire to experience another lifestyle and that just so happens to be a liveaboard and/or cruiser on a sailboat. People plan for years or even decades to make this happen and often have to wait til the children are grown, educated, mortage paid off and your retirement check starts coming in. So what? Continue to be courageous and true to yourself and the rest of us dreamers will methodically plan to make our dreams come true. Nough said.......... Bob
Come on Randy lighten up.... We all work 40 hour weeks, support families, have spent time in the military (Vietnam 68-69, than you), wave the flag, eat apple pie and know the star spangled banner by heart. What we are talking about here is the desire to experience another lifestyle and that just so happens to be a liveaboard and/or cruiser on a sailboat. People plan for years or even decades to make this happen and often have to wait til the children are grown, educated, mortage paid off and your retirement check starts coming in. So what? Continue to be courageous and true to yourself and the rest of us dreamers will methodically plan to make our dreams come true. Nough said.......... Bob
Island Jack
What do you do in Port Isabel? My wife and I sailed down the Texas Coast a few months back, and I absolutely fell in love with Port Isabel. I saw a 4 unit condo near Anchor Marina that, had I been able to put the money together, I would have bought in a heartbeat and moved. The area's a little "rough" right now, but I suspect, with the way the coastline's being gobbled and developed, that will be prime real estate some day.
What do you do in Port Isabel? My wife and I sailed down the Texas Coast a few months back, and I absolutely fell in love with Port Isabel. I saw a 4 unit condo near Anchor Marina that, had I been able to put the money together, I would have bought in a heartbeat and moved. The area's a little "rough" right now, but I suspect, with the way the coastline's being gobbled and developed, that will be prime real estate some day.
When you have a lifestyle that pleases
you and the means to support that lifestyle then you are successful. But if you work for a living and don't have a life that pleases you then without regard to your income you are not successful. If you can pack-up and go sailing for a month, a year or for several years and not expect anyone to pick you up if you stumble, then do it. There are many people who have made great journeys not because of a need for adventure, not because they had "balls" but because the place where they were living was no longer as safe as the unknown someplace else. Whether you sail around the entire shorline of your local lake or around the entire Atlantic coast if you had a good time and enjoyed the trip, then they have equal value.
you and the means to support that lifestyle then you are successful. But if you work for a living and don't have a life that pleases you then without regard to your income you are not successful. If you can pack-up and go sailing for a month, a year or for several years and not expect anyone to pick you up if you stumble, then do it. There are many people who have made great journeys not because of a need for adventure, not because they had "balls" but because the place where they were living was no longer as safe as the unknown someplace else. Whether you sail around the entire shorline of your local lake or around the entire Atlantic coast if you had a good time and enjoyed the trip, then they have equal value.
I'm suprised
how many live aboards have computers. I thought that might be something to leave behind. (shows what I know huh) I do have a 30'er to weekend on in the Chesapeke and have chartered in Punta Gorda. That was a beautiful place and it kind of made the thought more prevalant. I think the main thought in this thread is make sure you've handled all your responsibilities first then seek to forfill your passions. Which is sound advise. I also think my passion for my work has been beaten out of me over the years aiding in the search for some adventure. As far as brave, in 89 I became a single parent, that was about as brave as I can get and that's about the last reason to stay put. I would offer to take him along if he wanted to go. The only thing about retireing on a boat is casting off material posessions. It's funny, you work so hard for "stuff" and all too soon after, there is no real need for it. Thank You for all the responses, it seems those who have done it are happy with their choice even after realizing the limitations. Here's to making dreams reality! PS: Tony, you've got mail
how many live aboards have computers. I thought that might be something to leave behind. (shows what I know huh) I do have a 30'er to weekend on in the Chesapeke and have chartered in Punta Gorda. That was a beautiful place and it kind of made the thought more prevalant. I think the main thought in this thread is make sure you've handled all your responsibilities first then seek to forfill your passions. Which is sound advise. I also think my passion for my work has been beaten out of me over the years aiding in the search for some adventure. As far as brave, in 89 I became a single parent, that was about as brave as I can get and that's about the last reason to stay put. I would offer to take him along if he wanted to go. The only thing about retireing on a boat is casting off material posessions. It's funny, you work so hard for "stuff" and all too soon after, there is no real need for it. Thank You for all the responses, it seems those who have done it are happy with their choice even after realizing the limitations. Here's to making dreams reality! PS: Tony, you've got mail
OK Bob
Dream on. It's your right and it's fun. But, I take offense at this statement: "I hate to be crude, but it takes balls to do things other than run laps in the rat race for salary and benefit pellets. The predominate lifestyle for Americans in general is the rat race." That is a real put down on most Americans. We are not rats. We do what we do for a good reason and most of us are proud of ourselves. If that regular working life is not for you then go ahead and do something else. More power to you. Just don't ask me to believe it is somehow more courageous than those who choose the more traditional path. Enough from me on this topic.
Dream on. It's your right and it's fun. But, I take offense at this statement: "I hate to be crude, but it takes balls to do things other than run laps in the rat race for salary and benefit pellets. The predominate lifestyle for Americans in general is the rat race." That is a real put down on most Americans. We are not rats. We do what we do for a good reason and most of us are proud of ourselves. If that regular working life is not for you then go ahead and do something else. More power to you. Just don't ask me to believe it is somehow more courageous than those who choose the more traditional path. Enough from me on this topic.
Doug, in another year your kid will be 21 and
for all legal purposes responsible for whatever trouble he/she can get into. Tell that young-un that your are gonna be incommunicado for about a year so if you screw up, yer on yer own. Nancy and I were talking about this thread earlier this afternoon and realized that as long as you have a place to live you can do volunteer work in the maritime museums along the way and meet all sorts of interesting people, gain wonderful experience for when the voyage is finished and go back on land with a new career. The kid can join the uniformed services (there are 8). They will take good care of the child until it becomes an adult. The Air Force gave me a chance to grow up. And see a pretty good slice of the world while I was doing it.
for all legal purposes responsible for whatever trouble he/she can get into. Tell that young-un that your are gonna be incommunicado for about a year so if you screw up, yer on yer own. Nancy and I were talking about this thread earlier this afternoon and realized that as long as you have a place to live you can do volunteer work in the maritime museums along the way and meet all sorts of interesting people, gain wonderful experience for when the voyage is finished and go back on land with a new career. The kid can join the uniformed services (there are 8). They will take good care of the child until it becomes an adult. The Air Force gave me a chance to grow up. And see a pretty good slice of the world while I was doing it.
- Status