Rob and I have been looking at boats for about a year now, long before we were even talking about making this happen by the end of 2011. But, to us, that was "boat porn", something to drool over and wish for - not something that you actually get to have! So, we'd go to Craigslaist and BoatTrader.com, looking for what we can afford; actually, I guess our looking and dreaming is what made this a reality for us. You see, two years ago, Rob told me that when buying a boat, every foot over 30' will cost about $1,000; that would mean we were looking to pay $30-35,000 - NOT a reality for us.
However, what we have found is that a used boat that maybe needs to be sanded and polished, have the underside scrubbed, and get some elbow grease behind a scrubbing pad will run $6-11,000 for the size we want. Alright then, that is something we can afford!
My husband and I decided to try a less-traveled lifestyle and have bought a 32-foot boat to live on with our two cats. We look forward to sailing Calypso's Fire through the Caribbean Sea and living life as an adventure! We want everyone to be there with us - in spirit if not in person - through these accounts of our stories!
July 29, 2011
July 25, 2011
So far...
Alright, what are we doing to actually prepare for a change in life style such as this one?! A lot!
I was about to type "trip" instead of "life style" and I think that this has been one of the biggest preparations we can make: knowing that we are moving onto a boat and seeing where life takes us. There is no flight to book, there are no plans to make, there are no "once we get home" ideas: we are moving onto a boat and that WILL be home. That's hard to wrap my head around sometimes; of course, it is hard for others to wrap their heads around, meaning that part of what we are doing is explaining and defending (to a degree) our decision to do this, but this isn't the posting for that.
I was about to type "trip" instead of "life style" and I think that this has been one of the biggest preparations we can make: knowing that we are moving onto a boat and seeing where life takes us. There is no flight to book, there are no plans to make, there are no "once we get home" ideas: we are moving onto a boat and that WILL be home. That's hard to wrap my head around sometimes; of course, it is hard for others to wrap their heads around, meaning that part of what we are doing is explaining and defending (to a degree) our decision to do this, but this isn't the posting for that.
July 6, 2011
Hold On, Everyone – This is Going To Be Exciting!
Within the next two months, my husband and I will sell everything that we own except a few boxes of treasures (to us), find a sailboat large enough for us to live on, and move on to that boat. I am beginning this blog on a very significant day because July 4th is America's Independence Day; Rob and I are looking for our independence from the American mindset. Rob and I know that the phrase so common in America "When I retire, I will..." is a phrase that we have never lived by and don't plan on ever doing so. Life is short and lived to be happy.
Our "plan" - as it were - is to sell off: a 1970 Olds, our 23' sailboat, my husband's Honda, and, later, my Rav4. Those are the "Big Ticket" items that are supposed to make us enough money to buy a 30'-35' sailboat in which we will live. Selling off the couches, the china cabinet, and the random stuff we have accumulated throughout our 30-something years of life should make us enough money to survive for a while (fingers crossed). Perfection? We find a boat on the east coast or in the Caribbean, we stay where we buy it for long enough to get what we need, then head out sailing. We may wait until November to avoid hurricane season, but we'll want to be living on a boat already and ready to head out as soon as we're in the clear.
Some people think this sounds crazy, others think it is a pipe dream. Me? I know we are going to do it. I know that things will some how work out. I know that this will be wonderful. And, I am scared out of my mind.
Our "plan" - as it were - is to sell off: a 1970 Olds, our 23' sailboat, my husband's Honda, and, later, my Rav4. Those are the "Big Ticket" items that are supposed to make us enough money to buy a 30'-35' sailboat in which we will live. Selling off the couches, the china cabinet, and the random stuff we have accumulated throughout our 30-something years of life should make us enough money to survive for a while (fingers crossed). Perfection? We find a boat on the east coast or in the Caribbean, we stay where we buy it for long enough to get what we need, then head out sailing. We may wait until November to avoid hurricane season, but we'll want to be living on a boat already and ready to head out as soon as we're in the clear.
Some people think this sounds crazy, others think it is a pipe dream. Me? I know we are going to do it. I know that things will some how work out. I know that this will be wonderful. And, I am scared out of my mind.
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