Nerves

[giraffehappy]

Hi: confessions of a landlubber about to move aboard next month...Am experiencing doubts and confusion as the date draws nigh. What seemed like a simple terrific plan last year now seems rather daunting. People keep asking me if I am excited, and the answer is a resounding no, if anything I am going into mourning about leaving animals, house etc. Worried about cramming onboard with kids and all.

Is this normal or am I doomed........

 

[ChrisE]

FWIW, I think that you would be inhuman if you didn't have mixed feelings about this. Having sailed off for a year, my advice would be there are few irreversible decisions in this life and that you keep going until the negatives outweigh the positives.

We were hit with an unexpected five figure tax bill half way through the trip and were about to throw the towel in. We were recounting this to some long term liveaboards who advised to send a note back saying "don't bother us whilst we having a year off." We followed their advice, have spent most of the last ten years paying off the debt but wouldn't have missed the expereince for the world. Life is not rehearsal.

 

[MedMan]

It is absolutely normal. What is more, if you come home for Christmas you will feel just the same about leaving your boat and then just the same again before going back out to her once again. The transitions are just awful. Stick with it and all will be well - believe me.

 

[jonic]

Medman is spot on, we are getting ready to set off again after 8 months back in UK following two year trip. Can't wait but still nervous, have a baby now too.

BUT the life is FANTASTIC, no comparison to landlife. Adventure, drama, beauty, friendship and wonder all await you.

Fair winds and enjoy, welcome to the 1% club.

 

[CharlesM]

hey giraffehappy - been in the parrot salad then /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif?

regarding nerves... I dont know if I can say much at this point, since I still have 7 sleeps before I head off to my new boat in St. Martin in the Caribbean to spend 2 months learning and sailing and generally having a lovely time with the love of my life (looking foreward to buying her a NICE bikini /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif - gotta look after crew comforts innit?) Oh - before anyone gets uptight about crews comforts, she is also deck candy and Fleet Admiral. I am Captain, owner, sex slave and cabin boy /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Anyway, my view on it is if it all turns out to be a dream and not what I really want, then at least I have given it a go. I was really racked with nerves and doubts when I made the offer, and for a short time afterwards. I mean, what the hell am I doing? I have minimal experiance and my love has 2 hours sailing experiance!!

Now all I feel is intense excitement - I cannot thingk of anything else. I have had one or two days of doubtfull slumps since, but hey - If I did not, perhaps there would be something wrong with me, and in turn, if you did not have doubts then there must be something wrong with you.

Go for it and if it does not work out at least you tried. If you dont you will be sorry... 80 one day and telling grandchildren you nearly moved aboard once. Can you imagine trying to explain to them why?

Cheers
Charles
=======
pst... 7 sleeps /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[giraffehappy]

Dear Medman, Jonic, Lindatoby01, and of course Charles, Thank you very much for your replies. As Charles said, things go up and down a bit, and already today I think 3 cheers I won't have to cut the grass, and who needs car insurance let alone a car anyway!!! It is very good to hear your thoughts. Stopped work last week to pack up the house, and that's pretty good too. Medman: you're right: all transitions are against the grain, you have to work to clear space to move into.

Charles: the mind boggles: are you going to have anytime for sailing wot with bikinis and the love of your life?????? Go boy!!!!!!!!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Stoker]

Having made the transition from land to boat two years ago ( although we are still living aboard on chocks ) after one year in the water, my wife, cats and I could never live in the turmulous bricks and mortar brigade again, our car insurance is about £100 per year cheaper(through a company named after someone in charge of the Navy).

We have completely gutted the boat and are almost done, estimated time until we wet the boat again 9-12months, our cost of living expenses are 65% less, giving us more money to pur into the boat.

I do not understand how some people have had problems with car insurance, maybe we have been lucky, who knows? but as soon as the boat is completed, it's bye, bye, Blighty

 

[syfuga]

We say go for it!

We made the break 18 months ago. That month or so was hell: what to put in the garage, what to take to the boat, what to throw away? Will the fish in the pond get fed by the new owners?

Now, the blood pressure and pills are gone, never felt fitter. We are really enjoying life, and looking forward to moving on after wintering in the Algarve.

But it is not always roses!

Have a look at our web site: http://www.syfuga.co.uk

 

[pragmatist]

Looks wonderful - just visited your web site - have been trying to persuade HWMBO to over-winter in the Algarve for about 3 years with no luck - maybe one day.

Sending you a PM to ask you some more questions, if you don't mind.

On the nerves front we don't really qualify as we've not yet taken the BIG step but we have spent long periods on the boat and revel in it - there's so little space to clean (hate housework), the sheer minimalism of everything is a joy and that's without the sailing and the wonderful places. Go for it giraffehappy !

 

[Grehan]

Well we too made the break and b*ggered off 18 months ago. Is there anybody left, back there?

Throwing away all that junk, all that baggage, is painful but cathartic. I still regret selling my LPs for a pittance of what they were worth (to me, at least).
Life is full of difficulties and liveaboard difficulties are like liveathome difficulties, only different. We miss our sons, family and now, our dog, terribly. But we do see them from month to month.

The compensations of B'ing Off are legion and beyond compare. We have not regretted a single day. Quite the reverse.

Where are you planning to head for?
Although as we tell people, one of the joys of this life is not having Plans. As we say, " . . only going forwards, 'cos we can't find reverse . . ."

Our own story so far, through France to the Med, is on our website.

Bon Voyage!

 

[kiwione]

well I know how and what you are feeling. We are at the moment selling up our rental houses with the idea of buying a 60ft yacht and going cruising. Experience none we will get people to teach us, this is something both of us are keen to do as it is the last place where one can have an adventure every day without too many rules, but if you want to you can always find a reason not to do something. If you ahve never failed at anything then you have never tried things, besides I owe my wife a belated honeymoon trip. Plans are for 5 years..........

 

[ubuysa]

[ QUOTE ]
.......buying a 60ft yacht and going cruising. Experience none.....

[/ QUOTE ]
60ft is awfully big, especially for someone with no experience! If you can, I'd at least do some chartering first so you get a feel for how a boat that size handles - especially when it's windy and you're trying to moor up.......

We've also just recently done the deed and moved aboard our 45ft Jeanneau. We're currently in Palma whilst we get used to her and get a few minor jobs done (like re-rigging her /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif). Then we're off eastwards aiming to be in Corfu by winter. We flip-flop from extreme happines to extreme nervousness almost daily! As we get used to the feel of the boat though we're spending increasingly more time in the happiness state. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Tony C. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[pragmatist]

Love the signature !

 

[Grehan]

Yes, one of things about the liveaboard life is that you tend to end up in the marina for a while, and then the rot sets in. The prospect of moving, of actually going sailing gets ever more distant and . . . a bit frightening . . to be honest.
Even after loads of miles actually sailing.

What do they call it? Shore fever or something?


I'd also agree about 60' boat. Even though she will be great for living aboard (and that's what you'll want a lot of the time), and more stable in a sea (?), when it comes to handling her, manouvering in harbour, down the pontoon aisles, etc she'll be a handful and a half.

 

[ccscott49]

Quite normal any change in life this big will be traumatic. But once there it will all fall into place! I never looked back, mind you nothing to look back to, no house, no kids, no wife, nowt, so I'm a happy little bear now. Did miss my dog though!!!

 

[tcm]

hit by a tax bill

how the hell did that happen? It seems very bad luck. I've heard of boats themselves hitting containers or whales, or being hit by hurricanes, but sailing along and being hit by a tax bill does sound like an unbelievably bad day in paradise - and i suppose, very resourceful of the IR...