demonboy
Well-Known Member
Exactly!
Regret living aboard, anybody?
- Thread starter BlueSkyNick
- Start date
Ariadne
Well-Known Member
No real regrets at all in being a full time live aboard. We sold up everything and sailed away 2 years ago, we work when we have to, and play when we can. No boredom issues, our boat is best part of 30 years old so plenty of maintenace to keep everybody occupied. It took us 18 months to sort out the boat and sell the house etc.
Also having our two children with us (11 & 9), makes us look at things/approach the way we live in a different way to most live aboards. We do loads of things with them and it keeps us both fit and healthy. The kids have taken to it like ducks to water, and we think they are getting a better and much broader education out of it. They miss having friends around, but make friends very quickly with any child regardless of race, religion, colour or language.
So I suppose its working for us, and we'll keep going so long as it does. We have no 'home' to go back to, so if and when we decide to stay put it doesn't matter where.
But, I have not met anybody who has said they wish they had waited longer; most people wish they had left earlier, when they were younger and fitter, so could enjoy it more and take advantage of the opportunities that had came thier way.
Also having our two children with us (11 & 9), makes us look at things/approach the way we live in a different way to most live aboards. We do loads of things with them and it keeps us both fit and healthy. The kids have taken to it like ducks to water, and we think they are getting a better and much broader education out of it. They miss having friends around, but make friends very quickly with any child regardless of race, religion, colour or language.
So I suppose its working for us, and we'll keep going so long as it does. We have no 'home' to go back to, so if and when we decide to stay put it doesn't matter where.
But, I have not met anybody who has said they wish they had waited longer; most people wish they had left earlier, when they were younger and fitter, so could enjoy it more and take advantage of the opportunities that had came thier way.
lyralicious
Well-Known Member
Simple answer: No.
More complicated answer: The biggest step is the mind shift. You don't make such a drastic move simply because there's a recession and it seems like a good idea. It could be a snap decision or a long term plan. It's the cutting yourself off from the rat-race that's the biggest leap; that and the radical shifting of priorities. For me it was a gradual process of high-powered-director-level-sales-burnout which resulted in immense dissatisfaction with working. I craved a simpler and less material existence. I sold the house and bought a flat and a yacht with no borrowings. So, that's where we are now.
It's not a case of living in an endless merry-go-round of G&Ts and "dinner at ours, darling" - how excruciating. By the way, you'll get bored if you are boring. And if you stay in the same place. And if you just live in marinas. If you have lots of interests, hobbies and a thirst for knowledge how could sailing be boring? There's so much to see and experience out there!
We don't have a plan to go round the world. If we like somewhere we'll stay for a bit. When the lustre has worn off, or we get itchy feet, we'll move on. How can we possibly see all there is to see in our lifetimes?
After three years I still wake up with the joyous feeling that I don't have to go to work. I can do what the hell I like.
Age has nothing to do with it; I was in my late 40s when I gave it all up. I've met people in their 30s and in their 70s who love the life - and people of the same ages who hate the life!
Of course, you can always be a liveaboard and full-time workster...
More complicated answer: The biggest step is the mind shift. You don't make such a drastic move simply because there's a recession and it seems like a good idea. It could be a snap decision or a long term plan. It's the cutting yourself off from the rat-race that's the biggest leap; that and the radical shifting of priorities. For me it was a gradual process of high-powered-director-level-sales-burnout which resulted in immense dissatisfaction with working. I craved a simpler and less material existence. I sold the house and bought a flat and a yacht with no borrowings. So, that's where we are now.
It's not a case of living in an endless merry-go-round of G&Ts and "dinner at ours, darling" - how excruciating. By the way, you'll get bored if you are boring. And if you stay in the same place. And if you just live in marinas. If you have lots of interests, hobbies and a thirst for knowledge how could sailing be boring? There's so much to see and experience out there!
We don't have a plan to go round the world. If we like somewhere we'll stay for a bit. When the lustre has worn off, or we get itchy feet, we'll move on. How can we possibly see all there is to see in our lifetimes?
After three years I still wake up with the joyous feeling that I don't have to go to work. I can do what the hell I like.
Age has nothing to do with it; I was in my late 40s when I gave it all up. I've met people in their 30s and in their 70s who love the life - and people of the same ages who hate the life!
Of course, you can always be a liveaboard and full-time workster...
BlueSkyNick
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I hope you are asking this question merely out of interest and not in order to help make a decision on whether to become a liveaboard or not.
[/ QUOTE ]
Not necessarily to make a decision one way or another, but more than just out of interest. I consider it further research. As I said to Talulah, changing circumstances require changing plans - just like sailing and, indeed, living aboard !!
Thanks to everybody for the answers - plenty of food for thought.
I hope you are asking this question merely out of interest and not in order to help make a decision on whether to become a liveaboard or not.
[/ QUOTE ]
Not necessarily to make a decision one way or another, but more than just out of interest. I consider it further research. As I said to Talulah, changing circumstances require changing plans - just like sailing and, indeed, living aboard !!
Thanks to everybody for the answers - plenty of food for thought.
sailorman
Well-Known Member
That was a good & enlightening post Nick Thnx
jeanne
Well-Known Member
I would agree with those who say that six months is enough roaming, and then you feel the need to stay in one place for a while. But this can be achieved by staying put in a small area in your boat, it does´nt mean moving ashore.
The point that seems to have been neglected in the discussion is that you have endless opportunities to go back to the 9 to 5 life, but very few to leave it . We went blue water sailing when we were in our late forties, and could not really afford it, because we had a sneaking suspicion that if we waited to do it when we retired, it would not happen.
We had a great time for two years, and then went back to work. When we finally retired, it was because of ill health, and we had lost the option of going long distance cruising. But we had done what we wanted to do and there were plenty of other projects to hold our attention .
Regret living aboard? No!
The point that seems to have been neglected in the discussion is that you have endless opportunities to go back to the 9 to 5 life, but very few to leave it . We went blue water sailing when we were in our late forties, and could not really afford it, because we had a sneaking suspicion that if we waited to do it when we retired, it would not happen.
We had a great time for two years, and then went back to work. When we finally retired, it was because of ill health, and we had lost the option of going long distance cruising. But we had done what we wanted to do and there were plenty of other projects to hold our attention .
Regret living aboard? No!
Chrissie
Well-Known Member
Hi Nick
I live on my boat now, but still in England, getting used to the lack of space is hard, and every so often I get desparate for a night in a bed that doesnt rock and is a lot quieter, but then being in Portsmouth Harbour, is probably very different to somewhere exotic and warm!
If your family are up for it, give it a try, life is too short for the what ifs? and you can always come back, by then the houses might be even cheaper (tongue in cheek, trying to sell mine now)
I live on my boat now, but still in England, getting used to the lack of space is hard, and every so often I get desparate for a night in a bed that doesnt rock and is a lot quieter, but then being in Portsmouth Harbour, is probably very different to somewhere exotic and warm!
If your family are up for it, give it a try, life is too short for the what ifs? and you can always come back, by then the houses might be even cheaper (tongue in cheek, trying to sell mine now)
dratsea
Well-Known Member
The usual reply to "sailing around the world" is either:
I am going to do it one day (age less than 55)
or
I wish I had done it. (age more than 55)
Done one circumnavigation I (we) set off with plan to sell the boat when when got back. But we did not sell Sara Jane and I am now learning Japanese, and next time we will turn right at Singapore. What is "ODD" is that it was the long term liveaboards that (immediately, or well, after first couple of beers) identified us as long term liveaboards.
Why not decide you are going to do it for x years and review plans in x+2?
Good luck, fair winds and may the force be with you!
John
I am going to do it one day (age less than 55)
or
I wish I had done it. (age more than 55)
Done one circumnavigation I (we) set off with plan to sell the boat when when got back. But we did not sell Sara Jane and I am now learning Japanese, and next time we will turn right at Singapore. What is "ODD" is that it was the long term liveaboards that (immediately, or well, after first couple of beers) identified us as long term liveaboards.
Why not decide you are going to do it for x years and review plans in x+2?
Good luck, fair winds and may the force be with you!
John
desertqueen
Active Member
<u>The Best Life Money Can't Buy</u> by Andy Deering might be a good read for you.