Sell up and sail - Yesterday's strategy?

this is an interesting thread, i am 44 i think ( check passport later) my aim is to semi retire at 55. and do as other have said, work 6 month sail 6 months. with regards to pension, my partner have a 30 year pot, and i have a index linked military pension. we will sell the house and use 50% to buy smaller and 50% to live life.
my question is what makes me think i will will be ill free at 55, so i do what i can to reduce then semi retirement age, life must be for living and nothing more, my view is to enjoy the life i have while i can, and worry about the rest when i need to. my SWIMBO says always have a plan, i do its a passage plan for every weekend even if i don't go out.

I think the key to a good boating life is to reduce the costs of having a boat, this is easily achieved by moving out of expensive Marina, and the savings can go in to the sailing pension fund. year 2 i have saved £6800 by not being in an expensive marina.
 
When, some years ago, I read Sell up and sail, I remember thinking renting the house out would be more practical for me.
During my working life I went on loads of management courses. The one which really stuck in my mind was one about cost reduction. After earning, and spending, a relatively large salary, I now live on very little money. Not only am I happier but I find the process of money saving enjoyable.
My favourite money saving tip. Whilst living in France we would go to the casino on a Saturday night as they had Some very good bands. As drinks were very expensive, we normally had a bottle of champagne before we left home! Saving money doesn't have to mean a worse lifestyle.
Allan
 
TradewindSailor said:
I was much more able to generate income by investing it on the stockmarket ..... but then I have lots of experience.
Click to expand...

Care to elaborate on your investment strategy? I'm always interested to hear how other people do it.

We don't want the stress of renting out a house from a distance. Been there, done that, and heard too many horror stories to consider doing it again. So if things go to plan we will be selling our house in 2014 and investing the proceeds to help produce an income.

Great thread BTW.
 
One thing to remember when long distance sailing it's not just the smaller things that break (e.g. water pumps, foot pumps, alternator, nav lights, fan belts, impellors etc etc. We had to replace a generator £8,000. Our fridge and watermaker were 240 volt industrial grade so we didn't want to replace those with boat kit that regularly breaks.
 
Gerry said:
We have lived aboard for the past 14 years. Own no property, was a blessed relief when we got rid of the house. You only realise once it's gone what a pain in the proverbial it is. We are completely free to go where we want.......do what we want.......
Click to expand...
GHA said:
Agree 100%.
House went 8 years ago. Really don't miss it at all, especially the feeling of being chained to one particular geographical location on the planet.
Though maybe not for everyone. But much is made of what might happen in the future. So far the worst things in life don't seem to actually happen outside of the imagination ;)
Click to expand...
+2(for the past 5 years now)
No pension 41years old,poor but happy.
 
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SailorBill said:
Care to elaborate on your investment strategy? I'm always interested to hear how other people do it.

We don't want the stress of renting out a house from a distance. Been there, done that, and heard too many horror stories to consider doing it again. So if things go to plan we will be selling our house in 2014 and investing the proceeds to help produce an income.

Great thread BTW.
Click to expand...

Actually no. I used to chair an investment club. We had the maximum 20 members before the end of the dot-com bubble. I resigned in Dec 99 taking my pot with me. I learnt that people behave differently when they are stressed. Their risk management can go to pot ....

It is not good enough to tell someone when to buy or when to sell. You have to make sure they have the money to loose, because in my experience most people do eventually loose a large proportion.

If you want to start investing in the stockmarket, read as much as you can, read about the main strategies: technical (Elliot Wave is the most popular, but generally known as charting), value investing (Graham), momentum investing, etc, etc.). If it doesn't interest you don't invest. For me it is a 2-3hr per day hobby.

Some basic rules I TRY and live by:
Diversified portfolio .... at least 10 diversified shares ..... but no more than 20 (hard to keep track of)
Always keep 40% plus cash even if it isn't earning any money. Having no cash leads to forced sales which can be expensive.
Don't be greedy
Someone always know more
I never trade options .... they are time dependent and my timing is always out.
Don't expect to get in at the bottom and out at the top ...... Very few people do .... think about it : supply and demand
Keep the portfolio balanced at all times.
Buy quality.
Don't buy on well publicised tips, they are self-supporting and your timing will always be out.
Volatility is good if you are a contrarian.
Don't believe the analysts
The private investor is always at a disadvantage.
Make up a trading strategy and stick by it ..... only modifying it for good reason (it can guard against the effects of fear and greed).
Remember that if a share goes up by 5% one day and down 4.8% the next day, you have actually made a loss not a profit.
Penny Shares are way more vulnerable to pumping and dumping
The market is HEAVILY weighted against the private investor.
Don't be greedy! (yes I know I have said it before!)
The various share forums are useful for hooking into others 'research' and opinions ...... you can get a flavour of how well loved the share is .... BUT they are also a mine of disinformation.
Changes in government legislation can ruin a whole section of shares over night: taxing North Sea oil producers, banning out of state (USA) gambling, etc


I have been investing since the late 80's. I've made some big profits, but I've also lost big too. I really do enjoy the research. I still make mistakes, but I'm way more conservative than I used to be.

The above is not a strategy, far from it. Just some basic rules that I keep at the back of my mind.

I am sure they'll be a lots of comments, the more the better ...... but perhaps not for this forum.
 
sailing v work

interesting thread

I work fewer hours than I used to

and I certainly sail more

tiny and shrinking equitable life pension whenever they let me have it so the future is not one brimming with cash flow

I sail as cheap as possible, heat the home office with candles rather than turning the heating on , drive a **** car

mortgage payed

my policy is to sail as often as I can as it is the most wonderful thing to do

I reckon I did about 90 days on the boat last year

I could sell the house and buy a big boat (although Jill would never contemplate such a move)

during the course of my journey around the Uk so far I have met quite a few boat dwellers

generally not happy or secure people - and they spend their lives tied to a pontoon

sailing is a massive disruption

the winters are tough for them

so... sail more... sail cheap

D
 
I have found this a fascinating thread.

At times it reminded me of the old jibe about an accountant who knew the cost of everything but the value of nothing! Because the debate really isn't about the size of your pension, or whether to sell the house or rent, its about whether you can let go of one lifestyle and embrace another one.

As has been said many times already in this thread, cruising can be an economical lifestyle - but not if you stay in the choicest marinas - or indeed if you stay in them frequently. There was no "golden age" when it was easy to sell up and sail. If anything, its never been easier with mass produced, cheap (relatively), plastic boats and GPSs that tell you where you are to a couple of meters or so, and with wifi, skype and sat phones so you can keep in touch if you want to!

We have all been there, at the edge of the pool, thinking of diving in, but worried about how cold the water might be, or how deep, or how high the dive. Some take a deep breath and dive, others don't. Of those that do dive some will like the swimming others won't. Those that dive in are not intrinsically better people than those who don't, just different.

So many people find they don't like the cruising life that certain marinas in the western Med have the term "heartbreak boats" or "broken dreams boats" for boats that have been left and put up for sail, the dream of a new life barely surviving a Biscay crossing. But that's not a reason for not trying in the first place, better to have tried and found it's not for you, than spend the rest of your life wondering.

I am an incredibly fortunate man that has a wife who loves sailing and cruising as much as I do. We love it, we love the people and for two years it exceeded our wildest expectations. We wished we had done it sooner, we enjoyed the experiences, the camaraderie, the interesting people we met (all human life is out there). Then we had to return because of pressing family reasons. I am glad these are now resolved and we count the months to our return to re-embrace the liveaboard life and continuing our journey.

Mark Twain summed it up for us both metaphorically and literally

Mark Twain – throw off the bowlines

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore.

Dream.

Discover.
 
silver-fox said:
I have found this a fascinating thread.


We have all been there, at the edge of the pool, thinking of diving in, but worried about how cold the water might be, or how deep, or how high the dive. Some take a deep breath and dive, others don't. Of those that do dive some will like the swimming others won't. Those that dive in are not intrinsically better people than those who don't, just different.


I am an incredibly fortunate man that has a wife who loves sailing and cruising as much as I do. We love it, we love the people and for two years it exceeded our wildest expectations. We wished we had done it sooner, we enjoyed the experiences, the camaraderie, the interesting people we met (all human life is out there). Then we had to return because of pressing family reasons. I am glad these are now resolved and we count the months to our return to re-embrace the liveaboard life and continuing our journey.

Mark Twain summed it up for us both metaphorically and literally

Mark Twain – throw off the bowlines

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore.

Dream.

Discover.
Click to expand...

Normally I hate the +1 thing but in this case +1

if I can add anything to the debate it would be this go now while you have the health, don't wait to be absolutely financially secure.

We had the thought of cruising around 2010, in truth i should have worked for a few more years to secure a solid financial position. However we had met folks who had their cruising cut short by ill health so we decided to cut and run. You may see us at B&Q, on the meet and greet in a few years, trying to subsidise our pensions but if you do it will have been worth it.

If you have the dream go and go now while you can.

We are in the Florida Keys tonight, around 25 degrees water and air temp. life is good.
 
I agree with virtually all that has been said. One decision we have to make is where to go? There's so much choice!

If we go Plymouth to Channel Islands then west, South Brittany and the inside route round Biscay we'll miss out on the north coast of France and the canals. I've always fancied a good look round Holland and the Baltic. But the it's cold in those parts. There again, if we go south we'll probably never come north again.

The decision to go is made but now the possibilities seem so endless it's almost confusing!

A nice problem to have, I must admit.
 
Slow_boat said:
I agree with virtually all that has been said. One decision we have to make is where to go? There's so much choice!

If we go Plymouth to Channel Islands then west, South Brittany and the inside route round Biscay we'll miss out on the north coast of France and the canals. I've always fancied a good look round Holland and the Baltic. But the it's cold in those parts. There again, if we go south we'll probably never come north again.

The decision to go is made but now the possibilities seem so endless it's almost confusing!

A nice problem to have, I must admit.
Click to expand...
Go to Holland then down the Normandy coast.
 
Slow_boat said:
I agree with virtually all that has been said. One decision we have to make is where to go? There's so much choice!

If we go Plymouth to Channel Islands then west, South Brittany and the inside route round Biscay we'll miss out on the north coast of France and the canals. I've always fancied a good look round Holland and the Baltic. But the it's cold in those parts. There again, if we go south we'll probably never come north again.

The decision to go is made but now the possibilities seem so endless it's almost confusing!

A nice problem to have, I must admit.
Click to expand...
No problem at all.
Really doesn't matter :)
It's all nice. Where you are going is contentment on your own boat, self sufficient and enjoying what is around you wherever the boat may be moored.
I would say it's probably actually better not to think like that at all, focus on where you are right now, there are so many factors involved with enjoying a place, lots to do with the people you meet. You can love an anchorage then go back 3 weeks later and hate it. Looking forward to a "must see" place often leads to disappointment when it turns out different to your expectations.
So ignore all the "you should do this or that" :) if the winds good go, things will happen and it will be fun :cool:


IMHO
 
GHA said:
No problem at all.
Really doesn't matter :)
It's all nice. Where you are going is contentment on your own boat, self sufficient and enjoying what is around you wherever the boat may be moored.
I would say it's probably actually better not to think like that at all, focus on where you are right now, there are so many factors involved with enjoying a place, lots to do with the people you meet. You can love an anchorage then go back 3 weeks later and hate it. Looking forward to a "must see" place often leads to disappointment when it turns out different to your expectations.
So ignore all the "you should do this or that" :) if the winds good go, things will happen and it will be fun :cool:


IMHO
Click to expand...

My sentiments exactly! ...
 
Reminds me of a conversation we had with a couple of liveaboards a few years ago. I asked what advice they had for our future plans based on their cruising experience. They said don't make plans and have schedules - this is for people who work, you won't be working, so go where the wind is, if you like it stay, if you don't then move on. April 2015 is in the diary for us - have enjoyed this thread and look forward to following the updates.
 
silver-fox said:
We have all been there, at the edge of the pool, thinking of diving in, but worried about how cold the water might be, or how deep, or how high the dive. Some take a deep breath and dive, others don't. Of those that do dive some will like the swimming others won't. Those that dive in are not intrinsically better people than those who don't, just different.

.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that; it hit me square between the eyes (!) and has made me think.

Rob
 
Exactly : "Go where the wind blows you" ..... Trade wind sailing, or not ..... if you don't fight it you can end up in some very interesting and unspoilt cruising grounds.

One thing to note: from the USA on West 'liveaboards' are not cruisers. Most of the liveaboard boats up the West coast of the states would never make it off their moorings ..... and some businesses in San Francisco Bay put up signs 'No Liveaboards' which really miffed us until the counter staff explained that we were 'cruisers' and they were delighted to meet us.

As for places to go ..... I steer clear of the expensive places, not just because I can't justify the expense, but mainly because the values of the folk are so different from mine. The most rewarding experiences I have had outside of the cruising community have been with the small towns and villages that are well away from the resort areas where we are treated as guests and not as strangers to be fleeced.
 
TradewindSailor said:
Actually no. I used to chair an investment club. We had the maximum 20 members before the end of the dot-com bubble. I resigned in Dec 99 taking my pot with me. I learnt that people behave differently when they are stressed. Their risk management can go to pot ....

It is not good enough to tell someone when to buy or when to sell. You have to make sure they have the money to loose, because in my experience most people do eventually loose a large proportion.

If you want to start investing in the stockmarket, read as much as you can, read about the main strategies: technical (Elliot Wave is the most popular, but generally known as charting), value investing (Graham), momentum investing, etc, etc.). If it doesn't interest you don't invest. For me it is a 2-3hr per day hobby.

Some basic rules I TRY and live by:
Diversified portfolio .... at least 10 diversified shares ..... but no more than 20 (hard to keep track of)
Always keep 40% plus cash even if it isn't earning any money. Having no cash leads to forced sales which can be expensive.
Don't be greedy
Someone always know more
I never trade options .... they are time dependent and my timing is always out.
Don't expect to get in at the bottom and out at the top ...... Very few people do .... think about it : supply and demand
Keep the portfolio balanced at all times.
Buy quality.
Don't buy on well publicised tips, they are self-supporting and your timing will always be out.
Volatility is good if you are a contrarian.
Don't believe the analysts
The private investor is always at a disadvantage.
Make up a trading strategy and stick by it ..... only modifying it for good reason (it can guard against the effects of fear and greed).
Remember that if a share goes up by 5% one day and down 4.8% the next day, you have actually made a loss not a profit.
Penny Shares are way more vulnerable to pumping and dumping
The market is HEAVILY weighted against the private investor.
Don't be greedy! (yes I know I have said it before!)
The various share forums are useful for hooking into others 'research' and opinions ...... you can get a flavour of how well loved the share is .... BUT they are also a mine of disinformation.
Changes in government legislation can ruin a whole section of shares over night: taxing North Sea oil producers, banning out of state (USA) gambling, etc


I have been investing since the late 80's. I've made some big profits, but I've also lost big too. I really do enjoy the research. I still make mistakes, but I'm way more conservative than I used to be.

The above is not a strategy, far from it. Just some basic rules that I keep at the back of my mind.

I am sure they'll be a lots of comments, the more the better ...... but perhaps not for this forum.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply. Some useful reminders and do's and don'ts in there.

I find it fascinating to read other people's take on these things. I'm more convinced of the philosophies of Graham, Maynard Keynes, et al than I am of the chartists. I agree that more than 20 stocks would be difficult to keep track of. I also think being over-diversified increases the likelihood of achieving no better than average returns. Terry Smith's investment strategy is a good one, I think.
 
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