Why is it that people think boat owners are rich?

[ukmctc]

ukmctc - you sound like a really well-travelled person with a balanced view on the world. As you say, computers and the internet are available everywhere. Of course they are, how silly of me to presume that the thousands of refugees we spotted stuck outside Port Sudan, for example, can't get off their asses, earn some money, buy themsevels a computer and take part in this discussion. It's funny you should mention this subject because I was only discussing this the other day with one of my displaced Somali friends who's so starving he left his son by the road-side to die because he didn't have the energy to carry him to the next camp. He was telling me how he was saving up to buy a Moody 425 but had an issue with the increased mooring fees in Southampton.

Get real.

You have missed the entire question, don't you read the thread before putting your 2p in.

Yep, I'm as real as it gets. I don't actually care if a man in Port Sudan has problems.
You care that much, send all your wages over to him and support his family, buy him that yacht.
I remember being in India when some parents actually sell their kids, break the bones of children so they look bad for tourists and get better money for begging.
Oh yea in Asia they give kids up for prostitution, earns good money for the family, Russia, they use them in child porn....and so on.
Africa, all of the above and more, been going on for 100's of years, but we have TV now so the bleeding hearts can see what they have ignored for years, the guilt can flood out, they can now blame us in the west for getting on with our lives and working to make it better for our families.
I'm not a bleeding heart liberal, I work hard and pay for my family and me tobe as comfortable and as happy as possible were I am. Occassionally I put some cash in a charity box, but who is kidding who, the majority of that money goes to the CEO's and admin not to the people who need it.
I'd rather put money to an animal charity and save the whale or tiger.
Remember charity begins at home and in this day and age ends there too.

 

[Nostrodamus]

Can I make this thread a pay per view?

 

[ukmctc]

Can I make this thread a pay per view?

++1...lol

 

[jordanbasset]

Can I make this thread a pay per view?

No, were all too poor

 

[Sandyman]

No, were all too poor

Depends on how you personally look on it. Who's rich & who's poor ? Surely its relevant to your situation and expectations in life.

 

[Hamma]

Yep, I'm as real as it gets. I don't actually care if a man in Port Sudan has problems.

<snip>

I'd rather put money to an animal charity and save the whale or tiger.
Remember charity begins at home and in this day and age ends there too.

You're not alone in thinking that - though few are ready to say it. Personally I believe many of these attitudes would fade fast when confronted with the living reality of a human being in distress - wherever they come from.

For some reason (for some people) it seems to be easier to divorce oneself from the abstracted suffering of another human (perhaps blame them for somehow contributing to their own troubles) than to think of an animal suffering due to similar human stupidity or cruelty.

My experience is that there are good people and bad people everywhere - and once I spend a couple of minutes interacting with someone then some humanity usually becomes apparent.

Just think about Americans - many Brits have antipathy towards the idea of Americans - and yet I rarely meet one that I comprehensively dislike, or wouldn't lend a hand to if he'd inadvertently tripped and stumbled down a well. Most of the citizens of the US that I have met - I have actively liked, and yet the apathy towards the 'idea' of them remains, stuborn.

Many of us might benefit from a short dose of reality.

 

[Sandyman]

You're not alone in thinking that - though few are ready to say it. Personally I believe many of these attitudes would fade fast when confronted with the living reality of a human being in distress - wherever they come from.

For some reason (for some people) it seems to be easier to divorce oneself from the abstracted suffering of another human (perhaps blame them for somehow contributing to their own troubles) than to think of an animal suffering due to similar human stupidity or cruelty.

My experience is that there are good people and bad people everywhere - and once I spend a couple of minutes interacting with someone then some humanity usually becomes apparent.

Just think about Americans - many Brits have antipathy towards the idea of Americans - and yet I rarely meet one that I comprehensively dislike, or wouldn't lend a hand to if he'd inadvertently tripped and stumbled down a well. Most of the citizens of the US that I have met - I have actively liked, and yet the apathy towards the 'idea' of them remains, stuborn.

Many of us might benefit from a short dose of reality.

Interesting you mention the Yanks...........I can't wonder why.

So we're back on the charity go round again. Take this onboard. Save the Children Fund have been running an ad for months now begging you to give 'just £2 a month'.
24 smackers a year. What they dont tell you is they will need over 10,000 peeps to pay that amount............................just to pay their CEO's salary !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is it any wonder more & more folk use the saying that charity begins at home ?

 

[njsail]

I think we started to loose perspective on the main point of this question. I come here to spend time with like minded people and immerse myself for a while in a topic i happen to love....sailboats and cruising. Step back for minute and realse the world is on fire (metaphorically). Some people set the fires themselves and others had the fires set for them. I've traveled the world and seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. I've worked hard my entire life trying to make a difference in my personal quality of life and as many other people as I can. I understood this thread to be referring to the perspective of the average joe on vacation in respect to the average cruiser. A thread more about human nature and perspective than finance. The reality of the financial side of things and I'm not here to preach (not my style) is if you are living on any modern boat your are probably better off financially than a good portion of the worlds poor. I'm not going to compare myself to some kid in the sudan. But that's not the point. I learned long ago....everything in life is relative. If you have the perfect life...a hang nail is tragic. To some kid in the sudan (you get the picture).

We could digress into Politics, Religion, and throw some sexual references in there too....but really most people here are focused on pulling a genoa sheet here and and there to make the pretty sails go up the pole thingy. maybe it would benifit all of us to think of this thread in realitve terms....average tourist vs average liveaboard/boat owner. Just a suggestion.

Or we can digress into quanatative easing destroying the value of our money. The degradation of various FIAT monetary systems to the point of collapse and the host of sovern nations either in bankrupcy or on the verge of bankrupcy ready to take down global markets to new level of pain and suffering, Can we say Dominos? Or we can chat about the massive world wide corruption now in the wide open, the destruction of entire nations underway...oh and that llittle thing called war which so many of our govts seem to want to engage in. or we can think blue water, the gentle rocking at anchor...watching sunsets and water critters playing in the surf...something that smells good cooking on the BBQ. Which way should we take our conversations?

....Just sayin' (in one of those moods) Have a wonderful day everyone. Live your lives to the fullest and try to do some good along the way. Its like eating a fresh baked cookie...it just feels good.

 

[Hipchick]

Management consultant goes on holiday to beautiful island and meets local fisherman in bar. Fisherman spends his morning fishing and in the afternoon goes to the bar for a drink. Consultant tells him he should surely work in the afternoon too and soon he'll have enough put by to buy another boat, and then in a year or two he'll have a fleet of boats. If all goes well then in another few years he'll be able to sell up and spend his days on a beautiful island, fishing in the morning and chattng to friends in the bar in the afternoon. DOH.

 

[njsail]

Hipchick +1 ...well said. drum roll....rim shot. Let's all have a drink.

 

[demonboy]

People, why can't you read my comments within the context of the OP?

No one is talking about charity here. That was not my point. I was just emphasizing the fact that you are rich whilst almost everyone else in the world is poor... but I am not asking for your money. I am saying if you think you're finding it tough it might help to put it in perspective. It's what I try to do when I'm having a bad day and that hang nail is really getting to me

Whether you are finding it financially difficult or have worked all your lives, spent all your savings, have lower than UK average salary, or become well-off because you were born into a successful and free democracy, not forgetting Bob's valid point about having a two-goal advantage... ultimately you will never get my sympathy because you have it good. I could sit here and tell you about all my savings I lost a few years ago but you don't want to hear that, like I don't want to hear about how hard you've worked all your life. It's boring.

The old adage about Brits being 'whinging poms' is so true it's scary. The more I travel the more true this becomes and it's embarassing. Sadly I'm a whinging Pom too but today the only whinging you'll hear from me is me whinging about other people whinging. Desist now, get in your lovely boat, go for a sail and enjoy it whilst you still have your health!

 

[Nostrodamus]

I have to say “I am a whinging pom”, it’s in my make up and from time to time I enjoy a good moan. By doing so you often get another perspective and it occasionally makes for a good discussion.

We are all aware of peoples around the world who are far worse off than ourselves and by selling our boats and or homes we could make the life of a whole village so much better for many years. Are we going to do that … no.

In my case I spent a lifetime helping others to my own physical detriment and that of my family. I was wrong. Family come first and now this is our time.

Yes this discussion could take many directions some of which may be interesting. I am not to say which way it should go or if it should end. It has been good for making us think a little but the original question was not meant to be as broad although I did not say so.

Originally it was meant to be a question about what others from the UK thought about boaties and was certainly not meant to be as heavy.

Everyone is entitled to a view and I am happy to read them.

I don’t find someone saying they have worked hard boring as it has relevance. It shows that most of those who live aboard are not born with a silver spoon in their mouths. No one else has given them what they have. They have worked for it, sold houses and assets and with determination they have got what they wanted sometimes after working all their lives to do so.

It shows others who want to lead this lifestyle that anyone can do it if you really want to and that you don’t need a huge budget or be rich to do so.

 

[rallyveteran]

It shows others who want to lead this lifestyle that anyone can do it if you really want to and that you don’t need a huge budget or be rich to do so.

I expect that if you worked out how much you would need to have saved in order to buy an annuity that matches your pension you might realise why many people would think you are rich. Most people with school age children are struggling to make ends meet. If they come across someone their age who has enough accumulated to enable them to stop work altogether they'll struggle to see them as poor.

This pension may be richly deserved, and it certainly wasn't inherited, but the question of how the wealth was come by has only been introduced at a later stage.

P.S. If you want to look poor, it would be best to avoid sailing around in an Oyster.

 

[demonboy]

P.S. If you want to look poor, it would be best to avoid sailing around in an Oyster.

No, I think you mean:

If you want to look poor, it would be best to avoid sailing

 

[Petronella]

I clearly remember the run up to leaving. Quite terrifying isn't it?

Don't worry you will get over it.

Another forumite -Stingo - said the hardest bit is taking the road out of town.

Focus on what is front to you - not behind you!

I don't think you have anything to worry about. Yes, casting off the lines is scary (or is it the ultimate excitement?). In reality though you are already there. Once you start talking to your best friends and those you respect about what you intend to do your decision is made. From there on in, although there will be setbacks, everything is in place and more and more doors will open up in front of you to ensure it happens.

 

[ukmctc]

Hmmm, I'm thinking of sailing to India, that way I'll be a rich with my small income, the locals will think I'm super rich when my pension arrives. It'll be like winning the lottery.
I have a friend who lives on a beach there, has been for several years now, says he is treated like a Lord, hardly spent his savings (£10,000) and loves it. House, servants, good life style he says, but no boat, I'd miss the boat.

I have heard also of folk sailing to and staying around Tailand 'cos of the same reason. If that makes you happy , good luck and go for it.

 

[ukmctc]

I have to say “I am a whinging pom”, it’s in my make up and from time to time I enjoy a good moan. By doing so you often get another perspective and it occasionally makes for a good discussion.

We are all aware of peoples around the world who are far worse off than ourselves and by selling our boats and or homes we could make the life of a whole village so much better for many years. Are we going to do that … no.

In my case I spent a lifetime helping others to my own physical detriment and that of my family. I was wrong. Family come first and now this is our time.

Yes this discussion could take many directions some of which may be interesting. I am not to say which way it should go or if it should end. It has been good for making us think a little but the original question was not meant to be as broad although I did not say so.

Originally it was meant to be a question about what others from the UK thought about boaties and was certainly not meant to be as heavy.

Everyone is entitled to a view and I am happy to read them.

I don’t find someone saying they have worked hard boring as it has relevance. It shows that most of those who live aboard are not born with a silver spoon in their mouths. No one else has given them what they have. They have worked for it, sold houses and assets and with determination they have got what they wanted sometimes after working all their lives to do so.

It shows others who want to lead this lifestyle that anyone can do it if you really want to and that you don’t need a huge budget or be rich to do so.

++1

 

[Nostrodamus]

Hmmm, I'm thinking of sailing to India, that way I'll be a rich with my small income, the locals will think I'm super rich when my pension arrives. It'll be like winning the lottery.
I have a friend who lives on a beach there, has been for several years now, says he is treated like a Lord, hardly spent his savings (£10,000) and loves it. House, servants, good life style he says, but no boat, I'd miss the boat.

I have heard also of folk sailing to and staying around Tailand 'cos of the same reason. If that makes you happy , good luck and go for it.

My wifes mother is from India. Her mother cleared out a chicken coup so her family of 8 could have somewhere to live... and that is part of an amazing true story.

 

[tonybannister]

Boat owners are guilty of the same assumptions. We believe the guy on the next pontoon with the bigger boat is richer than we are and the bloke with the Gin palace certainly is. How do we know that ??? We know nothing of their finances and never will as cards are placed very close the chest on that subject. All we know for certain is that their expenditure is much higher than ours for sure. So maybe they are actually poorer than we are. Maybe we should leave the whole issue to economists and get on with sailing. (Actually that wont work either as an economics professor told me once that the end of term exam questions in economics are the same every year - its the answers that change)

 

[DownWest]

Hum, I don't disagree with much on here.. Personally I like my shed and tools to want to actually live on board and sail away. Plus SHE like a dining room, bit difficult on most boats in the range...
The bit ignored here is the old age/ lack of ability to sail the boat. The OP has left early enough to enjoy several years of the life. If one leaves it after (say) 60, the years might end in a bit of rough despiration.
As for rich, only a question of what one considers ones priorities. House near London= very nice yacht. How one supports it (and the life) Planning.
DW