Lots of conflicting advice - so I won't give any - except to listen to all of the advice and choose what applies to you. (A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest - Paul Simon (The Boxer))
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-- I never met a "boat kid" who was anything but well adjusted, smart, engaged in life, confident and interesting to talk to. Great kids, every one of them. Family cruising seems to be a great experience for kids. They learn a lot about life and themselves. They become real contributing members of the family's endeavous far faster than would it they lived ashore. It is true that it's hard to uproot teenagers, but if they're up for the program, they will probably do fine.
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I couldn't agree more! We've lived aboard for 11 years and cruised some and worked some. We've met many kids living on board and I'll take any one of them over the best of the mall kids with the 'attitude'.
We, too, climbed aboard with teenagers. Twin daughters - fresh out of high school. We were never rich (I'm a five figure guy in a six figure world) and had to sell the houses, the cars, etc. to finance the boat and the voyaging. At first, neither of my daughters felt they wanted to go to college. One changed her mind after about a year - and decided she wanted to be a teacher. We told her that we had not prepared to send another off to college. (Son had already graduated - he's a news reporter/photographer and is doing well). She said - "That's okay, Mom and Dad, I'll figure out something myself." And she did. She applied for loans, grants, scholarships. She is now a junior high teacher in Annapolis with a special ed. background. We're extremely proud of her.
Twin two stayed with us a little longer, then got married. The guy turned into a jerk so she left him and put herself through College. She is now an architect working in Baltimore. Married to a wonderful guy and very well adjusted. We're extremely proud of her also.
My point is that living aboard and cruising helps make the kids resilient, self-sufficient, responsible, sensible.
I like your 11 year plan - it gives you plenty of time to take "baby-steps." Teaching the family to sail, practicing living aboard for short periods of time, learning all it takes to be self-sufficient on a boat. You get out on the ocean, and there are no 'off-ramps'. If something breaks, you have to know how to fix it.
Sell the house if you want and make the commitment - or don't and have a back-up. Whatever works.
And watch the movie, "
Captain Ron." This is
mandatory if you intend to go cruising.