What would you have done differently

[cbtucker]

As a sailor wannabe, I am very interested in the experiences of people that have been there done that (or still doing that). Since I am in just the planning stages of my switch to the liveaboard life I have this question. What one thing would you have done differently. Be it something you would've put on your boat, a skill you would've learned, place to anchor, etc. And no fair saying you would've done it earlier

Thanks ahead of time for any and all responses!

[cbtucker]

I'm very impressed with this forum community - everybody did it perfectly the first time!!

[centaursailor]

Patience.
Safe sailing

[knothead]

"What would you have done differently?"

I can't think of a thing. I made a lot of mistakes, and learned a lot of stuff the hard way but I can't think of a thing I would have done differently.
I suppose that the thing I regret most is the decision to move off the boat and into a house. But that wasn't my decision alone and who's to say if it was right or wrong.
There is no perfect way to go cruising and if you think there is and try to be completely "ready" before you go. You never will go.

Perfect time to quote my favorite passage from the Wanderer, by Sterling Hayden.

"To be truly challenging, a voyage, like a life, must rest on a firm foundation of financial unrest. Otherwise, you are doomed to a routine traverse, the kind known to yachtsmen who play with their boats at sea... cruising, it is called. Voyaging belongs to seamen, and to the wanderers of the world who cannot, or will not, fit in. If you are contemplating a voyage and you have the means, abandon the venture until your fortunes change. Only then will you know what the sea is all about. "I've always wanted to sail to the south seas, but I can't afford it." What these men can't afford is not to go. They are enmeshed in the cancerous discipline of security. And in the worship of security we fling our lives beneath the wheels of routine - and before we know it our lives are gone. What does a man need - really need? A few pounds of food each day, heat and shelter, six feet to lie down in - and some form of working activity that will yield a sense of accomplishment. That's all - in the material sense, and we know it. But we are brainwashed by our economic system until we end up in a tomb beneath a pyramid of time payments, mortgages, preposterous gadgetry, playthings that divert our attention for the sheer idiocy of the charade. The years thunder by, the dreams of youth grow dim where they lie caked in dust on the shelves of patience. Before we know it, the tomb is sealed. Where, then, lies the answer? In choice. Which shall it be: bankruptcy of purse or bankruptcy of life? "

[awsomeadventure]

Originally Posted by knothead

"What would you have done differently?"

I can't think of a thing. I made a lot of mistakes, and learned a lot of stuff the hard way but I can't think of a thing I would have done differently.
I suppose that the thing I regret most is the decision to move off the boat and into a house. But that wasn't my decision alone and who's to say if it was right or wrong.
There is no perfect way to go cruising and if you think there is and try to be completely "ready" before you go. You never will go.

Perfect time to quote my favorite passage from the Wanderer, by Sterling Hayden.

"To be truly challenging, a voyage, like a life, must rest on a firm foundation of financial unrest. Otherwise, you are doomed to a routine traverse, the kind known to yachtsmen who play with their boats at sea... cruising, it is called. Voyaging belongs to seamen, and to the wanderers of the world who cannot, or will not, fit in. If you are contemplating a voyage and you have the means, abandon the venture until your fortunes change. Only then will you know what the sea is all about. "I've always wanted to sail to the south seas, but I can't afford it." What these men can't afford is not to go. They are enmeshed in the cancerous discipline of security. And in the worship of security we fling our lives beneath the wheels of routine - and before we know it our lives are gone. What does a man need - really need? A few pounds of food each day, heat and shelter, six feet to lie down in - and some form of working activity that will yield a sense of accomplishment. That's all - in the material sense, and we know it. But we are brainwashed by our economic system until we end up in a tomb beneath a pyramid of time payments, mortgages, preposterous gadgetry, playthings that divert our attention for the sheer idiocy of the charade. The years thunder by, the dreams of youth grow dim where they lie caked in dust on the shelves of patience. Before we know it, the tomb is sealed. Where, then, lies the answer? In choice. Which shall it be: bankruptcy of purse or bankruptcy of life? "

Thank you for that! I needed to read that. Moving forward!

[canadianseamonkey]

If that quote doesn't put things into perspective, then nothing does.
I love it!!! Thank you.

Originally Posted by knothead

"What would you have done differently?"

I can't think of a thing. I made a lot of mistakes, and learned a lot of stuff the hard way but I can't think of a thing I would have done differently.
I suppose that the thing I regret most is the decision to move off the boat and into a house. But that wasn't my decision alone and who's to say if it was right or wrong.
There is no perfect way to go cruising and if you think there is and try to be completely "ready" before you go. You never will go.

Perfect time to quote my favorite passage from the Wanderer, by Sterling Hayden.

"To be truly challenging, a voyage, like a life, must rest on a firm foundation of financial unrest. Otherwise, you are doomed to a routine traverse, the kind known to yachtsmen who play with their boats at sea... cruising, it is called. Voyaging belongs to seamen, and to the wanderers of the world who cannot, or will not, fit in. If you are contemplating a voyage and you have the means, abandon the venture until your fortunes change. Only then will you know what the sea is all about. "I've always wanted to sail to the south seas, but I can't afford it." What these men can't afford is not to go. They are enmeshed in the cancerous discipline of security. And in the worship of security we fling our lives beneath the wheels of routine - and before we know it our lives are gone. What does a man need - really need? A few pounds of food each day, heat and shelter, six feet to lie down in - and some form of working activity that will yield a sense of accomplishment. That's all - in the material sense, and we know it. But we are brainwashed by our economic system until we end up in a tomb beneath a pyramid of time payments, mortgages, preposterous gadgetry, playthings that divert our attention for the sheer idiocy of the charade. The years thunder by, the dreams of youth grow dim where they lie caked in dust on the shelves of patience. Before we know it, the tomb is sealed. Where, then, lies the answer? In choice. Which shall it be: bankruptcy of purse or bankruptcy of life? "

[cbtucker]

Wow - that quote really does put it all in perspective. If there's one part I definitely have down it's a firm foundation of financial unrest! Thank you for that quote. And it looks like I may have to had a book to my reading list now!

[treilley]

I am blessed with the ability to regret nothing. I am very happy in my life where I am now and every decision good or bad led me to this point.

I do not feel we should have started sooner. It was the right time in our lives to move aboard last year. Job unrest, volatile economy and worsening real estate market gave us the push we needed. We always joked about doing this but did not even consider it until 2010. 2009 was a down year for us. My job was eliminated. Although we were fortunate in that my wife's salary was enough to live on(frugally) and pay the bills. This gave me the opportunity to re-evaluate my professional career.

We considered buying a marina in Maine and working that until retirement but decided that waiting 20 years to retire while working 16 hours days, 7 days a week was not for us. We witnessed a few close friends lose their battles with terminal illnesses and decided life was too short to gamble on this.

2010 turned out to be a much better year for us. Luckily my profession is well suited to consulting so I did that to fill in the gaps. I then took 3 months off and renovated the house to prepare to sell. I also finished up the restoration of our Ericson 35-3 to place on the market. The boat sold in April, the house sold in July and we were aboard our new home in September. In June I went back to working full time. I was able to return to my chosen profession and even advance my career. It has been exactly a year since I started and I love my job but it is easier knowing that soon we will be living the dream.

Our transition was timed perfectly as we now live without debt and are squirreling away every spare dime so we will be ready to go in a few years. We could go now but I want to do it right and also feel it is too early from a boat familiarity standpoint. I want to get to know every system inside and out so as to allow us to maintain the boat ourselves.

So, no regrets. We picked the perfect time to move aboard and look forward to the many adventures we are getting ready to embark on.

Our path is not right for everyone though. Some start much earlier and live on much less. That is fine for them. Some of the younger LA couples at our marina look at us and admire our beautiful boat and see us going out to dinner without much worry financially. They ask us how they can do this and all I can tell them is to work hard now and get debt free. That is the true freedom. I sometimes just relax and think that we could go anywhere we want anytime we want and it brings a smile to my face.

There is no same path for everyone. There are certainly pitfalls from bad decisions but maybe that was necessary for you to learn what you know now and allow you to move forward more confidently.

Make the jump and enjoy the ride.

[aeventyr60]

Simpler, Smaller, Sooner.

[bdietrich]

Probably should have put a little more emphasis on sailing performance, and traded off size/space for that. Although I do like all of the size and space I got.
I have a Gulfstar 44 motor-sailer.