Is now the time?

[sab30]

After 2 years of courses, chartering, and boat ownership, both my wife and I have decided we share the same desire to go cruising. Now the tough part..are we actually going to do this? We have built a successful business that once we walk... we cant return..it has provided us the funds to do this with a lifelong income. We want to have children..is it practicle to live on a boat with an infant many people say yes but its hard to comprehend being on a boat with a newborn..everything else including our finances are in place and we have no other issues preventing us...but its that giant step forward that scares us. Over and over I hear of the liveaboards and cruisers who say they wouldnt change their life for anything..many say they waited to long..I dont want that to be us. Based on our current life it has to be all or nothing..we dont have the opportunity for a "trial period" We would not be able to return to our previous lives as we knew them as that opportunity doesnt exist. I guess we are just looking for all that profound advice that the decision we are making wont be the wrong one.

I have read on the practicle advice post based on the above but this is more of a psycological barrier for us...trying to ensure that this isnt just the "romantic" decision to go cruising but realizing this is a life changing decision.

We would love to hear from anyone who struggled with this and what the final result was....

[PBzeer]

No one can tell you what the right choice is. It has to be your own decision, and for your own reasons. If you are passionate about going cruising, you will. If you still have doubts, then you most likely won't.

I'd say, if you really believe the quote in your signature line, you'll go. It WON"T be a bed of roses. There WILL be times you question yourself. But, if it's REALLY what you want to do, you'll find a way to overcome any obstacles that may lie in your path.

[jjns]

Cannot speak to the live-aboard portion of your question but do have a viewpoint on kids on boats.
When our son was 2 months old he had already spent 1/4 of his life at sea with a trip to Princess Louisa Inlet. It is relatively easy to have a new born on board, get yourself a quality baby wearing device (we had a baby bjorn). At that age about all they do is eat, sleep and cry. That being said, anytime things got a little sticky, docking with wind, shooting rapids...he would always wake up and start squirming (probably sensed my heartbeat elevate). We also had a docking crew at each stop (friends we were cruising with) they were crucial to allowing us to do simple things like shower, eat... built in babysitters are a good thing.
2 years later, we did the Toronto/Kingston trip which was very different (excluding all the differences between the Pacific and the great lakes).
Toddlers like to toddle, and there just isn't that much room on a 30 footer.
Cannot complain about the boy though as most of our days ran into 7-10 hours (30-40 miles between marina's with enough water to get into), but he was clearly restless after 3-4 hours. By the end of each day he couldn't wait to get off and run around. Until he gets older and can appreciate things more, we will keep our cruising to shorter trips as 6 days was just too long to expect his majesty to be in best spirits.
Perhaps someone else will have happier stories for you, as for me, I will wait to he leaves the coup before thinking about extended cruising again.

[fullkeel7]

sab30,

A young couple, Dave and Jaja Martin did a eight year circumnavigation in a 25 ft. Cal in the late 1980's. Among the many memories acquired during the trip, they also accumulated three 'new' crew members...two of which were born on the boat. YIKES! Extreme case, sure. But just goes to show you, if you want something bad enough......

Sounds like you and your wife are in a much better position all around than the Martins and I'm guessing a circumnavigation may not be in the immediate future, so I guess it all comes down to 'how bad do we want to do this'? I supose there are all kinds of really good excuses we can use not to follow our dreams. You will surely be able to work thru the safety concerns with knowledge and experience and there must be resources on the subject out there as well as advice from those who have lived it.

Cruising with young kids (which are not here yet) a practicality? Probably not. Naysayers would say it's even irresponsible. I saw a poster at work years ago that said something to the effect...."We will never realize our dreams if we do not have the courage to leave site of the shore".

Good luck with your decisions.

Bob

[knothead]

Originally Posted by sab30

both my wife and I have decided we share the same desire to go cruising. ....is it practicle to live on a boat with an infant......finances are in place and we have no other issues preventing us...but its that giant step forward that scares us...... they wouldnt change their life for anything..many say they waited to long..I dont want that to be us.... advice that the decision we are making wont be the wrong one.....

I haven't often regretted things that I did. I may have regretted the way I did them though.
What I have regretted are the things that I didn't do. Some of which were by choice.
I guess that what I'm saying is, life is a series of choices. Some of them work out, some don't. In the end those choices add up to our life story. There are no guarantees, there are not even any right or wrong choices. Our choices lead to experiences. Our experiences are who we are.
Follow your heart. Live with the consequences.

I think I need a drink.