Loosing sleep over this

deniseO30 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007

I know there have been many posts about the sanity of one dreaming/scheming/fantasizing about living aboard.

But DARN IT! I'm starting to loose sleep over the idea!!

Let me try to put this in some kind of order here:

It seems possible... equity in my house. I only have a Oday 30 but I could live on it. Now, I know my 5ft baby grand would have to be sold

... but all that aside. I could even sell the Oday.. get a ketch (love ketches)

I love the Eastern shore of the Chesepeake Bay. I could actually stay in my Htg and AC biz because it's so close to Philadelphia. Dammit they keep pushing the retirement age off.. it's 67 now I think I'm 59

Just doing some simple math (all I'm capable of actually) It costs me 15-20K a yr to keep my house. the home equity loan. (boat loan shhhh) and the other things for civilized life as a home owner.

to liveaboard, I think the costs are about 2/3s less?

Now the other thing that is really making me loose sleep: Thinking about selling it all, except the O30. Put a new engine in, head down the ICW to FLA, the Gulf then up the Tenn-Tom to tennesee. and then back down to the gulf to a more permanant dockage. live near or with family in TN 3 months a yr. and on the boat the rest of the yr. Then if it doesn't pan out go live in TN.

OH! I dunno! But it's starting to take over my quiet time!! I would need a plan I know. and my house is far from ready to sell yet.

I will say.. I know very well that wanting is not the same as having.

Sometimes in my heart of hearts I think I missed my mark.. Should be in Maine working for a wooden boat builder!

One thing that may really keep me from the south... I hate hot weather!

Alaska???

2 yrs supply of lunista? (sleeping pills)

anyway... that's my conundrum.

CharlieCobra · #2 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007

Denise, while you could live aboard an O30, would ya want to? I've entertained selling everything and just taking off as well. I'm still here...

teshannon · #3 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007

Denise,
A fine dream but to each his own. I know a lot of people live on boats but I just don't see how I could do it. The hull would close in on me in a few weeks and that's with a fairly good sized boat. Perhaps it's possible to check your dream out by not selling your house but closing it up and moving aboard for a while to see how you do. If it goes well then take the next step and enjoy the adventure.

tdw · #4 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by teshannon

Denise,
A fine dream but to each his own. I know a lot of people live on boats but I just don't see how I could do it. The hull would close in on me in a few weeks and that's with a fairly good sized boat. Perhaps it's possible to check your dream out by not selling your house but closing it up and moving aboard for a while to see how you do. If it goes well then take the next step and enjoy the adventure.

Push comes to shove I could live on most things bigger than around the 30' mark but would prefer something a tad larger to give extra space for cooking and bathing. Raven (34')is liveable but there is not much elbow room in the head for showering and the galley could do with a bit more bench space. If she was all I could ever afford then she'd do although I think Ms Wombat would give me the flick or murder me in my sleep before too long.

My preference for a liveaboard is high 30's early 40's. Remembering that LOA is not the be all and end all for a boats size. I like the idea of keeping below 40' for the convenience. Remember also that living space when docked and going to work each day is a damn sight different to being on perpetual vacation.

Denise, why not just do it ? I'm working hard towards winding up my business, upgrade boat and bugger off next year some time. If the dollars end up OK then it will be a bigger boat but if not I'm taking what I've got. Maybe that will mean not going as far as I might have liked but there's an awful lot of Australia to explore, PNG is right next door and the Solomons , Indonesia, New Zealand , New Caledonia are not far away and all within reach of a 34'er.

deniseO30 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007

thank you all, for good points to ponder

Well, the PO was living on my O30. I"ve spent a week with my son last summer and again last Oct. I felt great! Mostly on the hook too! only picked up ice/water/ and got pumpouts. Son didn't like it as much.. he was in the main salon. me in the Vee. It has a force10 stove/oven, hot water, head between the main salon and vee berth. Not as spacious as a Catalina 30 though! I think something bigger too.. one thought was letting my house out for rent. An option I could explore that with my Realtor I guess. thanks all!

Sailormann · #6 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007

Quote:

One thing that may really keep me from the south... I hate hot weather!

The Mediterranean is warm all year - rarely hot, never cold

Join the Flotilla and go for it

MARRSY · #7 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007

Hi Denise,
Not as qualified as most to give advice but I've been going through the same thought process for two years now... I've sold half my possesions (still trying to sell my piano and some more furniture) - have my house on the market and hope to have it sold in the next week (fingers crossed) I keep thinking I'm making a mistake... selling all I own and moving to the keys to live on a boat... it's a scary process... (I'm 35 with no family) but hey we only live once so If that's what you want and you think you can pull off... then go and do it - I used to live in Nashville doing music and Tenn is great... you have family and support there so it sounds like you can make it work... I say do it... don't look back and have a great and enjoyable time... good luck

tdw · #8 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailormann

The Mediterranean is warm all year - rarely hot, never cold

Join the Flotilla and go for it

You've never been to Spain in winter have you ? For that matter have you ever been to Spain in summer ? Rarely hot, never cold ??? Bollocks.

By flotilla you mean a rally ? God forbid. I tell you that would have to be my idea of hell. While I wouldn't mind if I had met up with another boat and we both headed off in the same direction at roughly the time the thought of heading off with twenty other boats , communal picnics on the beach, rafting up, effing sundowners etc etc makes me want to puke. I know that all is "horses for courses" but I'd sooner swallow the anchor.

ps - Yes I am aware that I'm an anti social sob and a gob but I like it this way thanks.

Freesail99 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailormann

The Mediterranean is warm all year - rarely hot, never cold

Join the Flotilla and go for it

I spent 9 weeks in Europe. Manly, Malta, Sicily and Greece. The average temperature was 104F. It was hot as hell. They also don't know what ice is ......

erps · #10 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007

We've been going through the same mental exercise. We originally planned on selling the house to enable us to retire sooner and shove off sooner. I read a few accounts of people who came back home after cruising for a few years and then tried to buy a house again. They were priced right out of the housing market by the appreciating market. We decided we're going to keep the house so we'll have something to come back to someday. That means a few more years of the grind to do it though, but we starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.