|
|
|
|
|
 |
So, You Want to Live on a Boat?If you live on a boat, you're living the dream of millions of people. When people find out you live on a boat, reactions range from "I've always wanted to do that" to "I could never do it", and sometimes, "you must be crazy". Liveaboards are viewed by the general public as slightly eccentric and unique individuals. And once you spend some time with other liveaboards, this opinion usually holds true... 
For most people, the idea of living aboard starts with a dream. Maybe you spent a day sailing with friends. Or you attended a BBQ at a marina and met some liveaboards. Perhaps you saw a movie where living aboard looked like a lot of fun. If you already have a boat, you might start taking longer and longer cruises until you don't want to go home at all. "I could live on a boat full time" you say! The next thing you know, the house and everything in it is up for sale. It's often men who have the irresistible urge to escape the rat race and live on a boat. But there are
lots of women who want to join their partner in the ultimate adventure. Whereas men outnumber women by a good ratio at any marina, there
are a few hardy ladies who live aboard by themselves. Let's face it, almost everyone dreams of quitting their job and sailing off into the sunset. You might want to sail to the Bahamas or just spend winters aboard in the Gulf Islands. Some people never want to leave the dock at all, but just want to enjoy life in a smaller and more simple space. They don't want to mow the lawn anymore or shovel the sidewalks. The truth is, you don't have to give everything up to live aboard. And there is truly a boat for every dream and budget. Living aboard is more affordable than you think. Let the adventure begin...  "There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. In or out of 'em, it doesn't matter. Nothing seems really to matter, that's the charm of it. Whether you get away, or whether you don't; whether you arrive at your destination or whether you reach somewhere else, or whether you never get anywhere at all, you're always busy, and you never do anything in particular; and when you've done it there's always something else to do, and you can do it if you like, but you'd much better not." - Spoken by Ratty to Mole in "Wind in the Willows", a children's book by Kenneth Grahame
|
|
But anybody who wants to live on a boat will wonder if it can really be done. How much will it cost? Where will I live? Where will I put all my
stuff? Will everyone think I'm crazy? Am I crazy? It's important to ask yourself these questions. If you can live with the answers, then you can
probably live aboard.