| Living aboard a sailboat is a great way to enjoy | | | | Wife's wardrobe, same deal, swimsuit and cover up |
| retirement. It is not only a lot of fun it is a very frugal | | | | for going ashore. A few cotton long dresses and...you |
| way of living. | | | | guessed it Teva sandals. |
| My wife and I retired in 1994, when I was 49. We lived | | | | Folks living aboard a sailboat there is not much room, |
| on our boat for 8 years prior to swallowing the anchor | | | | so you keep on board only what you use. Because |
| in 2002. We bought our boat, May 1994, in the Clear | | | | you use local transportation, mini buses, you don't shop |
| Lake area south of Houston. I sailed the boat to the | | | | much...just groceries. |
| British Virgin Islands 6 months after purchase and that | | | | The only salesmen you encounter on the water are |
| is where it stayed for the next 8 years. | | | | ones with lobsters for sale or trade. Not much |
| My comments are therefore directed at people who | | | | opportunity to spend anchored out...that's free |
| want to retire to living aboard a sailboat in the | | | | incidentally. I especially loved it when we anchored |
| Caribbean. It was 8 years of fun in the sun, and it was | | | | near a resort hotel. Their guests were paying $500 a |
| sure cheap, less than $1,000 a month. | | | | night, we paid zero, and we had a better view. |
| Why so cheap? Good question. I think it is because | | | | How much do you need to know about sailing...not |
| cruising sailors as a group are some of the most frugal | | | | much, you are not moving 98% of the time. Bad |
| (cheap?) people I've ever met. Birds of a feather? | | | | weather, not a problem, your sails between islands |
| Why so frugal? They would do anything to avoid | | | | were short. From the VI to Trinidad, the longest |
| returning to work. So they spend less. You also need | | | | passage was 95 miles...BVI to St Maarten. You waited |
| less. | | | | until the seas were calm, 4 to 6 foot max. You are not |
| Clothes for instance...upon arising, I pulled on a pair of | | | | in a hurry if you are a cruiser. |
| swim trunks, a T shirt...that's it. I had 2 collared shirts, 1 | | | | Think you can't retire because of the economy...think |
| or 2 pairs of light long pants (for church), one pair of | | | | again. Living aboard a sailboat in the Caribbean, is fun |
| shoes...Teva sandals. | | | | and frugal. Enjoy. |