| We lived aboard our sailboat in the Caribbean for 8 | | | | 3) If you hesitate, you will end up swapping time for |
| years. I was 49 to 57, my bride 42 to 50. | | | | dollars. The longer you wait the older you get and your |
| Could we do it again right now, ages 64 and 57...sure, | | | | ability to enjoy cruising will decline. For instance, the |
| but with the following caveats. These will not be a | | | | masthead light has a burnt out bulb... grab the bosuns |
| surprise: | | | | chair and up you go to change it... no problem right? 53 |
| 1) You are less physically able to do things as you age. | | | | feet above the deck is a little different at 45 vs. 55. At |
| Not an earthshaking statement but if you are say 45 | | | | 55, you will strongly consider finding a young kid and |
| now and want to go cruising. Do it now. If you are | | | | you winch him up to change the bulb. Now cruisers do |
| waiting to accumulate more money to buy a special | | | | help each other, and a real good younger friend might |
| boat... you are most certainly making a mistake. The | | | | go up the mast for you, but you cannot always count |
| docks in the US are full of folks saying... one day I am | | | | on it. |
| heading to the Caribbean and go cruising. They never | | | | Living aboard a sailboat is a great way of life. In the |
| leave the dock. | | | | Caribbean, it is a cheap way of life as well. Do not |
| 2) The reason the above is a mistake if you really | | | | make the mistake of swapping years for more |
| want to go cruising, is that there will always be | | | | money, go now with what you have and enjoy. We |
| something holding you back... you have to make the | | | | did and so can you. |
| decision and go with what you have at the present. | | | | |