| Living cheap was a bonus when we started living | | | | buy something might be a local in a rowboat with a |
| aboard a sailboat in 1994. For 8 years we cruised from | | | | lobster to sell, or swap for some toothpaste. You can't |
| Venezuela, Trinidad to the Virgin Islands. We had a ball, | | | | spend if there is no cash register. Next is the fact that |
| so can you. If the economy has got you singing the | | | | cruisers are the tightest group of people I have ever |
| blues take heart living aboard a sailboat is not only as | | | | met. Why are they so tight? Simple...They enjoy |
| fun as you think it is...It is a great way of living cheaply. | | | | cruising so much they pinch pennies to keep on |
| Once on the boat, 6 to 9 months a year, we spent | | | | cruising. Wasting money is not what cruising is about. |
| about $1,000 a month. We wanted for nothing, we | | | | Next is the fact that you avoid tourists (Americans) like |
| were safe, surrounded by fellow cruisers, and | | | | the plague. Wherever they shop or eat you stay |
| experienced the laid back lifestyle of the Caribbean. If | | | | away from. They pay through the nose. When you go |
| you are expecting the other shoe to drop you will be | | | | out to eat you look for a restaurant where you (and |
| disappointed...I can think of very few negatives to this | | | | maybe another cruising couple) are the only white |
| way of living cheaply. When living aboard the | | | | folks. The menu must also be on a chalkboard, which |
| negatives aren't really negatives. No TV is not a bad | | | | means the food is fresh, caught that morning. You |
| thing. Not knowing who won the World Series until 6 | | | | follow those two simple "rules" for dining out, while |
| months after the fact isn't the end of the world. | | | | avoiding the tourists, you are living cheaply and well. |
| Say I stick my head in the sand I don't care... So if you | | | | One of my favorite pastimes was to anchor close to |
| just have to know the latest news, or what Senator is | | | | a beach resort. The tourists were paying $500 a night; |
| cheating on his wife...living aboard a sailboat in the | | | | we anchored for free, and had a better view. If we did |
| Caribbean may not be for you. It is your loss. Why is | | | | it so can you. So if the economy has got you moping |
| living aboard so cheap? You are not tempted to | | | | and worrying...relax mon...you can live cheaply and well |
| spend...when at anchor the only person urging you to | | | | living aboard a sailboat in the Caribbean. Enjoy. |