View Full Version : Tell me why !!!
I just arrived home after some days of work abroad.
You know, those days when you wonder whether it make sense to have a job which allows you to get some money with the sole purpose of spending it fast and then hurry just to make some other.
That's why I am wandering around in this "liveaboard" forum.
Fantasizing about joining the group.
Did anybody start this way?
I mean, why (and when, and how) did you decide it was time to jump away from the mad crowd?
Or possibly, should I expect that one day, arriving at home, I will just pick up the keys of my boat and throw the agenda in the open sea, without worrying at all about how good the reasons might be?
Any opinion - as insane as it might be - will be highly appreciated.
southchinasea
19-04-02, 01:53
IMHO living aboard and 'opting out' are not mutually exclusive although reading many threads here and elsewhere one would think so. I live and work overseas (I am a Brit) and in September, her indoors and I will move onto a sail boat. Many many reasons but RELEVANT ONLY TO US and our situation. There are a huge mount of liveaboards here, the vast majority of whom are working full time and and not opting out of any perceived 'rat race'. Perhaps we are all extremely fortunate to enjoy our jobs and, at the same time, experience a lifestyle
which is a bit different?
If you are unhappy because your job/lifestyle no longer appeals, then I would
simply ask if sailing off into the sunset is really the answer. If you truly think it is then go for it......if you are unsure then don't. You may find the halfway house of living aboard but continuing to work enables you to make an more informed decision about the future.
Good luck
Why??? I can't answer that and I am sure none of the guys here can give you a definitive answer.
For myself I lived and worked abroad for some considerable time and came back to dear old blighty to put my feet back on the ground and get some reality, but it will only be for a short time.
I think it is the lot of certain types of people ( what type I can't define ) to go and see what ever is out there, and will not accept running with the rest of the lemmings.
Don't envy the liverboards, or in general, the guys who opt out, just do it. At least then you have tried!
live life don't be a slave to it.
poter
Don't know, to us it's like some kind of calling (Iknow this looks ****) not running away, just running forward. We will still work and be creative with our lives.It does seem nowadays as if we are just earning to spend,spend spend in UK for no real reason. I love England but it's got a really different feel in the last couple of years,maybe it's my age (35) don't know. I have been creating fake dreams for the advertising market for the last 15 yrs, not that good for the soul. Nicola has been involved in telly which is steadily drifting downhill. Loads of parties and lunches. Load of old bxxxxxx. Then again we are very lucky too. I just want to always explore whilst we are on this planet, and sailing is not a bad way to do it.
Sick of the tube now anyway.
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/yacht/serafina/
I still work abroad and liveaboard, abroad! If that makes sense! I've opted out of the UK,love the country, but just can't stand ther politics, prices or weather anymore, a lot of the folks are getting beyond a joke aswell. But I liveaboard, whilst putting the final touches to my retirement package, money!!! Then I won't work anymore and cruise about seeing all the places I've worked for years and never seen!! You do need to consider what you can live on and you need to be dedicated to this way of life, if you are, you will know and not need to ask anybodies permission, just do it, we have but one life. It's no use banging on the inside of the coffin lid asking for another go! Nobody is listening!!
well i haven't lived in UK for many years may do so again in future.
reason for going off in the boat for two years or more....
every summer we go sailing for five or six weeks and end up answering
calls from the office etc. and just as we are settling in to life on the boat ,
and sailing a few miles every day ,it is time to be back at work again.
So we decided we needed a more open ended arrangement -that is
resign from work and go sailing untill we get bored ,argue too much or
run out of money .
Maybe never go back to work again...my wife is determined to retire
but then she is 36.
For us it started while we were chartering in Greece and met some liveaboards, how I did envy them. That was a long time ago and we have worked towards the dream since. My husband is having his last day at work today, retiring at 55, and we will move aboard our boat in early May but we are not bound for the Med but across the Atlantic and then, who knows. I have to say, I used to like the designer frocks and nice jewellery but one day I thought, why am I doing this, you can only wear one thing at a time and the prices are such a con, Jonic should know as he was in the business of persuading us that we REALLY need these things. I'm looking forward to the simple life.
Good luck to you both. Just interviewed my replacement, collegues joked you don't like sailing do you? Massive groans when she said yes!!! Ha Ha. Going home with my brand new ssb, sat phone and Navtex. I love friday.
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/yacht/serafina/
Andrew_Bray
19-04-02, 17:19
I second that. I meet unhappy, unfulfilled and dissatisfied people in my land based job and I meet unhappy, unfulfilled and dissatisfied people when I'm sailing in liveaboard land. Selling up and sailing is not the absolute panacea to all the world's ills. When you've got to get in your dinghy and go a mile to go ashore in a howling downpour to walk a couple of miles to a flyblown supermarket the tube might seem quite attractive. As many long term liveaboards are often heard to comment, "another sh***y day in paradise".
I'm not trying to put anyone off as it is a great way of life and one which I fully intend to follow (OK, so probably only for 6 months of the year). But just be realistic. Paradise also has thieves, crooks and politicians (or are they the same thing?).
People think I lead a simple life, because I don't have a car!!??!! I try to tell them garages are hard to tow with a boat! I lead a reasonably simple life, but dont scrimp myself unduly, I still enjoy a hot shower wherever I am, cold beer etc. but I don't need TV, or those type of things, love good company, scenery and travelling inland to see the sites, which is the reason for the old BSA, I also like working on that! Simple life is relative, some people who are also liveaboards think I live luxuriously, because I have a big boat, I don't care, I like my big boat and all the varnishing and maintenace it requires, she will outlive me as she has outlived two other owners! If I had a wife, I would probaly lead an even simpler life, not needing to eat oput as much as I do, but there it is! With me it wasn't a bug, just something I drifted into, as it fits my lifestyle.
After 1000's of sh***y days in dirty smelly, drug addicit infested soho, I'm looking forward to a sh***y day in paradise.
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/yacht/serafina/
Hear, Hear! You mean the whole country!!!!! not just soho!
southchinasea
22-04-02, 04:16
A recurrent theme here? UK on a downward spiral? We've been away for 7 years and love returning, especially in the Summer! But it does appear to be changing.
On the last trip but one, business in London, I was subjected to what I think is called 'aggressive begging' in Covent Garden. I was extremely uncomfortable and found the experience unnerving. The same trip, a friend had keys or coins scraped down the side of his new Volvo. Not London but rural (ish) Surrey. Of course this
sort of behviour is not exclusive to the UK, but I don't seem to recall this level of agression when I was growing up. Perhaps I'm wrong, but that's the perception.
Conversely, we just spent a family Easter in North Wales (Abersoch) and many a happy hour spent wandering around Pwhelli Marina checking out boats and chatting to delightfuly helpful people in the Chandlers. Great walks overlooking Cardigan Bay, weather not bad at all and good nosh.
I think the message is that there is no right answer. All of us are different with uniqe aspirations and expectations. If blasting off under sail into the unknown is going to make someone happy, then who are we to disagree!
Yes, London is changing for the worse........driving is now impossible, parking is £4 an hour, I have been clamped on a meter that was 4 mins over in Camden, the last year I tried to drive around (on bussines) my parking tickets and fines totalled over £2000, and I was careful! The tube is a health hazard, the beggars are very agressive and it is constant, we almost every day watch people being conned and robbed at the cashpoints in Oxford st. Drugs are openly sold on the street, the carpark of our offices is littered with bloody needles.Car jacking and muggings are far more frequent than the newspapers are saying. I have worked there for 10 years and always felt safe, even when all the bombs were going off.........but not now. PC has allowed a lot of people to get away with very open crime, everyone is too scared to say much. Big shame.Used to love it.
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/yacht/serafina/
It's not just London, that scene is repeated in every major city in Britain, and most minor ones aswell! I know it wasn't like this in my younger years, because I wasn't exactly a good boy, but now, it's just too much! and getting worse! Drugs are sold openly on the streets in Amsterdam, but there isn't as much violence!
Can't agree with all you gloom and doom merchants. Maybe I'm just lucky enough to live away from the cities up in the North West - and sail from Pwllheli too!
Why are we jacking in the jobs and going sailing? Well the timing is good - kids are independent, no elderly parents left (sadly) to support and probably most of all we love sailing, sailing friends and the whole life style. Have sailed for almost twenty years and have planned this move for 15 years. Mind you we're still hedging our bets - 6 months afloat, 6 months on terra firma - we're not brave enough to commit 100%
What you got a Bantam or C15 or a realy posh one .
My first bike was a C15 core what a bit of kit
Mick
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/boats
I want a big steel ex trawler / tug v / cheap or swap for tug
All along the east coast things are now out of hand .
While shopping in Peterborough we had to stop our daughter from walking along the street out side a school !!! because the junkies discarded needles were all over the place .
Around here its really getting bad because Lincolnshire has such a large migrant work force
This whole area is now like a third world zone full of ( don't misunder stand )
Immigrants seeking political asylum !!!!
Trouble is where do you go other country's have the same problems or worse .
My wrotwieler has not caught one yet but he will ,at some point some git will try burgle the house .
Mick
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/boats
I want a big steel ex trawler / tug v / cheap or swap for tug
Holland is quite bad
Utrecht for example there are no go areas because of the drugs trade. A couple of times the police guided us away to safety because had we gone into certain areas where trouble was waiting.
The junkies in the central station cut their cocaine on the escalators handrails !!
as for Amsterdam !!!!!!
I find it sinister the way things changed over in Europe when the wall came down.
Mick
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/boats
I want a big steel ex trawler / tug v / cheap or swap for tug
B50SS Goldstar, (Street Scrambler) single 500cc, all ally engine, ally tank, rims, hubs, light and powerful, just the job, starts second kick electronic ignition, fun!!! Last of the line from the C15, last of the line of BSA unit singles.
Utrecht is ruled by the Turkish mafia, as was Amstrerdam, it's now going to the eastern block mafias, as you say, since the wall came down. I could tell you stories about the drugs trade over there, which would make your hair curl! I lived and worked there for many years!
Yes well, Pwllheli, and living up there, you live in a small town or the country, I think you had better visit a bigish city, the back streets, any street! before you tell me I'm a doom and gloom merchant, don't you read the papers, listen to the news, worse race riots in 20 years in the north west, and now Preston! I live 100% on board by the way, I love the cruising people I meet, I will not be going to live onshore, not until I can't get on the boat anymore! But doom and gloom merchant I'm not, just well informed!
..
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/boats
I want a big steel ex trawler / tug v / cheap or swap for tug
My first road bike was a C15, can't remember which model, seem to think SS80. Got knocked off it coming back from Pwllheli one Easter (1971) then someone nicked it, did well out of the insurance and bought a Honda C150 Benly twin, so smooth, had a hole in the silence which sounded lovely!
My first bike, was a royal enfield continental 250, five speed box, went like a bat out of hell, but couldn't keep oil in it, no matter what I did, extra breathers etc. I saw one the other week, it was still dripping oil! They never did stop them leaking oil! The royal enfiled constelation 700, late one, I still lust after! I'm thinking of buying a 1974 triumph adventurer, same frame as the B50, to replace the B50, but with the 500 triumph twin, I would put the alloy 650 barrels and head on it, with single carb, electronic ignition, belt drive primary, morgo oil pump, all the bells and whistles, reliabilty, oil tight and lots of oomph! Light aswell, with ally everything! Plus of course it's British!
In those days if they didn't leak oil you had to be mighty suspicious that something was seriously wrong with them. Which daft sod thought of horizontally joined crankcases?
Stuart Turner, for twins anyway.
Todays evening standard
Camden. Street crime up 30% car crime up 38%
Greenwich. street crime up a whopping 73.9%
Westminister.Sex crimes up 49% Highest violent crime level in London
1,057,360 offences in London. Clear up rate just 14%. i.e. 86% not caught or got off. They must be laughing all the way to the bank with our wallets and cars etc.In the last few years I personaly have been a burglary victim (that was in a quite genteel hertfordshire village) one car stolen, one set of wheels stolen, one car radio stolen, one push bike stolen, accosted on the streets for money. So not gloom and doom.
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/yacht/serafina/
Thanks, I didn't think I was overeacting! Some people just believe everything is rosy in the garden, but never open the gate.
Well, I'm impressed, really.
In spite of the fact that my english is as poor as everyone would expect from an italian, which means that in some cases I did not catch 100% of each message, I'm impressed by such an interesting and various list of replies...
...and just in another few days outside, rushing as usually in the daily job !
OK, I guess that part of the reason lies in how silly my question was...
Most of you were right saying that there is no answer at all, or that we have to find a personal answer on our own. Or maybe, could the answer be that we should not look for THE answer, but rather continue to ask questions, and keep searching ?...
Believe it or not, I also have a new Volvo scraped on its side, as the friend of southchinasea.
But hey, both of us still have a Volvo!
And the internet, and a fridge full of beer and food, and the satellite TV, and other amenities.
Last but not least, we can spend some time (now and then, at least) sailing some lovely sea with some lovely boat...
We can not complain after all: most of the people around the world have better reasons than ourselves for being angry with their own lifestyle: I don't think that those gentlemen who scraped our cars in the night are driving a Bentley during the day...
Which is not, of course, a good reason for those (or possibly even worse) behaviours.
But definitely, this is a viewpoint which make me accept more easily some cues on the motorway, some endless and useless meetings, and so on.
And eventually, the dream of leaving sooner of later the civilization behind and sail away still helps in the daily life...
Whether the dream will ever turn into reality or not, is it so important?
...meanwhile, we can continue to struggle trying to get rich.
Gosh, now I remember what was actually my main reason for joining the forum tonight: posting a message in the "for sale" section ! Back to business, show must go on !!!
Many thanks to you all for the suggestions.
yes it is important to turn the dream into reality then your new dreams can be even more wonderous.
Thanks for starting such an interesting thread.
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/yacht/serafina/
heerenleed
24-04-02, 09:40
Probably it is not overreacting. Still I believe that the vast majority is not really often confronted with all these problems. Living (aboard, thank heavens) in the rural south-west of the Netherlands, I for one do not often really see real crimes happen. What is getting on my nerves is the ever more suffocating rules and regulations on anything you can imagine. The only way to get away from them is take the boat en simply go. But, alas.... unless we win the lottery we shall have to struggle on for a couple of years more. But finally the big day will come. I know, until then it is a dream, but at least it keeps us going...
Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Netherlands
I lived in Holland for a few years, two of them living aboard on the Alkmaardermeer, I loved it, but the winters, Brrrrr! Bloody cold! I know what you mean about interference, but I could put up with it in Holland, it's when I went home the problems really started, I just didn't know the system and didn't want to, I was treated like a gipsy, no fixed abode they call it, no rights, not like Holland atall. Crime in UK is really bad now, I used to go to Bergen for a beer, in fifteen years I saw two fights, in UK in Dartmouth, at least one a night and its half the size of Bergen! Plus its a very backwoods type of place, very quaint, I would hate to live in a city! The theft, vandalism, muggings and drug abuse is getting really bad. I'm glad I'm out of it.
Todays Doom and Gloom comes from the Daily Mail." You are now more likely to be mugged in london than Harlem." Blunkets response is to blame the police. Classic.
Do you remember the pre- election pledges?
Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime.....We will be whiter than white.........we will rid British politics of sleaze......no tax and spend........we will always be honest.
Yeah right.
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/yacht/serafina/
Come on! Have you ever heard a politician tell the truth? The only one I knew was John Smith, and he went and died on us! Of course, it's all in our imaginations! The country isn't going to the ****heap in a hand cart, Oh! No! Open yer' eyes! Not you sorry you already have yours wide open, probably in fear! You may have to tread those streets!
It's not going in a handcart cos someones nicked it.
No I know its not all bad at all. We had a wonderful weekend in Salisbury rehearsing for the wedding.
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/yacht/serafina/
You need to rehearse for a wedding, I thought you just went and did it, booked a registrar and got on with it! The government can borrow my handcart if they want! I've never had as much as a shackle stolen in Portugal! The crime rate in Lagos and generally on the Algarve is very, very low! IMHO of course!
Why? Just because I will not condemn a whole society as a result of the current situation in some areas? Just for the record, the whole of my professional working life has been with young people. This is how I currently see things:
IMHO
Youngsters:
Group 1 (a small minority) are aggressive, antisocial and are all too aware of their rights, but refuse to accept their responsibilities. They have always existed, but are a growing group causing major problems within society. I agree with the p.c. comment about this lot and how we are not (and never have) tackling them effectively.
Group 2 (larger, and much more of a worry) are those disaffected youngsters with -for a variety of reasons- low self esteem, who feel they are failures within the current system. After all we frequently tell lots of them that they are failures at the age of 7, 11, 14 and in all major exams. For them underage sex, booze and drugs seem a big attraction. Most of them damage no-one but themselves, however they are vulnerable to the group one people and can become caught up in a cycle of antisocial and aggressive behaviour.
Group three (the majority) are hard working, honest and altogether delightful. I have absolutely no fears that this group will do anything other than mature into responsible adults.
There are many things in our culture, background and traditions of which I am proud. I'm simply not prepared to condemn the whole nation.
Hope I've convinced you that I do know what is at the other side of my garden gate. Do you?
This will probably be my last 'political' statement - looking forward to returning to boating issues.
Cynthia
Terribly sorry, Cynthia, but I wasn't talking about just the young in this country/society! I happen to agree with you on some of the issues, albeit not many. You will never convince me iot was as bad as this 25 years ago, the violent and all crime figures back me up, I'm sorry. I think I'll leave it there also
Yes lets all leave it here. Cynthia you are dead right about the groupings. The BIG problem now is we are not allowed ,due to pc and other crackpot ideas, to DISCIPLINE them untill they also join the decent majority.
And so back to the delights of boating.............................
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/yacht/serafina/
Best place for low crime rate is in Saudi.
They chop yer bleedin hands off!!!
I wonder what would happen if the same punishments were meated out here?
The PC lot would be apoplectic.
poter
So would I actually, I don't believe in capital or corporal punishment, or sharia law, although it does have a lot going for it! But bringing back the birch, was discussed on this rig only last night, most are in favour, especially if it is done publically in front of all his/her mates, don't have to hurt them just humiliate them. I wasn't in agreement I admit, I think it would just cause even bigger problems, parents and society have a responsibilty to these people, it's just getting them to understand that!
isn't the 'General' forum the place for these pearls of wisdom?....I certainly wouldn't want to mess up my boat cutting someones hands off!
TôMö
While at Weymouth some years ago doing me walk around harbour.
A classic bike rally had a meetin there .
One bike realy got my attention it was a Nimbus
open valve springs I spent ages chatting to the owner who had come over from Sweden .He'd rebuilt it and I tell you the sound was wonderful spose it had a lot to do with being able to see the valves/springs moving up and down .
I grew up in Eton ,next door lived a hells angel, now what fun it was being mesmerised by Bonnaviles and so on .
Some of the lads spent every penny they earned to set their machines up.A weeks wages to get a tank painted was the norm.
Some thing about the pure roar of a Bonni thats been given its head .
Mick
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/boats
I want a big steel ex trawler / tug v / cheap or swap for tug
Only matched by the whistle of a commando's exhaust on overrun:-)
Now my old AJS 500. Fired every lamp post, without fail. And we bump started fathers M2 Jag on the back of it. Not bragging. Just thought I'd join in!!
No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!
Haydn
The sound of a bonnie on full song is great, my brother has a thruxton vellocette, 500 single, that on full chat with fishtail exhaust, would give any dyed in the wool british bike man a har...n! A lot of the early bikes had exposed valve springs, even early racing Nortons, some had total loss lubrication to the top end!
quite a lot of those old english bikes seemed to have total loss lubrication on bottom end as well
as I remember it.
How very true, they finally got it right with the B50, she's oiltight, which is a blessing, seeing as she lives on my teak foredeck!!
I have a couple of LP's which are recordings from the TT races of the '60's. The variety of sounds are fantastic, some of the sweetest are the Gilera's and MV Augusta's. One that amuses is a 14 speed 125cc Suzuki coming into the hairpin at ...... can't remember and then climbing to top speed all the way up the hill. The time between gear changes was about 1-2 seconds and the power band was between 12-14,000 revs.
Never forget the sound of the Triumph & BSA 3 cylinder racing bikes of the '70's. Was at thefirst ever meet at Silverstone when they re-opened it and Woodcote(?) was a long sweeping bend that they would blast round on full throttle.
Only trouble is, don't have a record player any more. Sold all my LP's etc last year but kept these two as they are special, play em when I go to see my pa!
MV's now your taliking my bruv and I used to race a 799 america! Plus assorted AJ's and Matchless metisse, I can still smell the castrol "R" Castor base!
Good job you don't have permanent crew, Colin. A friend of mine had this South African working aboard who proceeded to drop the keys of the ship's moped overboard. My mate picked up the moped and screamed "we won't f***ing well need this then" and proceeded to chuck it after the keys.
Now that is a amusing story, mind you I know how he felt, when my camshaft drive sheared on the B50 for the second time in 50 miles, I almost float tested it aswell! I now know the root cause of the failures and it's cured, I hope!
Agree wholeheartedly about bringing back the birch.. particularly if punishment was in public.
Having said that, I can think of lots of other good ways of dealing with "yobbishness" Like making shoplifters clean shop windows, wearing bright orange jumpsuits witht he words "shop lifter" on their back for a few days. And getting vandals to repair the damage they do.
Humiliation is the ultimate punishment in many respects.
I must admit though having lioved in Oslo, Washington DC and various place in the UK, the only time I encountered any street violence was in Oslo, on Aker Brygge, when some drunken idiot punched me on the nose.. being 6'5" and well built probably doesn't encourage a mugging, but still,,
Despite its many faults, most of which are government induced (and I don't differentiate between present and past govts' here) this country isn't a bad place to live.
How did it go - "Ahh Castrol RRRRGH" great smell, miss it. Colin Are you not able to post any piccies of this Englander boat with a B50 perched upon it? Can't imagine what it is like. Does Pauline not have any?
Yes ,I remember the smell of castrol R and how a mate tried to duplicate it by putting a bottle of castor oil into the tank of his Austin 10. Ah the sweet memories of youth.
Just as a matter of interest what was it that caused the cam drive to fail twice?
Pauline should have some piccies of the boat, but the B50 was in pieces, but she may have a piccie if the engine in my workshop (forward cabin) The bike is back together again now, so will be loaded back onboard when I return to Portugal, before I'm off to Ballearics. I won't take it off again now until in Barcelone in October.
The gear/cam, has a little woodruff key, which sheared, at the time I thought it looked a little bit too small to take the drive forces, but just put a new one in and refitted the cam and wheel. In the manual I was reading after it broke the key again, that the cam and wheel, should not be disturbed, because it was a PRESS FIT! Mine certainly wasn't! The key, is there for indexing the timing marks ONLY, the press fit takes the drive! the manual did not make this fact clear enough, you needed to read between the lines, If I had known earlier, I would have tried to TIG weld the wheel to the cam, as it was, I fitted the new competition alloy wheel, (which needed turning down a little as its for a B25) and a standard cam, mine had the CCM high lift, but was damaged where the cam whell had run on it. Hopefully problem solved! Fingers crossed.
Think I know someone who might know someone who has the answer to this problem, will investigate if you wish. (Father was a motorcycle dealer for 40 odd years!)
Any advice/knowledge is always gratefully received! Thank you! The Bike is 1971 B50SS.
I had Royal Enfields in the late seveties and early eighties. First one was a 250 crusader, then i ended up with loads of bits and enough to make a 250 continental engine. I took one down to the south of france, and it nearly made it back. Probs included a fallen off (and driven-over by truck) exhaust, fried battery, stripped threads on rocker bolts, all of 2which i solved as i had a ton of spares. Finally in paris the big bearings wore thru, i didn't have spares but did strip it before the slightly shocked breakdown truck arrived to check the problem, and it went back home in boxes.
Under no circumnstance buy a constellation. I restored on of these, paint and chrome and engine with breathers on drive side and off we went, incredible puilling powerr from low revs. But, big fairing and no brakes means rather frightening lack of stopping power. Also my mate's left leg was blathered in a litre of oil.
vBulletin® v3.8.1, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.