gdallas
regular
Reged: 27/04/2002
Posts: 98
Loc: Hertfordshire
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Cool thread, a bit of soul-baring going on.....
Money really isnt the question for a lot of people, though I agree it can be for some. I am 51, always wanted to sail more,but had a partner who was just not into it (maybe a function of other problems/issues?). But now divorced, a lot poorer but I have a great boat, even if not the ideal long term cruiser. If I'm honest, I have 'enough' money, equity in the house a little bit of savings etc. Even doing it the simplest way ie total cash/life expectancy in years I could do a bit better that Trouville's numbers ( ! )
But there are other questions. I have 3 kids, youngest is 13 and no way am I going to disappear just yet. I have a very vague idea of working towards a date some time ahead, but this is a bit scary as I just had a knee cartilage operation that wasnt 100% success. Is it all downhill from here?
And how much fun would it be to do it alone? That I think is a worrying thing. After a fairly unhappy marriage I am quite happy on my own for now, but not sure if thats always going to be so.
And the real bagger is that for probably only the second time in my 30 years of working I am really enjoying my job. Poo. What I really need is another 50 years....
Not really a complaint, just that its not always so simple. We do have the choices. It's choosing one that is hard.
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Simes
regular
Reged: 19/01/2005
Posts: 77
Loc: IofW
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We are both still working. Don't see the oppertunity to stop working. No pension to speek of, so we go where the work is. Nita is a very good Special Needs Teacher, I am a Chef, Boatbuilder, RYA Instructor, One or the other of us is allways in work, either on the boat or on a contract. Just had to do it NOW!
Still in the UK as soon as we get a contract else where, then off we go.
Simes
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Jock89
regular
Reged: 02/12/2006
Posts: 113
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My 2.nd post into this thread I'm afraid but just had to come back again as I'm finding this so interesting.!
As I'm still working in stinking Cairo all this talk today from you folks either already off cruising or hoping & planning to go soon, has triggered a feeling in me that I can only describe as 'heart-sore'.
I miss my boat & I want to go.!
I so desperately want to stop work & get out there & meet up with fellow cruisers all over the place & start enjoying life again that today...it hurts.
Not so sure that any of us are 'running away from something', but I AM running out of time.!
I can't wait to get away from all the rampant commercialism, consumerism & corporate greed of modern day life, but can't, as I still have a few more things to buy for the boat.!!!
Jock
Edited by Jock89 (18/05/2008 17:43)
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Slow_boat
regular
Reged: 13/09/2005
Posts: 4787
Loc: My own cosy little world where...
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In my twenties I used to sail for a living but it was unfair on my then wife to come home and find a note 'On a delivery. Back in 3 weeks' or whatever. I moved inland in 1982 in a bid to settle down, get a proper job and make the marriage work. I never read a sailing magazine, went to the seaside or anywhere near a boat from that day on. I joined the police (as near to a proper job as I could stand) and we had two sons, followed by a divorce!
Then I met SWMBO. Life rebuilt despite heavy CSA payments. I started painting and one day bought Sailing Today just to see how the shadow should go on a sail. I rang SWMBO and said 'You know how I always said we'd sail away one day. Well, it's not a dream, listen to these prices. They haven't gone up since I was a kid!' When she came home she wanted to sell up and sail immediately. I was very tempted but my sons were young and lived with their mum.
We did a weeks charter in the Med, she loved it and I remembered how to sail. Then a week in the western isles in the rain in May and she still loved it.
Since then, we've bought a boat to sail in the UK and plans are well afoot to retire at 55 (or less) I'm 50 and can retire in just over 2 years, daughter is 16 so should be able to look after herself by then, we'll have a small house or flat in the UK and a boat of 30-36ft to sail until we're bored. My pension should be about £1,000 a month so we should be comfortable. We 're not very materialistic, we enjoy our own company and the company of others for short periods. We hardly ever go out for meals etc and live pretty much hand to mouth now, so that won't be a change! As I told my daughter, I've spent the last twenty five years trying to conform. It doesn't work and I can't wait to be free to be me again!
There are so many places we want to go; Round Britain, Iceland, St Petersburg, the French canals, Turkey, North Africa, Guatamala, the Panama canal, Bermuda, the Gulf of Mexico, the South Sea islands, NewZealand. The list could be endless!
Maybe we'll last six weeks, decide it's not for us and then pack it in. But at least we'll have tried!
The worst thing that could happen is for a grandchild to arrive on the scene. That could well stop us from going.
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Funny old world, innit?
Edited by Slow_boat (18/05/2008 18:14)
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jordanbasset
regular
Reged: 31/12/2007
Posts: 176
Loc: Shropshire
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Your absolutely right to go for it, you have the boat and some one to sail with, what could be better. If people wait until everything is lined up and ready something else will go wrong. Sometimes you do have to take the plunge, that is not to say we are not happy at the moment. In fact today we had a great day looking at boats at Conway, lovely walkfollowed by a good meal, we are just ready for the next phase of our lives - take care and best wishes Neil
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"Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza."
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jordanbasset
regular
Reged: 31/12/2007
Posts: 176
Loc: Shropshire
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You seem to have had a great life so far and moving on to doing something else again now - fantastic.
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"Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza."
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anteak
regular
Reged: 28/01/2004
Posts: 1062
Loc: lowestoft
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Age is just a number. Assuming reasonable mobility it is attitude which counts.
A few years ago, wintering in Gozo, the next boat was manned by a liveaboard couple. He (80) She (78); boat 25ft, no frills. They spent a whole day lugging provisions and water in preparation for their onward trip to Tunisia.
Probably one of the cheeriest couples I have met.
Have faith in your own ability. You know more than you think.
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A man may fight for many things. His country, his friends, his principles, the glistening tear on the cheek of a golden child. But personally, I'd mud wrestle my own mother for a ton of cash, an amusing clock and a sack of French porn. EB
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Troutbridge
regular
Reged: 19/03/2007
Posts: 333
Loc: Cruising, mon, cruising
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Just retired at 55. Spent waay too much on the boat, but wtf, it's home! I have a budget of £700 per month, bit tight if you include insurance. Sold up in the UK/Guernsey, bit strange saying cheerio to old friends/family not being too sure when I'll see them again. Solo at the moment, but who knows? Planning stops in NZ, not because I plan on settling there but because I'll need to take a breath. I have a planned itinery but plans are there to be changed 
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Some see the glass as half full, some see it as half empty. I see it as too damn small.
http:/blog.mailasail.com/troutbridge
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LadyJessie
regular
Reged: 21/11/2006
Posts: 998
Loc: the Med
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Quote:
'Retirement is wasted on the old'. Well Lady Jessie, I hope it's not a given!
No, of course not! I hope you noticed a 'tongue in cheek' comment here. But it has a serious side; You are the standard, most people wait until they reach retirement age of 65 before they set off. What I just wanted to point out is that there might be a lot of opportunities for you to set off earlier and that everybody who has done that are blissfully happy that they did.
For me personally: I think it is a better idea that I ride the oceans of the world now that I am in my early fifties than when I get into my seventies. Then I would probably rather sit in a nice a garden in the south of France..... or would I still cross the oceans, who knows? In this way I know I have already done it and can stop if I wish to. It is a lot harder to start up something new when you are getting older, lets be honest about that.
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OliveOyl
regular
Reged: 15/08/2006
Posts: 1054
Loc: Belgium
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Quote:
As I told my daughter, I've spent the last twenty five years trying to conform. It doesn't work and I can't wait to be free to be me again!
So right - I've spent the last 30 years trying to be good corporate person/wife/mum, al of which were "me" at the time. Am now in the process of discovering another "me".
Recently involved going off solo to sailing school in Greece, bit scary at first, but the start of a whole new future.
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