Moving onto the boat will be quite an adjustment. I've lived in small spaces while overseas, but we shall see. I've installed a portable Engel refrigerator onboard, purchased an over-the-hatch air conditioner and am in the process of getting a memory foam mattress topper (with water proof cover made). I am hoping not to spend too much time at the marina, but we shall see how busy things get for me.
Things I think/know I will miss:
- Long Showers, I only have a limited amount of water on board at a time for shower, washing dishes, etc. If at the marina I have shower facilities there, so it will be like Iraq and I'll have to either take "ship" showers or will walk to the marina facilities.
- Space, I know I will have limited space, and will have to adjust by being "space conscious"...I am not the best at this.
- My big TV and surround sound system. I enjoy it, however, I will have my laptop and small computer monitor on board (yes I'm bringing my PS3 and playing it when hooked to power), and also have a small speaker and subwoofer setup.
- Microwavable Meals, I'm not the best cook, I'll have to learn
- Refrigerator space, can't keep cases and cases of beer, so will have to ration and wait for things to get cold.
- Grocery shopping for a month in advance. My fridge is either a fridge or a freezer, not both. I elect to use it as a fridge, so won't be able to keep meat for very long.
- Brewing beer on a whim, or enjoying many hobbies (this will require planning)
- Cable TV
Things I think/know I WON'T miss:
- Space, yes I posted this on the miss column, but I think I will enjoy not having material possessions and not impulse buying.
- Yard work, yea you knew that was going here.
- Neighbors, I don't really care for neighbors, they can be annoying. Of course where I am at, I am surrounded by live-aboards, but it seems to be different....we shall see.
- Boredom, now I am mobile and can pick up and go somewhere exciting.
- Microwavable Meals, yea I posted this as well on miss column, but I expect I will eat more healthy and lose weight.
- Unexpected solicitors knocking on your door at 8am on a sunday or while you're eating dinner....it gets annoying.
- Cable TV...shocker also on miss, but I am expecting to save tons of money. I will have a wifi extender and will be able to hopefully watch netflix and the maybe 6 TV shows I watch, I'll download off of itunes.
Major Questions I am already getting asked:
- How can you afford to do this?
- How can you afford to pay $1000+ dollars in rent, plus utilities, plus food, plus cable, etc. etc. My slip fee is around $1800 a year plus electric (which isn't much.) I don't have much fuel cost (because it's a sailboat)
- Don't you have to be rich to own a sailboat?
- Common misconception and I was there. You can buy a 70s/80s era sailboat for less that $10,000. Mines a 1975, the 70s and 80s were some of the best years for sailboats.
- Are you crazy?
- Maybe a little, but it's something I want to do
- Are you keeping your car and motorcycle?
- Of course, I'm still going to have some land life, at least for now
- Where are you keeping your car and motorcycle?
- At the Marina
- They'll let you do that?
- Uh, yes how else would you get to your boat.....
- What if you don't like it?
- Then I'll set fire to my boat and live out of a cardboard box. No, I'll just move into an apartment/house like I've been doing now.
- Fuel is expensive, you won't be going out much.
- Wind is free, it's a sailboat, only need a minimal amount of fuel
- Can I come along when you sail?
- Sure, just let me know. I have a max of 4 people I allow on the boat at any time (5 maybe if I like ya) and to spend the night, no more than 3 (or 1 couple and 2 others)
- Will you teach me to sail?
- Not really, I'm still a beginner and no where near qualified, but I'll show you what I've been taught.
- Can I be your first mate lol hahaha?
- Actually that's already taken by my best friend.
- I was kidding!?!?
- You better be.
- Can you take me fishing?
- No.
- Why Not?
- It's a sailboat, I only have one rod on board and that's for me.
- Oh you're going to such and such, are you going to sail there?
- Not everywhere I go, will I be sailing, especially North Dakota (someone asked me this)
- Are you some sort of pirate or something?
- Yes.
Aaron keep the videos coming, when I’m not able to sail I watch others enjoy the seas.
ReplyDeleteLike you I spent a bit of time deployed in the military, toward the end of my two year mark in Iraq I also purchased a sailboat. I found the boat online and had my wife drive up to Annapolis MD to take a few photos. Within a week the boat was mine but sadly I was extended another month or so in-country.
After returning to the states I moved onto the boat in Maryland, the kids were still in school in North Carolina and I began house hunting. I spent three months onboard until we closed on our house and it was amazing. I went from hearing In-Coming alarms to listening to the soft sound of waves lightly caressing the bow of my boat.
It’s good being in the family home with kids running around but o how I miss those silent moon light nights on the water. Now I’m lucky if I get to get underway once a month. Enjoy the life style while you can and maybe I’ll see you on the bay.
Greg
Wow. My brother will start his live aboard experience next year.
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