the dream
My dream is to retire on a sailboat in the Caribbean. It started with day dreaming about winning the lottery, and "what would I do if I won". The as I got older, I started thinking "I can do this". Then I started doing research on the subject and what it would take to make it happen. Some of my early concerns:
- Too expensive, how could I ever afford to do this
- I don't know how to sail
- Can I do this alone? Do I want to do it alone?
- Do I REALLY want to do this?
really???
Having this in the back of my mind for years, as a common daydream, I really started looking hard, and was surprised at some of the answers I found.
- Expensive - Not at all, at least it does not have to be, as long as the boat is paid for, the wind is free. People live in these places very cheap. Just get used to what they eat, and how they eat it, and don't eat out at resort restaurants.
- Sailing - Hell, people stupider than me learn how to sail :-)
- Sail alone - I don't picture sailing a lot. This is my home, that floats, and when I move, it goes with me. I love meeting new people, I will make friends.
- Really - Hell yes
Where am I now?
I took some basic sailing lessons at Tempe town lake. Not much use, but some of the basics. I read quite a bit from people that have done this, what it cost, the down sides, etc. I have also signed up to take a week long sailing lesson in St Vincent and the Grenadines, where I will spend a week in the southern carribean, living on and learning to sail a catamaran similar to what I want to purchase.