I Have a Dream! (Or Am i Mad?)

[bluesky18]

I have a dream! or am i mad.

I am retiring in August 09 and want to change my life, however it not simple this is my idealised concept retire (48) go on a fast track yacht master course, then buy a catamaran take my girl and two kids and sail the world with them for 3 years or so. off course it sounds simple i know that it is a huge leap not just for me but for them.

Other than the course i have no real experience other than, speed boats, diving, the odd day sailing but nothing substantive at all.

so what do you think madness or possible? will i know what im doing after the course, killing my self is one thing but the family is another thing
(we have spent allot of money on them over the years).

I will make them do safety and sailing course's as well sort out schooling get on board internet etc. send them home to see family every few months or so but will it be safe for them and will it ruin them or make them.

any thoughts,advice

Bluesky

[GordMay]

Greetings, and welcome aboard Bluesky.

We all started out with similar inexperience and dreams; and most of us survived the learning curve. As long as you know your changing limitations, there's no madness at all in persuing your dreams.

[Intentional Drifter]

Bluesky --

Welcome to the asylum!

ID

[TaoJones]

Originally Posted by Intentional Drifter

Bluesky --

Welcome to the asylum!

ID

The question is, though, is Intentional Drifter a doctor in the asylum, or a patient - or (gasp!) both?

TaoJones

[James S]

You sound sane enough to me....go for it.

[lorenzo b]

Do it dude!
You'll never regret a minute. One word of caution; slow down, chill, and enjoy every day. Alright, six words.

[Maren]

Originally Posted by bluesky18

I am retiring in August 09 and want to change my life, however it not simple this is my idealised concept retire (48) go on a fast track yacht master course, then buy a catamaran take my girl and two kids and sail the world with them for 3 years or so. off course it sounds simple i know that it is a huge leap not just for me but for them.

....

I will make them do safety and sailing course's as well sort out schooling get on board internet etc. send them home to see family every few months or so but will it be safe for them and will it ruin them or make them.

You might have been crazy before but you're fine now!

Seriously, as long as you can handle the costs and don't end up being a danger to yourself or others, things tend to work out just fine.

[drew.ward]

Because you have a dream, and it involves a boat, you are mad!!

Welcome to the club

[slomotion]

All cruisers are at least a little bit crazy - you’ll fit right in.

For the most part cruising isn’t really about sailing. It’s mostly about being anchored in exotic places and living on a sailboat. Don’t know where you’re located, but if you and your companions have zero experience and you can afford it, I recommend you try a one week crewed catamaran charter in the BVIs. It’s expensive; but it will give you a condensed although somewhat misleading, and nevertheless very informative view of what cruising is like. You will learn a lot; you can ask questions whenever they occur to you; and unless you have a very unusual experience, you will have a blast.

[captain58sailin]

Welcome Bluesky, if your children are made a part of the crew and given responsibilities, and not just along for the ride, it could be the best thing that ever happens in their lives.

[Chief Engineer]

A pivotal point in my life (19) I was in Yosemite National Park...I was taking a climbing course......as I walked down the trail from practice climb...with all my gear strapped on....I passed an "Old" guy (about 35 or so)......He said "If I were only younger I'd try that....I have never put that in my vocabulary....never will....ODAT

[Chrisc]

Chief - Not in my vocabulary either!! But physical age has not got much to do with it. I've known blokes far younger than 35 who've reckoned they're 'passed it' when it came to some grand scheme or other.
For the record, I'm 64 and I'm about to conclude the purchase of my first hang-glider. (I'll get some lessons before I do anything too stupid). Perhaps the older you are the easier it is to 'go for it?'

[Whispering Star]

You are not crazy, it will take preparation for the children's schooling. But what an education. There are internet course also mailin courses for the kids. A friend of ours, has the same plan, they have 3 boys. I will ask her and see what her research has come up with. Grab the dream, educate yourself and move on to the next item on the list.

[canuck1955]

One form of education is in a classroom. Alternatives are home schooling (or sloop schooling. schooner schooling, catamaran calculus, trimaran trigonometry....). The other is the school of life and adventure. Teach them enough to meet the curricula for your area and what they learn with 3 years of cruising will surpass everything.
History, culture, language, physics, geography in real time.

Make an arrangement with their school. Every week you mail their completed marked assignments in. The possibilities are endless.

If following your dreams means being mad, some of the greatest people in history then have been mad and the world needs more madmen.

[maxingout]

When I was 47, I set out on a circumnavigation on a catamaran with my wife and two kids. We did schooling by correspondance and we had a great time. I would do it again in a heartbeat. The only problem now is that the kids are grown up. It's more fun with the kids.

Our cirucmnavigation was supposed to take eighteen months, but instead it took eleven years to complete. A catamaran is a great way to go when you have kids because you have good separation of accomodations which means each kid has their own space.

You are not crazy. Or maybe you are crazy like a fox.