When Do You Become A Cruiser?

[Randyonr3]

Thought we'd have a fun with this one..
A few years ago, while up in the North West, I was walking through a boat yard where many boats, in some sort of disaray we're on stands waiting either to be torn apart or put back together..
And as I walked through, I noticed a gentelman setting atop his boat, perched high on stands, He was setting in the cockpit resting upon the tiller with his forearm, drinking a beer and gazing off into the distance..
From where he sat, all that could be seen were buildings and homes in the distance, but as I stopped and watched, his eyes didnt falter from the search over the horizion.
It didnt take long for me to realize, this guy was not setting atop his boat in the boatyard but instead, he was cruising amoung areas of the world that most of us only dream about. He was already there, and maybe only in his mind, but he was cruising, and with the smile on his face, I would think he was somewhere in the south pacific, and loving life.
Many of us have at one time or another, closed our eyes and smelled the salt air, and dreamed the dreams of far away places....
So the question is...
When Do You Become A Cruiser?????????

[Gene :^)]

I have logged many miles and countless hours at the helm looking at the back of the shed next to my boat. Though I wasn't seeing the shed.

I am often passed by other boats as they ride up the railway next to my slip. Of course I overtake them as they go back into the water :^)

My wife just leaves me alone when I am "out cruising". She knows I am not there.

[Hudson Force]

'sounds like there's some virtual reality cruising going on there! I haven't reached that level, but I feel like I became a cruiser when I felt at "Home" underway and shared community in various ports. My wife and I feel "at home" and a sense of community in about thirty different ports. 'take care and joy,
Aythya crew

[Prerequisite]

We may not have been 'cruisers', but when my wife and I bought our race boat we brought it home for a couple of weeks for race prep. It sat in our driveway on it's trailer the whole time and we had gin and tonics in the cockpit every night. I'm pretty sure that we got some good sailing out of those nights.

[barnakiel]

When you stop sailing and start cruising, or else

when you stop living aboard and start cruising, or else

when you start cruising.

;-)
b.

[cdennyb]

You start cruising and become a cruiser when you turn over your slip rental paperwork to someone else and cast off for the last time.
LOL

[Minggat]

When the answer to the question, "where do you live?" takes more than just the name of a place.

[Christian Van H]

When the dock lines come aboard...

[maxingout]

I became a cruiser the day I read in National Geographic about Robin Lee Graham sailing around the world in Dove. I knew it was something I had to do. Since then I have cruised in monohulls, multihulls, Land Rover Defenders, and Toyota Landcruisers all over the world.

Whether I'm cruising on land or sea doesn't really matter that much. Each has it's benefits and liabilites. What is important is that I am sailing on the ocean of my dreams. I can tell when I'm cruising, because when I am cruising, I am living my dreams.





If I wasn't afraid of motorcycles, I would probably be cruising on them!

[Bash]

when it no longer makes sense to speak of sailing the boat home, because the boat is home.

[Bill Lee]

About 20 years ago I started thinking about boating. 7 years ago I took the power squadron course. 3 years ago we bought boat #1 and a year later bought boat #2. In my mind, we've been cruising for about 20 years. I have to admit - the last 3 have been the best cruising years of the 20.

[scook1]

I become a cruiser every night when I close my eyes and dream. Then I wake up a wanna-be, but there is a gleam in my eye.
Spencer

[Bill Lee]

Make it happen Spencer - even if you have to borrow up to the eyeballs. The joy of cruising outweighs the stress of any loan. We thought, if we wait too long when we could just pay cash we may be too old or have other issues which would stop us from cruising. We burn about 30-40 gallons per hour so its pricey but it takes us only about 60 gallons to get right into the middle of the Gulf Islands, drop anchor and be in the moments. The trip ain't so bad either. Cheapest waterfront hotel...and more luxurious!

[GordMay]

You may become a cruiser when you begin to cruise.
You can be a cruiser, in spirit, any time you choose.

[jeramiah]

Ok all you dreamers , here is an experienced sailor that will be more than happy to accompany any of you wherever. Though not in a boat yard looking at a shed.
Presently in the Bay of Islands New Zealand.
My Email: floreolights at gmail.com