What do you actually do While Cruising?

[SV THIRD DAY]

The question goes to the heart of WHY you want to go cruising in the first place. So let's throw the question back at you....why do YOU want to go cruising because that my friend is what you will end up doing.

Want to see culture...then you can.
But want to just hang out with cruisers of your same nationality and be drunk by noon...then cruising for YOU can be just that. (and there are those in every port).

What cruising is and represents to lots of cruisers is the ultimatly Freedom.
Freedom to hike, read, travel, sleep, or what ever YOU want.

Sure we had a hammoc aboard the boat and the kids played in it all the time, but I only got in it once in 4 years for a photo-op of what some think cruising IS compared to what it was for US....busy...busy....busy...

[Nicholson58]

Once out of sight of prying eyes, we throw off our clothes and chase each other 'round the mast until we melt into butter.

stay home.

[donradcliffe]

I have hopefully attached a blog from a 1999 trip to Vanuatu which was intended to let friends and family know what we did all day. I doubt things in the outer villages have changed much since then.

[downunder]

Originally Posted by Travelnik

Sex.




I feel sorry for the rest of you!

Where do you find the room on a 22ft vessel. Smalest for me was 27ft.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by downunder

Where do you find the room on a 22ft vessel. Smalest for me was 27ft.

He only needs a small amount of elbow room

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by StuM

He only needs a small amount of elbow room

Beating to windward?

[biscuitsjam]

Thanks to everyone that responded. I'm still trying to figure out if cruising is something that is right for me and my family. I was also curious how people would frame their answers, because that tells a lot about the people I would be likely to meet while actually doing it.

I am currently moving in a direction that would support an eventual cruising lifestyle, but it would be many years before it would be possible right now. And, if I decide it is not right for me, I am still in a better position financially, professionally, and personally. My big concern right now, as a goal-driven person, is not whether I could achieve this dream (I can and I would if I decide to do so). Rather, I am unsure about my life after I achieve this goal.

So, right now, I'm going to continue reading these forums, and I hope to meet some of you someday. This seems like an awesome community, and cruising appears to be an incredibly lifestyle that is surprisingly within reach.

[Stendecian]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I made a video called "What We Do When Cruising".





I think it pretty much explains it.

Well, it explains it to me

Got to say, great choice of reading material. As an aviator, it's close to the Mecca of novels.
One small criticism. After watching that clip, I chucked more than I ever did in the jungle.

Keep it steady man,

Sten

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by bobconnie

... Sometimes it seems like cruiseing is going to new places to fix stuff !! LOL

Cruising is often defined as sailing to exotic/remote places to work on the F'ing boat.

A lot of cruisers spend a lot of time working on the boat, waiting for parts to be shipped in, searching for parts and services...occassionally interrupted by fun stuff like snorkeling.

I don't enjoy that aspect of cruising so periodically I need a boat break. Don't cruise full time partially for that reason...after 3-6 months I'm sick of working on the damn boat!

[BandB]

Originally Posted by biscuitsjam

Thanks to everyone that responded. I'm still trying to figure out if cruising is something that is right for me and my family. I was also curious how people would frame their answers, because that tells a lot about the people I would be likely to meet while actually doing it.

I am currently moving in a direction that would support an eventual cruising lifestyle, but it would be many years before it would be possible right now. And, if I decide it is not right for me, I am still in a better position financially, professionally, and personally. My big concern right now, as a goal-driven person, is not whether I could achieve this dream (I can and I would if I decide to do so). Rather, I am unsure about my life after I achieve this goal.

So, right now, I'm going to continue reading these forums, and I hope to meet some of you someday. This seems like an awesome community, and cruising appears to be an incredibly lifestyle that is surprisingly within reach.

Books and blogs. Read actual experiences.

I'd also say to us it boils down to love of the water. If you have that then there's a world out there that can involve cruising. May or may not be full time. Like the rest of life you'll find those people and those places you are most attracted to. You'll congregate with like minded cruisers. This doesn't mean you dislike the others, just means you enjoy time more with and around some. Common interests. Some love to explore and study history. Look for the historic sites everywhere they go. Others look for the best bars they can find in each port and drinking consumes a large portion of their evenings. Some like to commune with nature even when exploring on land. For some, the greatest moments are those meeting people. Not meeting the store owners but those living out in the rural areas. Then for some it's just simply being on the water. They'd be fine if they never went ashore. Some love to anchor, some love marinas.

The one thing I'd advise is to sample it out some, do some chartering. See what you like and dislike. Perhaps the dislikes are easily accommodated. Or perhaps they're too inherent to cruising.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

I don't enjoy that aspect of cruising so periodically I need a boat break. Don't cruise full time partially for that reason...after 3-6 months I'm sick of working on the damn boat!

My buddy once said: "The reason we use the boat so much is to know what we have to fix next!"

In my experience, boats that get used less need more maintenance. It's like an old outboard, the more they run, the better they run.

Come to think of it, that's just what my wife said about me, just yesterday.

[chubby]

Originally Posted by tomfl

Everyone I know who lives on a boat is a slave to the BOAT. There are days when it is cloudy, light misty rain, kinda chilly and I usually stay in the bunk till noon, get up and fix some coffee and get back in the bunk.

If the weather is nice I do something else.

fixed it for ya!

[belizesailor]

Oh yeah, and lay lethargically around the boat, surfing CF, while recovering from a cold you caught from the sick cabbie while searching for parts. Aaarghhh!

[BLACKBIRD1]

if you have to ask, why is live better on the water, than land,you don't get it, stay on land

[charliehows]

?? breathing works well for me...