New guy, same story

[rakuqueen]

Well just to add my two cents worth.
My husband and I are moving aboard next weekend. He is retiring in December and we will go cruising in March. This week, this plan.
We have wanted to do this for years, but children and other commitments have delayed our leaving. We have one daughter in college and the other will go with us and we will do distance learning for some of her high school years. She wants to return for her senior year. That took some planning w/ her high school, but that has all been resloved.
I'm 54 and my husband is 57, we are in good health and good spirits. We have been married for 29 years, this has been our dream.
Last summer we sold our house, this was harder for Jim than for me. He felt he had sold our children's home, moved them away form thier friends, etc. He did all of those things. We moved about 3 miles, so all the friends stayed, we moved to a new high school which has been so wonderful. The old high school was in the same school district but what a difference in adittude. The new school is so positive. Our other daughter went to the other high school and it was a struggle.
It does seem that when one of us is struggling with the decision the other can stay focused. This has been a very hard few weeks for us.
Our older daughter has less than one week before she returns to college and she has been a great help with all the packing. The younger daughter started high school two weeks ago, so she has been very busy, also.
It is a busy time but I enjoy taking time out to read all the lively posting. I'm hoping that Jim will not turn me in for a drinking, salty story telling model. I don't want to live in an apartment.

Jane

[Stede]

Jane,

What a refreshing note to read about you all making it happen.It always warms my heart to read about someone actually making it happen, kind of like "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." You and your husband are very lucky to have one another,and to share the same dream. It's very rare now a days that couples share any long term dream whether it be cruising or something else.It sounds like your kids are very supportive of your plans as well. That's great! My kids know where there "sailing crazy" dad will eventually end up. I think they're anxious to see it happen for me as well.I don't think you have to worry about your husband turning you in for a "drinking, salty story telling model." He sounds like a smart man and I'm sure he appreciates how lucky he is to have you! Bon Voyage

[CSY Man]

RakuQueen:

Congrats and my hat off to you both for the doing the right thing.
Many times I wish I was there as well, but I choose a wife 13 years ago and now I have to stand by that decision....
I seem to remember something about good times and bad times and promises made before the priest.

As for yer ol' man swapping you for a salty and beer drinking buddy that can pass gas and tell stories, naah, not very likely, you have already signed up for the adventure and that makes you close to the "Perfect Woman"...

Stede:

Ya were mentioning having 2 boats....?
Hmm, I tried that, but it did not work: One can not have 2 Gods, or 2 Wifes or 2 boats.
I ended up spending twice the money and even more time away from the wife and the honey-dues....You can imagine what that did for piece and tranquility in the house..

Got read of the second boat and things returned to normal, it also forced me to spend more and needed time on the "primary" boat as she was in need of forgotten maintenance while I was playing with that "other" boat..
Nope, did not work for me....

[Stede]

CSY Man,

I know that you speakum the truth,as surely as wise old owl has spoken it to you.Warrior Stede thought of these things,and they troubled me greatly.I sought council with wise old owl,but I could not find him amongst the tall oaks of the valleys.Warrior Stede became tired and layed down amongst the oaks as they swayed in the wind.Soon,I was flying as the great hawk above the forest.I could see below me the wide mother river.On her bank,there were two canoes.One large,and one small.They both had the mark of Warrior Stede upon them.I soared higher and faster at seeing them.Before long,I could see my teepee down below and I swooped down to view my domain.To my surprise,old wise owl was perched on top of my teepee.I asked wise old owl."why are you here?" He said "look!", as he stretched out his golden brown wing.Below me I could see Warrior Stedes buckskins laying out in the mud with my bow,and all my trophies from battle."What does this mean I asked wise old owl?" He said,"You are no longer known as Warrior Stede.Your name now is "Two Canoe Idiot." Your squaw has left you for another Warrior!" "How could this be, wise old owl? " I said. He said "when you bought bigger canoe from warrior friend "Flying Bull", you forgot one thing,as he ruffled his feathers and strecthed out his wings ready to take flight. My mind ran as the buffaloe through the great plains as I tried to think of what this one thing could be that wise old owl was challenging me on.I thought of how I had explained to squaw that having bigger canoe would mean that she could carry more berry baskets and she would stay dry while going over the great white water. I remembered how many moons had passed as I worked to make both my canoes the best they could be for her.I remembered how I had traded my wampum to have the best stitching done on my canoes for her. I remembered how she shook her head and walked away."Please I begged old wise owl, what is this one thing?" He looked at me with pity as he shook his head and said "you forgot her." Wise old owl flew away,and I awoke at the large oak trees.I ran to squaw and said," I'm Warrior Stede.I have one small canoe...you are my squaw." She said "you are Warrior Stede, and I love you!"

[CSY Man]

Uh, yes Warrior Stede, the truth has been spoken, I'd say...

Hmm, don't know that ya should be afraid of trading up to a bigger canoe.
At 26 feet ya are a bit limited as to how far ya can go and still carry everything but the galley zink...As you mentioned above.

My previous canoe was 44' and surely a good sea going vessel for what I used it for back then: A live-aboard Carribbien home.
The current one is 33' and I think a happy medium..Lots of storage and plenty comfy for one couple, yet we can take guests on short cruises, but try not to, we like the space to ourself.
She is heavy and sturdy enough to go anywhere in, yet reasonable enough so a working stiff like yers truly could afford to buy and maintain the thing.

Once ya start pushing 40' and beyond, the numbers goes six digits unless ya find a canoe that is 20 years old, or a new one built of ferro-cement.

Aye, ya probably know all that.

Good luck making the next canoe decision and may the buffalo always be grassing behind your tepee and the squaw be happy at all times and go easy on the warrior.....

[Stede]

CSY Man,

Good news! My therapist says that if I'm real good the next few days,I'll get to go see the wise old owl. If things go good there, they might give me my pocket knife back!! Thanks for indulging in my insanity. I actually wanted to see if I could get some type of reaction from some of the 327? members of this board.I've been coming here pretty steady for a couple of weeks now,and I think I've seen about 8 names,and I think three of those were new members.How can there be 327 sailors that have nothing to say? Do they have no dreams,opinions,or lies to tell? What gives? This seems to be a pretty cool board with a lot going for it. What's the deal?? Hellllooooo!!!This is Stede knocking on your door. Knock,knock,knock...is there anyone home??

Now, to reply to your note CSY,I'm really not concerned about moving up to a larger boat (canoe).I've chartered a 45 footer in Greece,several 38 footers in the Caribbean, a 38 footer in the Bahamas,etc.,etc.All of these trips I chartered the boats bare-boated, with yours truly as skipper. Nah, I like big boats. I like them a lot.In actuallity,there are just so many unknowns in my life right now,I don't know what I'm going to do. If the right "big" boat finds me,then I would definately give it some serious thought. For now, my 26 footer meets my needs. She's easy to sail single-handed,is pretty roomy, is very sea-worthy,and has about as many bells and whistles as you can put on a boat. I know more than likely I'll have to sell her some day, but I don't look forward to the day that happens. The boat has taken me through some pretty mean weather,and has always been forgiving of my stupidity when I've run her aground. What else can I say? She's just a sweet ride As for your boat size, I agee that is a perfect size boat for a couple and that's probably about the size I'll end up with. However, I've read on several blue water websites,that the suggested size boat for blue water is 35 feet up. Of course you read so many conflicting statements,some times is hard to decipher it all. I have a pretty good feel for what I want -- can afford, and know that I'll eventually find what I'm looking for. If not, I'll seek council with the wise old owl again

[delmarrey]

Stede,
Everybody has to make their own choice for their own situation. I still have my 23'. And it hasn't cost me a thing (except licensing). I just keep it on the trailer under cover and vented out. I bought the 40' so the second mate would feel more safe and comfortable, being inexperianced and all. Hopefully, someday, I'll be able to consolidate everything and buy a nice bluewater Cat and hang around the South Pacific until I can't do it anymore (way too old or dead).
As for the 23' trailerable it's great if I wanta take'r across the sound a hundred miles or so, to do some exploring. To get the 40' there it would take a couple days of good sailing concidering the winds and current. There has been days when I've looked down at the GPS and it read that I was going backwards. The advantage to the smaller boats is it's mobiliity, the larger is their comfort.
It all comes down to what you really wanta do!
As for live aboards, most of'm I met get so comfortable at the dock that they don't wanna leave. They have ta move all the plants and junk onto the dock worring about someone take'n their stuff.
Well, it's back to work I'll add more later....................._/)

[delmarrey]

As for live aboards, live aboards are not necessarily cruisers and cruisers are not necessarily live aboards. This brings up another subject (sore spot) I'll bring up later called "SPACE TAKERS" not necessarily live aboards.
From what I've read in your situation, I'd keep the 26 for awhile. You'll have a hard time seeing all those places with a full time floater. And besides, full size boats require continuous maintenance. You can't park'm in out of the weather like the pull arounds. If you wanna do a long haul to a distant island a time or two there are always bareboat charters.
I don't plan on cruising the world so our 40' is more of a training vessel for the second mate so she'll learn the ropes before the jump into the full time island hopper. The 23’ is for myself when the woman is off at work or something and I want to just catch the wind for a day or do some exploring. The Puget Sound has a lot of unpopulated nicks and crannies that are great get aways.

Del.................._/)

[sail_the_stars]

When the docs change my meds I get that way too, Stede.

I bought some beach front property in the desert. If I drink just enough beers and squint just right I can see Easter Island and a lot of other places.

I too wish more people would jump into these posts.

I don't own a boat at present. Who knows what I'll end up buying whenever I buy it.

I cook in a casino on the Colorado River. I had never heard of the town of Laughlin, NV or Bullhead City, AZ. ( just across the river)Now I live here and dream of sailing away. Far away.

So does my wife. Thank God. Mother Ocean must've picked my wife for me. Most grateful, I am.

At some point I plan to post a million or so recipes and cooking ideas ( heh! got to get my stars some how. Come'on people. You all registered and still leave no posts. At least do it for the stars you get for posts.)

For now I pass the days in my dismasted land yacht ( that is, an RV with a bad trannie). All the stories I have to tell about her. We rent a little space and live in her. Strangely enough the color of the Colorado river 200 feet from my door reminds me of the ocean. We have tents around her for extra room and shade. The RV itself is covered with a hand sewn sunscreen.

As for all that you all have posted on this thread. First of all hello to everyone. In particular a few people stick out.

Rakuqueen, I appreciate from personal experience the joy of a spouse with the same dream. My wife has this fear sometimes that I'll get bored but I got it made. She's the best. I'm sure your husband feels the same.

CSY I appreciate your directness. I try to be that way myself.

Delmar, I hope you forgive my directness in my reply about your third world sailors post. We can agree to disagree. I appreciate what you said anyway. By the way I finally found you comments about the junks; I can't begin to say how helpful they were. Didn't realize how to get to the comments section.

Stede, are you sure you aren't from the same loony bin as me?

Hello to everybody else out there reading these posts. Sailing is beautiful. Aren't we all blessed? Share some thoughts.

sail_the_stars

[Stede]

sail_the_Stars,

It's always good to hear from a fellow dreamer.I can relate to the area you're in.I used to work as a cowboy in a little town called Kemmerer,Wyo, and attended tech.school in another cowtown called Rock Springs,Wyo.- it's where Butch Cassidy got his nickname "Butch".He worked in a butcher shop in Rock Springs. See how educational this board can be? Yup, that was back in me shooting pool while swigging down shots of Yukon Jack,and chasing it with beer days. I use to ride my Arabian "Rainy" up on the ridges to watch the herds of wild horses run.Ahhh,dem where good old days.The wildhorses aren't there anymore.They herded them all up and gave them away as pets.That's progress I guess?The West is a great place.There are so many Americans that have never been out there.They don't know what they're missing. I envy you living that close to the Colorado river. I used to do a lot of kayaking (do you realize that that the word "kayak" is the same spelled backwards, as it is frontwards?) There's a name for that,but I don't remember what it is. Anyway,I would love to go on one of those rafting trips down the big whitewater river. I can imagine you guys sitting around under your sunscreens sipping a cool saspailla as you watch the sunset,and hear the mighty river roaring away.Pretty cool! I'm not sure if I'm from the same loony bin as you, because I've been in many. It's possible that we've crossed paths sailing though,because I believe it's a state of mind as well as a physical task. Many times my boss tells me to quit goofing off and to get to work.I tell him he has the wrong state of mind,but he doesn't understand. Anyway, here's to you my brother of the cloth,fellow dreamer,and wrangler.

[Stede]

Hey Del,

Thanks for your insight.It sounds like you and I are on similar pages as far as our boating outlook. Yeah, there are still some things I want to do with my 26 footer before I sell her....if I do. I would love to sail her on San Francisco Bay, and maybe hop down to that Mexican area down South of there. I can't think of the name of it now, but I think it would be pretty cool to sail down there and wind down with a Tequilla or two as I watch the sunset over the Pacific. The only sailing I've ever done in the Pacific was on a little day sailor out of Puntenaras,Costa Rica. Got to run for now...more later...

[sail_the_stars]

Hi Stede; The West is something; I've been out here three years. My wife and I came out here from your neck of the woods, NC.

I just finished 13 days of work in a row. One day off, now. It's good to have kindred people to talk to.

You got an idea there about the kayaking. I've been thinking about it on and off for a year but I keep saying to myself that I'm saving for a boat. I'm going to look into buying and/ or building a kayak. There is no white water this far south on the Colorado but it isn't too far away either. Thanks.

sail_the_stars

[rakuqueen]

Dear All,

We are starting to move all our stuff on board. I love to cook, so we have lots of stuff. Not as much stuff as I had earlier in the week, our oldest daughter is studying to be a pastry chef. She thinks its ok to steal from her mother, to her face. What am I to do.
We have a few more things to do this weekend, then ne.xt week my husband will drive our pot stealing daughter to college, our other daughter and I will have our last garage sale. The following weekend the movers will do their thing and we will be offically live aboards.
We had a meeting with a financial planner yesterday, and oked all our plans.
Now it's back to packing box.es.
Jane

[CSY Man]

Wish I could move aboard and sail for the horizon, but not this time..

To get read of stuff that will not fit on a boat, donate it to the Salvation Army and take a tax-deduction....Have found that more profitable than yard sales and garage sales, etc.

Going on a short 6 day cruise to either Bimini or Elliot Key on the 4th of September. Anybody else from this forum going that way or the other?

[Stede]

Friends,Romans,sailors, and citizens,

Today is Friday, and I feel good (Stede moonwalking.) I don't get to go sailing this weekend, but I'm still thinking about the most excellent sailing I got in last weekend.I had bought a cruising spinnaker about a year ago, and really hadn't had much of a chance to use it until last weekend. It was great! I love that sail
I have a sock for it and it made life so much easier. I was sailing single-handed,and anything that makes life easier, I'm all for it.

CSY man,

I wish I could join you on your trip to either N.Bimini,or Elliot Key. Two summers ago, I hauled my boat down to where you're at. I sailed down throught the Keys from Ft.Lauderdale, to eventually a little anchorage behind "Pumpkin Key." Perhaps you know of it? It's right behind a "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" resort called the "Ocean Reef Club." I ran across another single-handed sailor anchored behind Pumpkin Key. He told me of a restaurant ashore that had "killer" lasagna. Well, I knew that the Ocean Reef Club was private,so I mentioned this little tid bit of info. to him. He said," yeah, I know,but it's not a problem. We can take the dink in and I know of a vacant lot where we can tie up. We'll go across the lot, walk down the street to the restaurant...kapish!" Of course me being the adventurer that I am, how could I turn down this trip? To make a long story short, we didn't make it. It seems the snobby rich folks didn't like weather beaten sailors walking down their pristine streets,and they called the "renta cops on us." The renta cops were pretty cool about the ordeal as they gave us a ride in the backseat of their cuiser back to our dinghy.(Ole Stede made sure that that the cruiser door could be unlocked from the inside before getting in it ) Anyway, there was no "killer" lasagna that day! I envy you being in Ft.Lauderdale.You have such a great sailing area down there. I love it! Good luck on your trip.

Rakuqueen,

I'm so glad to hear everything is going per schedule.I can feel the excitement contained within your note.I can just imagine what a good feeling that must be to know that you are on the home stretch of making the dream a reality. Do me a favor. When you break free, at the first official celebration party aboard.Toss one back for ole Stede. I wish more than anything I could be out there we you, and all the other cruisers. I know one day I will be, but I've got to stay put for the time being. I hope everything continues to go smooth till you cast off the lines.

Sail_the_stars,

Well, howdy ex-neighbor. Follow North Carolinians huh? Well how the heck did you end up out there? Never mind, I know there's a story behind it just as mine was.Yeah, you really should consider that kayaking thing. I had a blast doing it and still wish I had my boat. There are a lot of great rivers here in the mountains to go down.Man, they are cold though The boat I had was was made by "Perception", and it was the "Dancer" model. It was a great boat, and you could probably pick a good used one up for a few hundred bucks. Believe it or not, the kayaking helped me develop some skills I use sailing. Yes, people, you read that right....sailing. No, I don't Eskimo roll my sailboat, but some of the other skills are helpful.Being that close to the water, you really learn to "read" the movement of it.It becomes easy to identify the eddies, cross currents, and hydraulics associated with the movement of water. I find I use those skills while sailing entering any body of water that has current in it. So you see, you just tell the wife that you are working on improving your sailing skills by buying a kayak. I'm sure she'll see the connection Besides, I don't know about you, but I recharge when I'm around water. It's my "fix" to counter act all the other bad stuff we have to deal with, like working for a living It sounds like as much as you work, you need some fixes. I work a lot too. Much more than I should, but it's the fuel that will pushes the dream (36-38 foot boat).Good luck with your dreams and plans.: