What happens to all the wannabees?

[Wannabe-007]

Originally Posted by Peeew

... I know that I will have learned some things here to help me decide and also that I have enjoyed the personalities that shared so much.

Nice attitude Peeew. Welcome to the forums

[zeehag]

by the way--the words i wrote are not what i think of this--i love this--those are what i have been hearing from folks who have quit while i have been out here..
i love this--everything i do is fun--even the loading of stuff onto boat and rowing about a mile each way-- rebuilding--i LOVE this stuff---however, there are many on this planet who do not tolerate it well.
this stuff keeps me young.

[Cap Erict3]

I ache when my boat is not ready to sail. The ability to cast off and sail away is why I got into this.

The story of the mechanic that tore it up on his wedding night and worked on it his whole life comes to mind.

Taking my lady out is very important to my peace of mind. Even if we don't go far it helps push away the pressures of life.

Maybe some of the lost wannabees get caught up in getting ready and forget to seize the day.

I know the expense and effort involved in maintaining a sailing vessel come as a surprise to some of the oil change and tire rotation crowd. Many jump to a trawler after a year or so.

RV's are land yachts and quite likely better choices for many. Bikini"s aren't for everyone.

I like sailing.

And cold toilet seats.

[Gemini Dreams]

Don't forget the 50 knt squalls last night in St Pete making me get up out of a nice sleep and see if the Defever 49 that anchored a couple days ago was still in place. He wasn't but not close enough to call either of the other two boats he anchored near. My son says he motored off after getting about 20 feet from us at the mid morning wind rotation.

It is not only your decisions that effect you it is the decisions of others.
w

[got seashells?]

Well so far we have read every book we can find on sailing, gone to as many boat shows and marinas we can find to research boats by the owners opinions of what works and what doesn't. Sold all of the toys that we had purchased that had payments on them and paid cash for the 2 autos we drive. Managed to get our son across the stage as a graduate and move him out to his new place. Finished the remodel of the master bath and have someone coming over next week to look at the house. (Fingers crossed) have hand picked my replacement at work and will be grooming her to take over December of next year. We are set to get all of the certifications we need in 2 weeks. ( going to spend 10 days on the boat and learn as much as we can from the captain that is going with us) the next step will be either searching for a boat or finding a new dream....... Depends on how the 10 days work out for us.
That's it so far

[got seashells?]

Oh, I forgot to add that we have purchased some of the products that have been recommended on here as well. The food saver is amazing and I am probably going to have to upgrade soon. The vibram shoes.......not such a fan. Very hard to switch for heels to those and back again. Sticking to the flip flops for now. Got the hat for my husband that was suggested and he has worn it out so I must have been a good one.

[Normanby]

I've been a wannabe for ten years, but next week I move aboard!

Chiseled the teenager out of the nest last Monday, selling and giving away tons of superfluous stuff this week, and moving aboard next Monday.

Getting the boat and setting up the teen has cleaned me out, so I'll be working for a while yet, but practicing with the boat and getting to know how everything behaves, and honing my skills.

Soon to be a wannabe no more!

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Normanby

I've been a wannabe for ten years, but next week I move aboard!

Chiseled the teenager out of the nest last Monday, selling and giving away tons of superfluous stuff this week, and moving aboard next Monday.

Getting the boat and setting up the teen has cleaned me out, so I'll be working for a while yet, but practicing with the boat and getting to know how everything behaves, and honing my skills.

Soon to be a wannabe no more!

Well, you have successfully negotiated a few of the difficult steps, and good onya for that! The most difficult one remains: untying the dock lines!

Keep up the good work... we will keep an eye out for you!

Cheers,

Jim

[Normanby]

Thanks Jim, you may be right about that being the hardest part, I guess I'll find out.

But I have to say that the hardest part so far (making the teenager independent) was a BIG deal. I have friends who still have their over 20 yo kids at home, sucking their parents' lives away.

As a single Dad it hasn't been easy, but I have strategically 'abandoned' my daughter with straight teeth ($8k), a great high school score, a drivers' licence, a car, and an apartment with three months rent paid in advance.

Top shelf parenting if I do say so myself!

Now the kelpie and I can move aboard and breathe a sigh of relief.

Then onto the next phase; saving up and sailing away...

[zeehag]

normanby--you were generous. i used a detonater and c4 and i knocked my kid out the boat and into his own jensen wenk 24. he seemed to love it until he went to meet his dad and ...looong story--glad you are a good dad. more kids need that. wish my kid had one. good dad that is.



come on out and play---

[ShaktiGurl]

Originally Posted by Normanby

Thanks Jim, you may be right about that being the hardest part, I guess I'll find out.

But I have to say that the hardest part so far (making the teenager independent) was a BIG deal. I have friends who still have their over 20 yo kids at home, sucking their parents' lives away.

As a single Dad it hasn't been easy, but I have strategically 'abandoned' my daughter with straight teeth ($8k), a great high school score, a drivers' licence, a car, and an apartment with three months rent paid in advance.

Top shelf parenting if I do say so myself!

Now the kelpie and I can move aboard and breathe a sigh of relief.

Then onto the next phase; saving up and sailing away...

Wow, I wish I had done it this way. I "abandoned" my 20 year old daughter last January (although still providing $) because moving was the only way to get her out. I still hear howls from my family of my selfishness for leaving and poor judgement to go live aboard a boat. So I agreed to get her through the next year of college but now we are unexpectedly down one income ( one of life's little turn of events). Looks like her life will change soon as well because we aren't ready to give up our dream for their lack of preparation that we had warned about for years. Good job with yours!

[SV Maclas]

Originally Posted by got seashells?

Well so far we have read every book we can find on sailing, gone to as many boat shows and marinas we can find to research boats by the owners opinions of what works and what doesn't. Sold all of the toys that we had purchased that had payments on them and paid cash for the 2 autos we drive. Managed to get our son across the stage as a graduate and move him out to his new place. Finished the remodel of the master bath and have someone coming over next week to look at the house. (Fingers crossed) have hand picked my replacement at work and will be grooming her to take over December of next year. We are set to get all of the certifications we need in 2 weeks. ( going to spend 10 days on the boat and learn as much as we can from the captain that is going with us) the next step will be either searching for a boat or finding a new dream....... Depends on how the 10 days work out for us.
That's it so far

Love your attitude! Have a fun time. And if you don't, it doesn't sound like you will have a difficult time finding another great dream to chase.

[got seashells?]

Thank you so much. As we have gotten older we have figured out that if you don't flex a little with the oncoming adversities your sooner or later bound to break. Plus the journey so far has been fun. And if you never try things that are outside of your comfort level, you may just grow old in your current situation and go toes up with out a smile stuck on your face..... And that sounds boring

[29cascadefixer]

Well, here goes nothing ! This season was a " learning experience". After 22 years of working on my 29 Cascade named Galts' Gulch, I finally got the bugger in the water. I learned that trying to stop under power was like trying to stop a locomotive by dragging your foot ! I learned that no matter how soft the bark on a piling, it will still scratch paint. I learned that the previous owner left a jib sheet that was 20 feet too short. I learned that the shift cable had a crack in the upper end( just ready to break), when I was heading over to the gin pole to step the mast. I learned that the jib halliard winch had a tendency to hang up half way raising or lowering the jib. I learned that it is not a good idea to have the foredeck guy blocking your view of the location of the narrow marina outlet when you have only a couple feet of depth to play with. This is also the incident where I learned that running aground is embarrassing. The shouted instructions from the old hands to stay in the middle of the outlet brought up the " Stating the Obvious" lesson to yours truly.
I learned that the foredeck crew, as a helmsman, means well. I learned that trying to spring a d-shackle with two vise grips to gain more clearance results in a " Sprroinggggg", and the deep six of said d-shackle. I also learned patience with foredeck crew as helmsman when you REALLY have to visit the head. I learned that Evon Williams is a VERY good crew member when at the dock. I learned that the sailing season is way to short in Michigan.
And at 70 years old, I really hope that there is a next year so I can polish my capacity for learning.

[Blue Crab]

Good one and good luck.

It's possible, with genuine Vicegrips, to have the shackle take out yer specs on the way by, causing you to drop both Vicegrips overboard (where else could they go?), and if Murphy's on duty, raise yer hands to your injured face, stagger back a foot and trip over the lifelines and into the drink. That's when you hope you've been nice to the foredeck-cum-helmsman.

You can't make this stuff up.

Admire yer persistence Cap. Hope it pays off for ya.