We missed our 5-year plan by three weeks

[colemj]

We quit our jobs and careers today. The house closes in two weeks and we still have piles of stuff to get rid of and more piles to get on the boat. The house seems to have gotten bigger and the boat smaller. By this weekend, we will have sold, given away or thrown out everything we own except the boat, its equipment and a small amount of clothing and personal items.

Never thought it would be so hard to get rid of everything. Not sentimentally hard - just a lot of truckloads to the dump, coordinating with people to come and buy stuff, packing things for mailing, etc. If anyone is thinking of doing this, start getting rid of your stuff now no matter how long in the future you will be taking off. I swear the crap keeps multiplying every time I get rid of a pile.

Anyway, one thing is concrete: by October 1 we will be unemployed and homeless and heading into a new life.

Mark

[Soft Air]

Mark don't hesitate on going that last extra mile you are about to win your freedom, independence and mobility

Best

[imagine2frolic]

Last time I left. I donated the whole house, and cars to charity......SWEET tax write-off..................BEST WISHES IN YOUR NEW LIFE......live with no regrets

[Soft Air]

i2fro do let me know when you have one of the following items to donate to a poor south american sailor:

1) Outboard
2) New Dink
3) On board PC
4) Famous book "How to marry a Philippine girl"
5) Broken wind generator
6) Imagine's custom cocktails secret recipe book

Thanks

[funsailthekeys]

Strange, I lived on my boat 15 years, bought a nice house and put the boat out back at the dock. Miss the boat life, selling house and moving back on boat. Nothing else compares to the freedom and adventure. You will have great fun. Remember the difference between adventure and adversity is attitude.

[Southern Star]

Congrats Mark - makes you the second boat on this site in the last 2 weeks to beat me by a year! I am extremely envious. If you are ever down near Margarita Island for hurricane season, please drop me line. I am on a well protected Bay with a great beach and would be happy to assist with the use of a car, laundry etc.

Brad

[dkall]

Mark,
We agree w/ you. I"m amazed at how hard it has been to "get rid of stuff". We've been working on downsizing for 2 years! Finally have the truck (F-150 '02) for sale. Last big item. (If anyone is interested they can PM me). Then we've some small projects to finish and should be out there by the end of the month. In the islands sometime next month.

Hope to see you there!