What do you do all day as a liveaboard?

[lyralicious]

I've been asked that question a few times lately and didn't understand why it irritated me so much. Do you ever get this or similar comments?

I've been thinking about it since I got back from the UK last month... yeah, what do we do all day now that we don't have the 9 to 5 grind to worry about? Well, we go sailing, but not all the time. We check the engine, make minor repairs, do general maintenance, go for walks, pursue our hobbies, cook, clean, shop, prepare for the next trip, check the weather... hang on, we do lots of things!

Anyway, the whole 'what do you do all day' and 'why are you still in the same place' sarcastic questioning has got me so down recently that I posted a new article on our website. If you have a moment please have a look and tell me how you answer this kind of observation...

Many thanks from a first time user!


www.followtheboat.com

[waverider]

Great website, looks good. I dont have the answer to your question but I wouldn't let it bother you. Just live life the way you want and dont worry about what people think or say.

Cheers

Todd

[Ram]

Hi & I see its your first post- welcome --I like the layout of your website- what program are you using?

[lyralicious]

Thanks for welcoming me and for the positive feedback about the website.

We've just spent the past 3 months transferring and re-building the website using WordPress - an excellent tool which we would recommend to anyone. We've added lots of new facilities to make it more easily interactive and had great fun putting it together.

Regards!

[sneuman]

Most common question: "What do you do in the winter?"

Most common answer: "I turn on the heat. What do you do in the winter?"

[Sandero]

Delicious photos on the web page!

How tempting! And how fortunate you were to be there at those moments.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard CF Liz.
We hope you enjoy the forum as much as some of us will enjoy your followtheboat.

[NW Craig]

I think there are two types of people that ask that question.

The first are those who have the dream of becoming a live a board and are trying to gather as much information as possible (possibly to convince those who must me obeyed!).

The second are probably jealous!

With a few years to go (it's hard to work in an O.R. living on a sailboat unless you stay tied up), I have some time to think of a good answer when the question is finally asked to me -- hopefully the answer will be, "Whatever I want!"

I wouldn't let it get to you, just smile and enjoy.

c in seattle

[wingNwing]

I like the answer "whatever I want!" and hope it will soon be ours.
We're currently tied up in a marina, getting ready to retire & cruise starting this autumn. At the moment, the answer to what do you do all day is: work madly from dawn to dusk and sometimes after, doing the myriad of things necessary to get our boat, the nuts and bolts of our daily lives & careers, ready to go!

And one of the most common questions we get is "You live on a boat? Don't you get seasick?"

[orion1]

In her Alblum "Mean Low Water" Eileen Quinn has a song "What do you do all day" Many of you may be fimilar with her real life cruising tunes. She is one of our favorites, and this song really answers the question.

[zeehag]

just tell them you do whatever you wanna do --things they can only dream about....

[Vega1860]

After twenty years of living aboard and cruising I have developed the following answer to that all too often asked question:

"I drink whiskey, smoke cigars and tar the cat"

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by NW Craig

I think there are two types of people that ask that question.

The first are those who have the dream of becoming a live a board and are trying to gather as much information as possible (possibly to convince those who must me obeyed!).

The second are probably jealous!

With a few years to go (it's hard to work in an O.R. living on a sailboat unless you stay tied up), I have some time to think of a good answer when the question is finally asked to me -- hopefully the answer will be, "Whatever I want!"

I wouldn't let it get to you, just smile and enjoy.

c in seattle

managed pacu while living aboard in lost angeles---worked e r from moorings.....they at work asked me what i did all day i said laugh at them........

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by lyralicious

Many thanks from a first time user!


www.followtheboat.com

Great, but what is that line going down the middle of the right hand text??

Some new popular art form in reading??

[Colorado Dreamer]

Originally Posted by Therapy

Great, but what is that line going down the middle of the right hand text??

Some new popular art form in reading??

Must be a browser issue, as I do not have that line.

In fact, I really like the site and I love the colors you used.

I too get that same question, as I recently retired at an early age (36) and I think a lot of people are either jealous or just curious. Depending on my mood, and what I perceive their motivation to be, I either launch into an in depth discussion about the last time I had to unclog the head. The topic usually never comes up again.

I only find that question slightly less irritating than "How can you afford to cruise?"