Hello all,
My wife and I are nearly to the empty nest stage and we are natural nomads. We currently live waterfront in Central Florida and are getting bored with it. We've lived long term in Florida, Colorado and Washington but have determined that we always need to be near/on the water. We also both have a strong desire to migrate as the seasons change and enjoy spending more time in places than we typically can on a vacation. I work fully remote and she is preparing to transition to remote work over the next two years so location is no issue.
We have been talking for quite a while about going full time in our fairly large RV for a year or two, but we've seen so much of the interior of the country, it just really didn't get the excitement level up that much. We've seen all the "dirt and rocks" and been to a fair share of cute highway attractions. We were looking at new trucks to facilitate this process and just couldn't work up the desire to buy one, even if it would make road trips safer and more pleasant. We're both just tired of being on the roads with so many idiots and angry people.
So recently I started looking at the long term cruising* option and surprisingly she is very excited about the idea. We've probably looked at a few hundred boats online but haven't been to any shows yet. We've been on our neighbors 65' trawler and we have our own 21' bow rider that's been all over a good part of Puget Sound and some of the Florida ICW. However, that's pretty much the extent of our experience. I sailed as a teenager, but I'm not sure I could sail downwind in a sunfish anymore without some re-education. We're considering doing a trawler school and/or some charters to build on that experience.
We love the idea of a trawler and trawler speed. That's our speed. We like to go slow and look at things and stay a while. We frequently just shut down and drift to enjoy the scenery, wildlife and quiet. We know we probably need something in the 45-60' range, preferably very comfortable for 2 and minimally comfortable for occasional guests. We're torn between the "buy your second boat first" wisdom and the "buy a cheaper (but still nice) boat that will get you some experience" wisdom. We are both very comfortable putting in the time and effort for repair and restoration work. I'm comfortable with engine and mechanical maintenance. For anything "pretty" like paint, fiberglass and carpentry, I'll bring in an expert because I know my limitations.
Our plan would be to spend the first few years cruising the east coast and the islands to gain experience. We love the northeast, but haven't gotten to spend as much time there as we really want so that would be an area of focus. We're not really into the idea of the loop, but maybe some time in the Great Lakes to see the sights there. After that, maybe something that would get us over to the west coast so we could spend some time in our old home grounds and even head up to southern Alaska.
We have no dreams of or desire for circumnavigation, but we are the type who likes to use what we have to the limit. We've discussed having a boat that could get us across the Atlantic to spend a year or two cruising around Europe. That's the "second boat" I mentioned. Something like a Selene or Nordhavn**. We're adventurous but not crazy. It would need to be southern route and preferably with a group. My wife has EU citizenship so it really opens up options to stay indefinitely if we find places we really like.
I've read enough posts on forums to know this sounds just like the musings of hundreds of others who never go through with it so take this all with a grain of salt of course. I am certain we're going to end up as nomads, we're just too restless, the only question is how and when. Looking forward to continuing our research, getting advice and touring lots and lots of boats.
Thanks
Alan
*technically "live aboard" as we're selling the house, but I've read it's better not to use that term
**yes, I'm aware I've fallen for their marketing hype ;-)
My wife and I are nearly to the empty nest stage and we are natural nomads. We currently live waterfront in Central Florida and are getting bored with it. We've lived long term in Florida, Colorado and Washington but have determined that we always need to be near/on the water. We also both have a strong desire to migrate as the seasons change and enjoy spending more time in places than we typically can on a vacation. I work fully remote and she is preparing to transition to remote work over the next two years so location is no issue.
We have been talking for quite a while about going full time in our fairly large RV for a year or two, but we've seen so much of the interior of the country, it just really didn't get the excitement level up that much. We've seen all the "dirt and rocks" and been to a fair share of cute highway attractions. We were looking at new trucks to facilitate this process and just couldn't work up the desire to buy one, even if it would make road trips safer and more pleasant. We're both just tired of being on the roads with so many idiots and angry people.
So recently I started looking at the long term cruising* option and surprisingly she is very excited about the idea. We've probably looked at a few hundred boats online but haven't been to any shows yet. We've been on our neighbors 65' trawler and we have our own 21' bow rider that's been all over a good part of Puget Sound and some of the Florida ICW. However, that's pretty much the extent of our experience. I sailed as a teenager, but I'm not sure I could sail downwind in a sunfish anymore without some re-education. We're considering doing a trawler school and/or some charters to build on that experience.
We love the idea of a trawler and trawler speed. That's our speed. We like to go slow and look at things and stay a while. We frequently just shut down and drift to enjoy the scenery, wildlife and quiet. We know we probably need something in the 45-60' range, preferably very comfortable for 2 and minimally comfortable for occasional guests. We're torn between the "buy your second boat first" wisdom and the "buy a cheaper (but still nice) boat that will get you some experience" wisdom. We are both very comfortable putting in the time and effort for repair and restoration work. I'm comfortable with engine and mechanical maintenance. For anything "pretty" like paint, fiberglass and carpentry, I'll bring in an expert because I know my limitations.
Our plan would be to spend the first few years cruising the east coast and the islands to gain experience. We love the northeast, but haven't gotten to spend as much time there as we really want so that would be an area of focus. We're not really into the idea of the loop, but maybe some time in the Great Lakes to see the sights there. After that, maybe something that would get us over to the west coast so we could spend some time in our old home grounds and even head up to southern Alaska.
We have no dreams of or desire for circumnavigation, but we are the type who likes to use what we have to the limit. We've discussed having a boat that could get us across the Atlantic to spend a year or two cruising around Europe. That's the "second boat" I mentioned. Something like a Selene or Nordhavn**. We're adventurous but not crazy. It would need to be southern route and preferably with a group. My wife has EU citizenship so it really opens up options to stay indefinitely if we find places we really like.
I've read enough posts on forums to know this sounds just like the musings of hundreds of others who never go through with it so take this all with a grain of salt of course. I am certain we're going to end up as nomads, we're just too restless, the only question is how and when. Looking forward to continuing our research, getting advice and touring lots and lots of boats.
Thanks
Alan
*technically "live aboard" as we're selling the house, but I've read it's better not to use that term
**yes, I'm aware I've fallen for their marketing hype ;-)
