We get asked so many questions about our lifestyle and how we handle different aspects of it, so we thought we would try a little experiment with you and give you the unvarnished truth (or whatever I come up with) about every question that we can remember. And...answer them with "his" and "hers" versions. What will be interesting is the discussions that will probably follow between Karen and I, after we've reviewed each other's answers. But, that will be for another blog, I'm sure.
For starters...we live in our 36' Beneteau 361 sailboat throughout the winter months, mostly sailing in the Virgin Islands...Spanish, U.S. and British. In the summer months, we live in our 37' Cedar Creek 5th wheel recreational vehicle (rv) and pull it around with a 2011 Chev Duramax Diesel (horsepower galore).
For starters...we live in our 36' Beneteau 361 sailboat throughout the winter months, mostly sailing in the Virgin Islands...Spanish, U.S. and British. In the summer months, we live in our 37' Cedar Creek 5th wheel recreational vehicle (rv) and pull it around with a 2011 Chev Duramax Diesel (horsepower galore).
So here goes:
Do you miss "not owning a home" or get scared not having somewhere to go back to?
Sandy: Actually, not owning a home was pretty scary, at first. That all changed for me, once we bought the boat. I could really see myself "sailing away into the sunset". As far as living in the rv in the summers...I've always enjoyed camping, especially in remote areas that allowed me to hike, fish, hunt and just plain sit around the campfire eating. Living without the "anchor chain around my neck" of home ownership has been truly liberating. The home we sold was beautiful, but I became a work-a-holic trying to make it the perfect place to live. Granted, there will probably be a day, some years in the distance, where I will settle down, but I think it I'm enjoying the gypsy lifestyle for now.
Karen: Sandy and I created a beautiful home in Montana that I loved very much. But it was becoming an obsession for Sandy. I believe he was killing himself working on it. The landscaping was spectacular but "just never finished" and so many other "improvements". So when Cody was approaching High School graduation with plans to leave Billings, I saw no real reason to stay in Billings. So to answer the question, I do not miss owning a stationary home. I have two homes now that are both mobile. In the winter, my home floats and in the summer, my home moves across land. I love both very much and equally!
What, exactly, does someone do while on a sailboat or in an rv....all day long....with their spouse, and how do you or yours keep from killing each other?
Sandy: Well, there's the daily light maintenance and the rest of the basic preparation before sailing or motoring away. Since you might think it is all work and no play, I admit to frequent excursions with my snorkel gear and at least diving once a week. With the rv, there's also hiking, sightseeing, fishing and eating from dutch oven meals. I don't ever feel like Karen gets on my nerves unless she disagrees with me on something. But that rarely happens because I'm the captain...and besides, she's my best friend and I love hanging out with her. And I have to be thankful too...I've met so many other guys who would love to do this, but their "better halves" think there's a lot of better ways to spend retirement.
Karen: Since I have not experienced retirement living in a stationary house, I have nothing to compare the activities of that life to our mobile lifestyle. But my guess is that our mobile lifestyle is WAY more fun. Sandy and I have a standing joke that one of us will say to the other several mornings thru out the year while we are having coffee...it goes..."So dear, have you given any thought to where you would like to sleep tonight?" I truly love my different "coffee sceneries". Each place we go has different things to do so it is very hard to actually get 'bored'. As far as 'killing each other'....all of you who really know Sandy and me already know that we really dig each other. We truly are best friends. It is easy to spend 24/365 with him!
Is it boring to sit on a boat (or rv) everyday?
Sandy: Did I already mention the snorkeling, diving and how about fishing? I have read some really great books, met some really interesting new friends and have played really fun games...have any of you every heard of "Farkle"? Not to mention, I get to write this here blog. Watching other boats is cool, also. Consider the "Maltese Falcon", a one-of-a-kind sailboat built for over $100,000,000...we've been anchored right next to it. Last week, we saw "Fountainhead"...the yacht recently built for billionaire Mark Cuban. We've seen yachts that charter for over $100,000/week. I'm sure that there's a downturn in the economies of the world, but you wouldn't know it by being in the islands around Christmas/New Year's Eve. I haven't had too much of a problem finding fun things to do while in the rv...riding horses, hiking, feeding the deer, driving my new truck and passing almost everything else on the road...that's really cool.
Karen: I must admit there have been a few times when I feel I don't know what to do next. But that is entirely my fault because there is plenty to do. See Sandy's note above. There are times I just don't feel like swimming or reading or playing games or messing with the computer/internet or exploring the area or doing cleaning or my sewing projects, ect. But I imagine the same holds true for all retired folks. Boredom is our own fault!
Do you need to know how to swim to be on a boat?
Only if the boat sinks. My advice...wear a life jacket if you think you need one. Seriously, I'm not a great swimmer, either. I have been snorkeling for HOURS at a time...never wearing anything but mask, fins and, yes, sometimes clothes. Remember your basic science classes...salt water makes you more buoyant than fresh water (it's more dense because of the salts and minerals) so you float easier. You could still drown, but don't put yourself in a situation that you can't deal with.
Karen: Ditto
Will the boat roll over and sink when sailing?
Sandy: Karen: Yep...if you roll far enough, and you leave all of the hatches and portlights and companionway open to let the water in. I've heard you can sink a boat like that in less than 3 minutes. I have no interest in disproving that, so we always close them things up so if/when we get rolled, we won't sink. At least, not before we've had time to gather our life jackets and such together. As a side note...this is a sailboat we are on...it's supposed to lean (heel) to the side when it is sailing. But it won't tip over unless you do something dumb.
Do you ever get seasick?
Sandy: Funny you should ask. I come from a long line of people who don't handle motion sickness well while on a boat. And I do not like to swing around the roller coasters and such. I've never been queasy or sick on our boat. But then, I'm a firm believer that if you are actively engaged in running the boat, you probably won't get sick. It's kind of like when I was riding in Dad/Mom's car...if I started to feel sick, they let me sit up front and, joy of joy's, I got to sit on Dad's lap and steer.
Karen: I thought it was kind of crazy that Sandy has a history of seasickness/motion sickness and I do not. The hairier the roller coaster the better. I have even been deep sea fishing a few times with no problem. But on our boat (and a friend's boat) I have been sick. I "ralphed" twice on our trip from Puerto Rico to Culebra three years ago and twice on our friend's boat traveling from BVI to St. Maarten. Occasionally, I feel queezy in certain conditions but I am sure Sandy is right about being actively engaged in running the boat. Everytime I felt queezy or sick, I was just a passenger. The seasickness I experience is not a big problem though. It actually is quite minor.
How can you tell if there's sharks in the water?
Sandy: I was told, once, to take my finger and swirl it around in the water and taste it...if it tastes salty, it has sharks in it.
Sandy: I was told, once, to take my finger and swirl it around in the water and taste it...if it tastes salty, it has sharks in it.
Are there pirates in the areas where we sail?
and
What do you do if you come across a pirate?
and
What do you do if you come across a pirate?
Sandy: Since we're the slowest boat in the anchorage and most likely to be caught when making a run for it, I've been thinking of mounting a 50 cal. machine gun on the bow of the boat. I 'll bet there's going to be some official-types that would take all the fun out of my idea, though. Or maybe I'll install one of those fancy Greek bow rams so I can just ram and sink the pirate boats, like they do in the movies.
Can you keep a gun on the boat?
Sandy: Actually, guns in most of the islands are prohibited and I suppose if someone got shot during the act of piracy, the gun owner would be in more trouble than the pirate. I plan on using a can of wasp spray...effective range 20', fairly accurate in aiming and I'm sure that it wouldn't feel too special in the face/eyes of said pirate. Ohhh, and I forgot my machetes...I'm getting pretty handy at opening up round things like coconuts, watermelons, etc.
How hard is it to get groceries and water?
How much does fuel cost in the islands?
Sandy: Take dinghy to shore, walk some distance, load up on your provisions, return with your $200.00 worth of stuff in your 4 small bags and dinghy back to the boat. We get water by going to fuel docks and running a hose from their spigot to the boat's two onboard tanks...then we're loaded with 80 gallons and $12 poorer. Gas averages $5/gal and diesel a bit more. Propane is bought by the bottle size, not by weight...$15 for a tank 1/2 the size you use on bbq. Obviously, our constraints are minimal in the rv as we can get to most stores whenever we need to. Dumping the tanks and getting more water can be a challenge. Most rv parks have these facilities available for a small fee.
Karen: The one thing Sandy did not mention is 'Timing' and 'Conditions'. It can be so bloody hot in the islands that you really need to plan your trips on shore for provisions and laundry. The best time to make these land trips is, either, early in the morning before high sun or on overcast days. There seems to be no breeze and very little shade when we have to be on land. And since we have to walk every where we go, we have to plan where to anchor so that the walk is the shortest possible. Laundry and groceries are heavy. But we do have two rolling carts to help ease the load. As far as 'Conditions', we have to research the wind and wave conditions before we can pick a spot to go to shore. We have been in some really bad condtions that make it extremely difficult to get the bags of groceries from the dinghy to the boat with rocking, rolling and waves splashing. One time it took Sandy 5 attempts to just bring the dinghy to a stop at the stern of the boat due to the horrible conditions. And one time, I pulled my shoulder (quite painful) holding onto the boat while trying to get out of the dinghy. So planning is very important!
What do you miss most, living your present lifestyle?
Sandy: I miss spending time with family and grand kids, as well as all of the friends back in Billings. Also, archery season for elk in the fall and turkey season in the spring. You'll notice I said nothing about work. Don't miss it, don't think about it, barely like to talk about it. I loved my career as an air traffic controller, but it was definitely time to move on when I did.
Karen: I also miss my friends and family. It just killed me to miss my Grandma's 90 Birthday party last weekend. It also bothers me a great deal when my friends or family could use help with any number of things, and I have the time to help, but just can't get there. I feel that God has blessed us so much and we both want more than anything to 1) give back for all of our blessings and 2) try to earn our blessings (even though we both know we are not expected to "earn" them). There are so many things we would like to do but the distance and cost to get there prohibit us. The other thing I miss is a gym membership.
Do you have any recommendations about buying an rv or boat to live in?
Sandy: Buy something you can afford, without going in over your head in debt, and do it now...while you and yours have the health to enjoy it and the desire to see the country or the world. Don't forget you will need to budget maintenance and upkeep. You had better learn how to maintain your vehicle/boat or have a ton of $$ to pay someone to do it for you.
I would suggest to you that there are two types of people: goal-oriented and process-oriented. Goal-oriented folks aren't too interested in an all-day-event to make it to their destination. They should buy an rv/boat that gets you there quick and you don't have to fiddle with all the setup and take down...rv = Class C or A...boat = a trawler or something faster (how much fuel can you afford to burn?) Process-oriented folks enjoy the peaceful passing of time, so it doesn't always matter how long it takes to get there and get settled...rv = some form of a pull-behind...boat = of course, it would be a sailboat...they always take a lot longer to get there, but it usually is a nice quiet view along the way.
Karen: My recommendation is to find an RV with dresser drawers and a suitable closet. We have that now but not in our last RV. It made a world of difference! Also, do not be so attached to things. Things are just stuff. You don't really need much, and in this lifestyle there is not much room for stuff. Picture emptying your entire kitchen of everything except one skillet, one large pot, one small pot, and one medium pot. They must be able to stack. You can also have six dinner plates, six smaller plates, six cereal size bowls, two mixing bowls, a strainer, six coffee cups, large drinking cups, and small drinking cups. Some silver ware and a few utensils. THAT'S ALL. Few, if any, electric appliances. No toaster (you can use your skillet for toast), no crock pot, no toaster oven or microwave and no electric coffee maker (you can use french press or the molita method). CAN YOU DO IT? If not....this lifestyle is not for you. I love the freedom of not owning a lot of stuff. You would not believe how 'light' it feels!
So, our suggestion is to follow the quote from Mark Twain...
Sandy: Actually, guns in most of the islands are prohibited and I suppose if someone got shot during the act of piracy, the gun owner would be in more trouble than the pirate. I plan on using a can of wasp spray...effective range 20', fairly accurate in aiming and I'm sure that it wouldn't feel too special in the face/eyes of said pirate. Ohhh, and I forgot my machetes...I'm getting pretty handy at opening up round things like coconuts, watermelons, etc.
How hard is it to get groceries and water?
How much does fuel cost in the islands?
Sandy: Take dinghy to shore, walk some distance, load up on your provisions, return with your $200.00 worth of stuff in your 4 small bags and dinghy back to the boat. We get water by going to fuel docks and running a hose from their spigot to the boat's two onboard tanks...then we're loaded with 80 gallons and $12 poorer. Gas averages $5/gal and diesel a bit more. Propane is bought by the bottle size, not by weight...$15 for a tank 1/2 the size you use on bbq. Obviously, our constraints are minimal in the rv as we can get to most stores whenever we need to. Dumping the tanks and getting more water can be a challenge. Most rv parks have these facilities available for a small fee.
Karen: The one thing Sandy did not mention is 'Timing' and 'Conditions'. It can be so bloody hot in the islands that you really need to plan your trips on shore for provisions and laundry. The best time to make these land trips is, either, early in the morning before high sun or on overcast days. There seems to be no breeze and very little shade when we have to be on land. And since we have to walk every where we go, we have to plan where to anchor so that the walk is the shortest possible. Laundry and groceries are heavy. But we do have two rolling carts to help ease the load. As far as 'Conditions', we have to research the wind and wave conditions before we can pick a spot to go to shore. We have been in some really bad condtions that make it extremely difficult to get the bags of groceries from the dinghy to the boat with rocking, rolling and waves splashing. One time it took Sandy 5 attempts to just bring the dinghy to a stop at the stern of the boat due to the horrible conditions. And one time, I pulled my shoulder (quite painful) holding onto the boat while trying to get out of the dinghy. So planning is very important!
What do you miss most, living your present lifestyle?
Sandy: I miss spending time with family and grand kids, as well as all of the friends back in Billings. Also, archery season for elk in the fall and turkey season in the spring. You'll notice I said nothing about work. Don't miss it, don't think about it, barely like to talk about it. I loved my career as an air traffic controller, but it was definitely time to move on when I did.
Karen: I also miss my friends and family. It just killed me to miss my Grandma's 90 Birthday party last weekend. It also bothers me a great deal when my friends or family could use help with any number of things, and I have the time to help, but just can't get there. I feel that God has blessed us so much and we both want more than anything to 1) give back for all of our blessings and 2) try to earn our blessings (even though we both know we are not expected to "earn" them). There are so many things we would like to do but the distance and cost to get there prohibit us. The other thing I miss is a gym membership.
Do you have any recommendations about buying an rv or boat to live in?
Sandy: Buy something you can afford, without going in over your head in debt, and do it now...while you and yours have the health to enjoy it and the desire to see the country or the world. Don't forget you will need to budget maintenance and upkeep. You had better learn how to maintain your vehicle/boat or have a ton of $$ to pay someone to do it for you.
I would suggest to you that there are two types of people: goal-oriented and process-oriented. Goal-oriented folks aren't too interested in an all-day-event to make it to their destination. They should buy an rv/boat that gets you there quick and you don't have to fiddle with all the setup and take down...rv = Class C or A...boat = a trawler or something faster (how much fuel can you afford to burn?) Process-oriented folks enjoy the peaceful passing of time, so it doesn't always matter how long it takes to get there and get settled...rv = some form of a pull-behind...boat = of course, it would be a sailboat...they always take a lot longer to get there, but it usually is a nice quiet view along the way.
Karen: My recommendation is to find an RV with dresser drawers and a suitable closet. We have that now but not in our last RV. It made a world of difference! Also, do not be so attached to things. Things are just stuff. You don't really need much, and in this lifestyle there is not much room for stuff. Picture emptying your entire kitchen of everything except one skillet, one large pot, one small pot, and one medium pot. They must be able to stack. You can also have six dinner plates, six smaller plates, six cereal size bowls, two mixing bowls, a strainer, six coffee cups, large drinking cups, and small drinking cups. Some silver ware and a few utensils. THAT'S ALL. Few, if any, electric appliances. No toaster (you can use your skillet for toast), no crock pot, no toaster oven or microwave and no electric coffee maker (you can use french press or the molita method). CAN YOU DO IT? If not....this lifestyle is not for you. I love the freedom of not owning a lot of stuff. You would not believe how 'light' it feels!
So, our suggestion is to follow the quote from Mark Twain...
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
