Sundown Sailing Adventures

Since my husband and I bought our boat, Sundown, and began refitting her for blue-water cruising and life aboard, I’ve noticed an interesting phenomenon: people cannot wrap their brains around the idea that we will one day sell our home, quit our jobs and sail into the sunset.

Even though I explain this is the plan and watch as my listener nods with understanding, the next question I get is something like, “So, you’ll take a couple months off, sail around and then come back to work?” or “You’re too young to retire, so how long will you be gone?”

The message I want to convey is this: there are ways to do life other than what most Americans have been lulled into believing is “The Dream.”

A recent Forbes magazine article highlights “bizarre and unusual” retirement lifestyles. Sailing the ocean blue did not make the list, so I guess we’re not too crazy. We’re also not so old that we can “retire” in the traditional sense, however, we really do plan to retire from the professional jobs we now hold.

How will we earn a living?

Given the skills we have between us, let me count the ways:

• Repair boats (my husband owned his own woodworking and boat building business for 16 years)
• Sew custom covers for sails, hatches, hand railings, etc. (I’ll be purchasing a Sailrite machine for this very purpose)
• Teach ship’s medicine and first aid (my husband’s a critical care paramedic and EMS instructor)
• Take paying customers on dinner cruises once we earn our Six-pack Licenses (my husband also worked as head chef at the Lookout Inn in Brooklin, Maine, and I come from a long line of good cooks and bakers)
• Write for various magazines (I’ve been a freelance writer for years)
• Cut hair (one of my closet vocations)
• Clean boats (read about my expert cleaning methods)
• Have businesses and companies pay to place ads on our blog site!

It’s also good to note that living on a boat can be very affordable. One couple says they spend $50 per week; that’s $2,600 per year! It seems the average, though, is about $12,000-15,000 per year. Significantly more than $2,600, but significantly less than what we need to maintain our middle-class lifestyle in Fort Collins.

Then there’s the cash we hope to have in savings, retirement accounts and from selling our house. Basically, all we’ll need is all we’ll have, and we’re willing to do whatever is necessary to make about $500 per month (if it’s legal). We’ll make it work.

How long will we live on our cozy yacht?

Downsizing to very small dwellings is becoming quite fashionable. All you have to do search the Internet for “tiny houses” or “small houses” and you’ll come up with a plethora of sites that promote living simply in small spaces. As our planet’s finite resources are dwindling, people are heeding the call to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible, and live with less stuff. Living aboard Sundown fits perfectly with this philosophy and we’ll live on her until we decide not to. At that point, I’m sure we’ll choose another small dwelling to call home. (And I’m sure we’ll have future articles about sustainable living on a boat.)

How will we be able to get along living in such close quarters?

My husband and I are fortunate in that we’re best friends and soul mates. Do we ever disagree or fight? Occasionally—usually due to my stubborn streak—but we never stay mad for long. We work extremely well as a team and our skills complement one anothers. Additionally, my husband is a very smart man and knows I need a daily dose of exercise to stay mentally sane. He’ll make sure I can run, cycle, paddle, swim or hike every day.

We’re also very much looking forward to dating. I know that sounds odd, but when we married, we each had children from previous marriages, so never really had that opportunity. Being cooped up together—just the two of us—sounds delightful!

What about medical insurance and health care?

Our 20+ combined years in the health care industry afford us insight into the current health care model. Neither my husband or I are fans of supporting American health insurance companies and their shareholders. Nor are we fans of over-using Western medicine, believing alternative healing approaches should play a much larger role in health than currently is prescribed in the United States. We also know there are millions of people in the world who receive top-notch health care at prices that are less than most Americans’ deductibles. Furthermore, providers all over the world often receive education in the states and then go back to their home countries to practice medicine. We’re not opposed to seeking out care we may require in whatever country is nearby at our time of need. Oh, and did I mention, my husband’s a highly trained paramedic who regularly deals with life-threatening emergencies? Just to make sure he’s not the only one prepared to render aid, I’m registering to take a Wilderness First Aid course offered through the Wilderness Medicine Institute of the National Outdoor Leadership School.

Won’t you get bored confined to a boat?

We live such hectic lives that sometimes I fantasize about what it would be like to feel bored. I’m quite sure that while living on Sundown, I’ll have to keep fantasizing. In my limited experience living aboard (a total of about 17 days to date), I learned there are plenty of daily chores to keep one occupied, like making sure all systems are working properly, navigating, housekeeping and maintenance. Remember, too, we’ll be working some of time to earn money.

I’ll admit that feeling confined was one of my biggest hesitations about doing this boat thing. Spending some time on the water, though, helped me understand that unless you’re crossing one of the big ponds which takes several days or weeks, there are regular opportunities to get off the boat. But when I’m on the boat and the chores are finished, I plan to wield away some hours playing my guitar, knitting and reading more than time allows for now.

Where will we start our adventure?

This question has an easy answer: wherever God leads us to start. My husband and I believe God led us to Sundown, so therefore, He has our itinerary planned. After all, we intended to begin shopping for a boat in about seven years or 2018; we’re way ahead of schedule, so that can only mean one thing—God has work for us to do somewhere else in the world. Bring it on!

– krs

*NOTE: The photos in this article were taken aboard Argonaut, a 42′ Hans Christian we chartered from San Juan Sailing.