As I Google more and more about this new lifestyle we are going to take on, I find that I am loving what I am learning and realizing how much I really need to figure out before we go.
There are so many terms and so many people talking about this online that it is insane. I understand that they would have to use the internet a lot more contact family and friends back home, but it is very amazing. I am just hoping that we will always find free internet when we stop so I can keep everyone updated too.
So many people encourage questions while so many others seem to think that if you ask questions, you shouldn't do it at all. I am afraid to ask a lot of questions I have right now because I feel like my questions will be many of the same ones that hundreds before have asked. I'm going through blogs and forums reading everything I can and realizing that I really hate reading about specs, which is what I am calling the proper names for tools people use. For example, a person might ask about radios and say "I have the xlr34523, but it seems bulky. Would a tyr2938 use more electricity since it has more functions?" No I haven't seen this question and yes those "codes" are made up, but that is what it is like. And about two thirds of the people to seem to be a know-it-all. Yes, I know I am one too, shhhh.
Also, I am loving looking at boats and seeing what the inside looks like as well. I read about people who made a few changes to their boats (such as adding bunk beds or painting a cupboard with chalkboard paint) and looking at insides now is no longer making me think "I hate that." but instead making me think "I could do this to it to make it better for us." Nothing major, but something to create space or make it more fun.
Oh, and it has a lingo that took me a while to catch on. I am bad at lingoes. When people type in acronyms on Facebook or Cafemom (they do it a lot on there and now I do too), I have to stop and think about it. There are even a few acronyms that I thought I knew what they meant for months then one day a light went off. Well, the community of "liveaboards" is the same. Several don't travel often, usually only going out for some fun on weekends. We apparently will be called "cruisers" because we won't stay long or call one play home. I will keep my military spouse tradition of having a home of record though.
So, now that I have learned that you can add a "fence" to your boat to keep kids and pets on board, buy special watch-type things that sends off an alarm inside the boat louder than the smoke alarm if it gets wet (for kids to wear while playing on deck alone when they are older), how to turn a regular bed into a makeshift crib for toddlers. In learning those things though, I realized that I just scratched the surface. I have months though before we even start actually shopping for a boat so I have plenty of time to do more research and use pinterest to be creative in how we will live comfortably and happily on a boat.
Monday, January 30, 2012
We Made THE Decision
Okay, my husband was a Sailor. Well, not really. He was in the Navy but he never stepped on a boat his entire enlistment. At least, not at the Navy's request... I will explain that later. But he will be a sailor again.
Water runs in my husband's blood. When we go to the beach, he runs off as fast as he can to the ocean and I get stuck with the munchkins we happen to have with us until he is hungry, then he is off again. When we spend time away from the ocean and return to where you can smell it, he gets giddy like a cat with a toy. He has spent a fair amount of time googling islands and boats trying to tell me that it makes sense to just own one. Whenever we talked about visiting other places, he always wanted to go where you could play in water first, then he may talk about places with cool museums and stuff later.
We are like night and day. I like going to beach, but only my feet touch the water. When I get in a pool, it is to cool down and even then, I like to sit and kick my feet around. When I see cool fish, I want it to be at an aquarium. Night and day.
As just friends, we would talk about seeing the world and traveling. Not having to worry about money or getting home to that job. As a young couple without kids we talked about doing it someday. As young parents with one child, we talked about taking our son to see other cultures. As parents to now two children, we have decided that the dream must become a reality.
Okay, you think I have gone crazy. But stick with me here.
My husband's (we should give everyone a nickname) aunt and uncle bought a sailboat and moved on with three teenage boys and traveled the world for two years. We even went aboard and did Thanksgiving with them on a sailboat when our son was a toddler (yes, it was cramped, the food was delicious, and it was fun). That was the only time my husband stepped onto a real boat while he was in the military.
We have talked about doing it for a while now, but assumed we should wait until my husband has a medical degree and the children were much older. But it wasn't settled. We still talked about moving to a town in our home state. We talked about moving to new states. We talked about moving to other countries.
But tonight, after doing tons of research on statistics of places including states, countries, and even islands (yes, my husband researched islands again) we realized we hated it all.
We drove to another town nearby to buy groceries to get better deals (I cut groceries down to $150 from $300 so well worth it) we took a wrong turn home. What normally takes just half an hour ended up being a two hour drive (awesome, right?). During this time, my husband talked about islands and how we could get away from big societies and live in a place where everyone knew everyone so at least the fear of those predators would be cut down. But to be frank, I am not a small society type person. Most people just don't like me. I am opinionated and I don't tolerate people giving me crap. I live my way and a lot of people don't like that.
So we started talking about living on a boat again. I asked tons of questions and my husband who has had experience in this area answered them. I had already done some research before so I knew some things. We talked about the pros and cons and decided that it was time. We wanted to see the world, be able to move when we wanted, and just get away from it all.
So, this semester will be my husband's last. We still have tons of questions and research to do. It's going to be a long journey. But you get to read about it! Hopefully this summer, we will be moving onto a boat and before the hurricane season hits we will be off to visit some friends or family.
Water runs in my husband's blood. When we go to the beach, he runs off as fast as he can to the ocean and I get stuck with the munchkins we happen to have with us until he is hungry, then he is off again. When we spend time away from the ocean and return to where you can smell it, he gets giddy like a cat with a toy. He has spent a fair amount of time googling islands and boats trying to tell me that it makes sense to just own one. Whenever we talked about visiting other places, he always wanted to go where you could play in water first, then he may talk about places with cool museums and stuff later.
We are like night and day. I like going to beach, but only my feet touch the water. When I get in a pool, it is to cool down and even then, I like to sit and kick my feet around. When I see cool fish, I want it to be at an aquarium. Night and day.
As just friends, we would talk about seeing the world and traveling. Not having to worry about money or getting home to that job. As a young couple without kids we talked about doing it someday. As young parents with one child, we talked about taking our son to see other cultures. As parents to now two children, we have decided that the dream must become a reality.
Okay, you think I have gone crazy. But stick with me here.
My husband's (we should give everyone a nickname) aunt and uncle bought a sailboat and moved on with three teenage boys and traveled the world for two years. We even went aboard and did Thanksgiving with them on a sailboat when our son was a toddler (yes, it was cramped, the food was delicious, and it was fun). That was the only time my husband stepped onto a real boat while he was in the military.
We have talked about doing it for a while now, but assumed we should wait until my husband has a medical degree and the children were much older. But it wasn't settled. We still talked about moving to a town in our home state. We talked about moving to new states. We talked about moving to other countries.
But tonight, after doing tons of research on statistics of places including states, countries, and even islands (yes, my husband researched islands again) we realized we hated it all.
We drove to another town nearby to buy groceries to get better deals (I cut groceries down to $150 from $300 so well worth it) we took a wrong turn home. What normally takes just half an hour ended up being a two hour drive (awesome, right?). During this time, my husband talked about islands and how we could get away from big societies and live in a place where everyone knew everyone so at least the fear of those predators would be cut down. But to be frank, I am not a small society type person. Most people just don't like me. I am opinionated and I don't tolerate people giving me crap. I live my way and a lot of people don't like that.
So we started talking about living on a boat again. I asked tons of questions and my husband who has had experience in this area answered them. I had already done some research before so I knew some things. We talked about the pros and cons and decided that it was time. We wanted to see the world, be able to move when we wanted, and just get away from it all.
So, this semester will be my husband's last. We still have tons of questions and research to do. It's going to be a long journey. But you get to read about it! Hopefully this summer, we will be moving onto a boat and before the hurricane season hits we will be off to visit some friends or family.
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