We set a breakaway target! Over the past few years, we’ve quietly debated our approach to living a nomadic lifestyle. We tested a few different means to help us make our decision, including backpacking, boating, and RVing.
The Big Decision
After much debate and experimentation, we finally made the big decision:
We’re targeting life at sea in 20XX!
We actually do have a specific year in mind, but we’re leaving things loose right now depending on a few outstanding variables. As you can imagine, we still have some BIG questions that we need to work out:
- Will we traverse the Great Loop, or will we head down island?
- What features do we need (and want) in a boat for our adventure?
- How much will a boat with these features cost?
- What is our anticipated cash burn rate, and how will we address this?
Once we have answers to these questions, we’ll understand exactly how much money we should save to meet our needs and wants. This will help us hone in on a specific target date.
A Landlubber at the Helm
Lucky for me, my “old salt” boyfriend has plenty of experience at the helm. However, I am a born landlubber. As such, I have a lot to learn about marine navigation, boat handling and boat maintenance.
Over winter, I created my learning agenda and completed online courses on boater safety, modern marine navigation and weather for boaters. Now that boating season has finally arrived here in Milwaukee, I’ll be spending time on the water to gain direct experience at the helm.
I’m excited and slightly overwhelmed by the magnitude of the decision, and I feel fortunate that I have a solid captain by my side. Although I feel a bit clumsy now, I trust in my ability to learn these skills over time.
