sv Bella Rose
Share in the dream of a liveaboard cruising lifestyle.
(This is where it all started.....)
Commitment, Courage, the Decision to Live the Life!!
This is my story……
Commitment to live the life. To live in the moment and take each day for what it is. Who knows when or what catastrophe, personal or otherwise, might strike. Maybe this is a bit morbid, but what if you found out you had exactly (oh say for example) two years to live. I have read too many stories of people having heart attacks, strokes, discovering they have cancer, whatever. It could even be something as simple as a broken bone, making it difficult to handle a boat.
What would you do?
I know what I am going to do!
Clearly there is no single "right" way to move aboard and cruise. I am a bit of a procrastinator, so I am afraid if I don't commit to doing it, the years will tic on by. I do not want to live on "Someday Isle." I have my health and want to enjoy life now. Time is becoming more important than material things. My plan is to sell everything I own and move aboard. The Mercedes is gone, the Jeep is gone, my partnership in an airplane is for sale. Most of the credit cards are paid off and it feels great.
Since high school my life long dream has been to homestead, live independent and self-sufficient on a small piece of land. With property taxes going up and up,,, and more importantly with everything becoming public information, as in NO PRIVACY. I don't see this as an option anymore. OK, OK, so I am being a little bit "Orwellian" in my thinking!
Many people might treat the planning of going cruising as if they were planning to die. My planning to go cruising is a plan to be reborn.
My big concern is the unknown. The more I learn the less I know. I do not want my fears, my indecision to stop me from leaving. I have been reading lots and lots of books, Amazon.com loves me. Anyway, I feel I am doing everything the "right" way. I am reading the books, getting the experience, acquiring the money. I am a do it yourself kind of guy so I really look forward to that aspect of cruising. Developing and fine tuning my plan. Yet, it is STILL a bitch to have that final courage. The answer why is difficult, but has to do with society and security. Letting go is really hard, but not as hard as holding on.
Courage to live the life. "I don't need to get courage, I already have it."
In March of 1988 I packed my family, all of the pets, and material belongings we could fit into a rental truck. We left suburban
Today, 17 years later, I snicker at "Away People" when they say things like, "You are so lucky to live in a place like this, I could never do it!"
The decision to live the life. Wow, Rob,,, I did it once and it was probably much more difficult that time. No way can it be that hard this time around. So I’m letting go, changing my life. I may be 47 and recently divorced. But I know what I want to be doing. For example, enjoying the simpler things in life. I have found someone to share this new life with, now if I can just find a boat……..
Fair winds and always remember, “The difference between an ordeal and an adventure is attitude…”
Rob (Feb 2005)
