Friends think my wife and I are crazy

If it is your destiny, so be it. You still have "a few short years" to think it over and maybe try it before "jumping into something with both feet".

I don't think it's crazy as long as you know what you are getting into (annual cost, accidentals, resale value, etc).

It's always nice to have a Plan B in case you change your mind down the road.

Welcome aboard. Of course you're crazy. Do it!

It sounds like a great plan. I'm still waiting for the cash flow similar to yours to embark on my own retirement adventure down the road. We may meet at Panama Canal in years to come.

With all these travel plans, 10K won't even cover your fuel expenses...

Fuel expenses

I beg to differ... of course it depends on the boat. A single diesel displacement 50' trawler burns maybe 3 gph for a 9 kt cruise. Assuming the average day is 8 hours underway (yes there will be 24 hour a day passages, and days with near zero fuel burn) we're talking say 25 gals per day. 30 days equals 750 gals, at $4/gal equals $3000. Granted these are rough ballpark numbers... even if we round up to $5K that leaves lots of funds for rum and lobster.

Now if you want to get run up on a plane with twin diesels, then you better own an oil well... but for a laid back retirement... who wants to do that all day long, 30 days a year?

That said, the wrong 60 foot boat can eat $100K in a blink of an eye for maintenance disasters...

Make it happen. My wife and I are absolutely crazy but we're the happiest couple in the world. Now we don't live aboard but the key is following our dreams. I was calculated, a reasoning person, careful, conservative, thought over feelings, until the day she walked into my life. She taught me to let my heart and soul lead the way. Now, that doesn't mean without thought. What it means is when you know the dream, figure out how to get there. It may not be exactly as you initially planned. The boat might be different, the body of water might be. How much traveling may change. So make new dreams as you figure out financially and logistically how to make it happen. But let the dreams lead the way and the details make them happen rather than starting the other way around and never recognizing the dreams.

Right now I'd suggest together you have a list of "What do I need to do to make it happen?" The work toward the goal. Before some luck and fortune came our way, our dream was retiring early and probably on the Tennessee River, spending most of the time cruising. We saved money well because we always knew what we were saving for. We didn't forgo enjoyment. We just stayed in the house we were happy with and didn't go for the new country club development on the water at many times the price. We waited on exotic cars. We waited ten years before our first vacation splurge. We were always so happy vacationing on the lake in the summer and with our adopted family over the holidays.

Read about those who live aboard and cruise with all different levels of income. You'll find it can be done and enjoyed in many different ways. But I'll tell you this, knowing what you're building toward sure makes the bad days at the office a lot easier along the way.

Those who knew me before Belle wouldn't recognize the man writing this. But she taught me how to be happy and enjoy life. Not recklessly. I'm not encouraging that. But not scared to dream.

The details will come along the way, but if you start letting your dreams influence your current decisions it will amaze you. Yes, we can now afford boats we never dreamed of. But had we not been so blessed we'd still be working toward our dream. Would have been years later, smaller boat, different body of water, more frugal living, but it would have been enjoying the water together.

She had already followed her dream. It was of college. Friends had new cars, she drove her old. Friends took extravagant vacations, she went to the park. I was amazed at what she'd saved when we met at her age. She ended up with more degrees behind her name than anyone I know (although she never puts them there). She always knew she was going to do it.

Best from the Crapps's

GO FOR IT ....QUICKLY....
Nobody's getting younger or healthier.
Fuel and dockage is not getting cheaper.
Think about every move well but jump for it.
It's been over 12 years since we got together (wife 3), 10 years onboard. We finally have my work shop and personals down to 2 mini warehouses.
The largest hurdle you will have is getting rid of your STUFF.
The money I could of saved in keeping our stuff in storage would of paid for several weeks more a year cruising (if I had the vacation time).
Now I'm not working for a big company, Lots of time and minimal income. Ah, the trips I could of had.
You can always get an apartment or room if das-boot leaks.
The STUFF will be hard to get rid of. The sooner you do, The faster you can start getting aweigh.
So, When you get to the east coast, look us up,, the name is easy to remember,
Ralph & Josie Crapps

PS. Keep us all up to date in what you do;;;;
We like to watch..

Oh, don't can de plane boss. I've pushed a 182 from time to time.
If you have one, keep it. If you don't, join a rental club.

If your NAV savvy, you can still apply three dimensional thoughts. Just in a different situation,,, EVERY LANDING...

Did I mention,,,, Go for it...

Yep, 182s.
Oh, you don't have to wear a tux on marine radio.

Can a pilot learn to pilot a boat ?

Sure he can ! You would not believe how many boaters started flying first.

Seamanship is Airmanship at 10 Kts !!!!!

And the 182 Skylane is the best single engine aircraft, Cessna ever built.