[PUP] Reflections on moving aboard

[John Marshall]

Scott,
	It's great reading of your account of preparing for your 'new life'.  
I find so many parallels to what my wife and I went through as we  
moved aboard, although we didn't cut all the connections to land  
living as you have. But we moved aboard at the end of March, then  
brought the boat up to Seattle area from Dana Point and have been  
living aboard and cruising the NW since. We don't plan on sleeping in  
our house again until October/November or so.

	One thing that's for sure... cruising plans don't survive the first  
significant change in location. Every time you change areas, horizons  
and opportunities expand. A casual discussion with a fellow cruiser  
turns into a burning desire to cruise to new locations. That happens  
about once a month in our case!

	Our plans in March had been FUBAR and then down through canal to  
Caribbean. But since we had a few months to kill, we decided to take  
a little 2500 mile 'side-trip' (a Nordhavn style side-trip) and see  
the NW. Once we got here, it was clear that we needed a season inside  
Vancouver Island and a season in Alaska before we went south (you  
have to really earn your way north along the Pacific coast in the  
Spring, so I'm not ready to spend that 'capital' just yet by going  
south).

	Now we are looking at the Caribbean in the winter of 2009. Maybe.

	I believe you have to have plans of a general sort... but even more  
than that, you need a willingness to change them. Learning to be a  
vagabond after being fixed in one location takes a little practice...  
by the time you're done with FUBAR I predict you'll be masters at  
that. There will be time later (hopefully much later) to settle back  
on land.

	Until then, enjoy... your adventure sounds like an exciting one  
(especially that trip south until you finally pass Point  
Conception!). May Neptune and the weather gods smile on you.

John Marshall
N5520 - Serendipity
Anacortes, WA

On Jul 21, 2007, at 6:45 AM, Scott Bulger wrote:

> Tonight is the second night we will spend on Alanui, our Nordhavn  
> 40.  Its
> now or home, our transport, our life for at least 2 years, perhaps  
> more.
> I'm flooded with thoughts and emotions as we say goodbye to so much  
> we have
> known for so long.  For 25 years we had the same phone number.  For  
> 24 years
> we had two daughters growing up in our care.  For the last 9 years  
> we lived
> in a wonderful home where my wife created a masterpiece of a  
> landscape.
> But, a year ago we purchased Alanui and decided to take a precious  
> few years
> to ourselves.  The rational?  Numerous people who said "if you have  
> the
> chance, GO NOW!".  Well, we took your advice, are have gone and  
> there are no
> regrets.  Getting here seemed to take but a moment.  It seems like  
> just
> yesterday we met Jeff Merrill in Dana Point and saw Alanui for the  
> first
> time.  It seems like yesterday I walked my two daughters down the isle
> within 3 months of each other, in fact it was just weeks ago our  
> youngest
> was married.  So, here we go.
>
> We did a lot of things right getting here:  We have the fortunate  
> situation
> to have funds to support our retirement, but I will need to return  
> to work
> upon return, primarily to secure medical benefits.  We had a lot of  
> equity
> in our house that we traded for the boat.  A decision that I feel  
> is timely
> given the house no longer met our needs and the markets are in such  
> turmoil
> I won't miss being in the housing game.  We chose a quality product  
> with a
> loyal owner community that has adopted us with open arms and provided
> endless support in answering questions and learning the systems on  
> the boat.
> We have met people like Capt. Mike Maurice who is not only a great  
> consult,
> but has become a great friend.  We have listened to this list,  
> which planted
> a concept in my mind that prevented me from grounding my boat (if  
> you don't
> know where you are or are unsure, STOP the Boat).    Made a plan  
> and we
> stuck to it.
>
> We did some things wrong getting here:  I shared my thoughts and  
> emotions
> openly and honestly on this list, resulting in a very small group  
> of people
> thinking I am a liar with some vendetta against a specific brand of  
> boats.
> I failed to sell my Camano to two different buyers because I felt I  
> was
> being bent over and over and over, when I probably should have just
> swallowed hard and taken the offer, but who knows?  We focused so  
> much on
> selling the house that we neglected the boat.  We arrived here  
> yesterday and
> were both overwhelmed with the task at hand.  We did make progress  
> today, so
> at least there is now a place to sit.  But, we have a long, long  
> way to go
> to get the boat ship shape.  When we leave we won't have everything  
> done,
> but we will get it done as we travel south.
>
> In summary, getting here has been a challenge, but manageable.  We  
> didn't
> compress the time as some people do, but one thing stands out in my  
> mind as
> a critical decision.  When we started this adventure I had visions of
> crossing the worlds oceans in my mind.  After 4 months the goal  
> became to
> travel to the South Pacific.  It wasn't until we decided on a near  
> coastal
> route of the East and West Coasts with a journey into the Bahamas  
> that I
> felt the dream was attainable.  Once that decision became clear,  
> almost all
> the anxiety of the journey vanished.  I know I can be successful  
> with the
> itinerary we are taking on.  Once that is complete, perhaps the  
> other goals
> may be attainable.  My hat goes off to people like Eric and Christy  
> Grabb
> who did shove off and go to the South Pacific.  I have tremendous  
> respect
> and admiration for them.   I couldn't do it and have no regrets.   
> So, while
> the content of this has not had much to do with the voyage, it  
> certainly
> captures my sentiment as we prepare for ours.  Thanks!
>
> Scott and Marian Bulger, Living aboard Alanui, currently moored at  
> Lockhaven
> Marina, Seattle WA!
>
> Departing August 30 from Neah Bay WA for the FUBAR rally and beyond.
> _______________________________________________
> http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/passagemaking-under-power
>
> To unsubscribe send email to
> passagemaking-under-power-request at lists.samurai.com with the word
> UNSUBSCRIBE and nothing else in the subject or body of the message.
>
> Passagemaking Under Power and PUP are trademarks of Water World  
> Productions, formerly known as Trawler World Productions.