Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2011 19:31:08 -0700
Reply-To: Don Hundt <donhundt@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hundt <donhundt@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Westy Now, Boat Soon? (Friday)
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Steve,
Check out www.bumfuzzle.com This is a blog by a youngish couple who did just
what you are proposing. With almost no experience they bought a sailing
catamaran and taught themselves to sail and set off on a multi year round
the world cruise. After finishing the cruise they bought an old VW van,
started a round the world trip in that, they made it from Alaska to the tip
of South America, shipped the van to Europe, then drove across Europe, only
abandoning the trip because she got pregnant.
After the baby was born, they bought a monohull sailboat, are in the
process now of fitting it for another world cruise, only pausing currently
to have another baby (in Mexico). The overriding point in their blog is that
many dream of doing what they have, but very few just go and do it. Most
people get too caught up in the planning and preparedness phase instead of
learning as they go. They just decided what they wanted to do and took the
plunge.
Pretty interesting reading.
Don
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Williams" <sbw@SBW.ORG>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2011 4:20 PM
Subject: Westy Now, Boat Soon? (Friday)
> For some time now, I've been obsessed with learning enough about
> sailboats to acquire one and outfit it for living more independently.
>
> Of course, that's why I bought my '84 Westy and fixed it up two years
> ago. And why I keep refining its camping systems. I've been
> traveling full time for two years. I've really enjoyed it. Alas,
> I'm starting a full-time job next week and looking for an apartment,
> but I hope to be camping most weekends and back on the road eventually.
>
> But even the Westy doesn't quite scratch the itch I have, to be more
> self-reliant and opt out of the traditional job/debt/consume
> treadmill. I've thought about building a Sprinter-based camper,
> which would be easier to boondock, but adventures in campers with
> tires are driven by gas, and I'm not so sure gas will be easy to come
> by before long.
>
> So I've started reading about sailboats and the people who use them
> to lead more independent, adventurous lives. I don't know whether or
> when I will buy my first boat, but I'm enjoying the learning process.
>
> If you're curious, here's a good place to start: Nomadness, the ship
> being outfitted by Steven K. Roberts, who has a long history of
> adventures on recumbent home-built bikes and boats.
>
> http://nomadness.com/
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