Some needful history, a vaccine free future, and in the “yep” department…
As it happens, I need to go get our spare propane filled up. I don’t actually want to but, considering the price will be sky rocketing soon, it makes sense to get it while the current price lasts. While we’re at it we might as well stock up on food and needful stuff in this FUBAR economy.
Meanwhile, what passes for ‘yachting media’ is pimping ever-more-expensive-stuff to replace somewhat less expensive stuff that works just fine. It’s depressing.
On the other hand, for those of us who are not plugged into the consumerist fast track it’s a great time to be doing the boat ting. Everyday I see great cruising boats selling for near giveaway prices. Boats that someone with reasonable budgetary restraint, an understanding of the need/want directive, and a basic DIY skill set is good to go. It really is that simple.
The downside is that there are few affordable places to park a modest cruising boat. Which, from where I sit is mostly non-problematic. There are plenty of places to drop anchor in the cruising grounds you want to visit.
Right?
Which brings us to the real question…
Do you want or do you need to cruise?
I NEED to get wind in any kind of sail on occasions, but there are certain places i WANT to cruise at some point. Having said that, I have 7,500km sq and 22,000 islands on my doorstep in 2 lakes, which are mostly empty outside of summer season. It would be nice to be somewhere warmer on the occasions when they both freeze over in the winter, but THAT is the whole purpose in owning a “cruising” boat and voyaging with the seasons. I did give up my “big” boat due to marina fees, the freedom of choosing a launch ramp in various places opened up a bigger cruise area, and dinghy cruising has its own merits.
These days you do not need to sell your home to buy a “good enough” cruise yacht, unless you want one of them carbon fibre trimarans and run it by pimping out your girlfriend in a bikini for subs on social media.
There seems to be a new run on ” I bought a boat, dont know what im doing” videos, that never happened at the same rate when they were still relatively expensive.
I find that after a few weeks of cruising the whole family starts to think and act differently. Basically it takes nearly a month for all of us to realize you can’t push on a rope. My kids in particular start to interact with the world and people in what I think is a better way. I’m starting to think cruising falls more firmly into the needed category than wanted.