Liveaboard Living

[Rickwig]

How does one convince his spouse that this is a great way of life??? I constantly cruisers heading south in the ICW and have always wondered about this. I just wish I could have this life style, man I am jealous of you cruisers.

[scook1]

Check out the Thread, "Your better half...in or out?" For some tips. This is a common dilemma for many. Maybe try a charter, if that is not feasible (They can be very expensive) Try talking to her about places that she wants to go and see, many of them can probably be reached by sailboat.
Spencer

[slomotion]

If she's not receptive, you're not not going to talk her into it. But, if you can afford it, you might be able to talk her into a one week charter in BVI. If you don't have much sailing experience, you can do a crewed charter. This gives you a condensed and somewhat disorted view of cruising - you have no maintenance responsibilities, and you go to a new place everyday. But, you get to live on a boat, you have an experienced captain who can answer questions as they occur to you, you learn some sailing, and you will have a blast.

[jkleins]

We did one of those 3 day sailing courses on the Chesapeake many years ago. She has never been on a sailboat and was ready to set off when we got back. I think learning to handle the boat without me was a critical point. She felt confident after the course that she could sail without my help if needed and then it became her sport too instead of just mine.
Of course a week in the BVI the next year helped cement the deal.

Jim

[whatever]

From the "her" perspective, My husband and I haven't been married that many yrs(almost 7) been together for 10, and when I met him, living aboard was his dream. He never had to convince me, I knew that was part of the deal if I was with him, so we worked toward that "dream". And now 4-1/2yrs later I am still loving it, and him not so much (all the worry and cost of mechnical issues which we try to do most all ourselves). But we are still living it, and I haven't wanted to stop yet. Good luck!

[canuck1955]

Whatever:

Doesn't sound like paradise any more. "HIM" not so much. Hopefully the boat doesn't destroy your 10 years together.

Myself: I am working towards living aboard. 5 more years, semi retirment, live on my boat, possible P/T work, just enough to supplement my retirement income. Cruise the west coast. Just a dream, but working hard to make it reality.

[marc2012]

Been there done that if they are not boat people do not plan on it.Quit cruising moved ashore now looking for another boat.

[gonesail]

how? buy her a boat as big as a small house and park it next to the best shopping areas and close to family as well. but with this setup you probably won't do much cruising.

[Navicula]

Originally Posted by gonesail

how? buy her a boat as big as a small house and park it next to the best shopping areas and close to family as well. but with this setup you probably won't do much cruising.

this is the answer, start off like that and then slowly move out to a mooring ball and the.........keep going

I like it

[stevensc]

Check out a magazine called Living Aboard maybe reading some articles will convince her one way or the other.
Good Luck
Steve

[Cloud IX]

Let her pick out the boat.

[Reality Check]

You can lead a horse to water but you can not make it drink....

[Bash]

Originally Posted by Cloud IX

Let her pick out the boat.

That's how I did it.

[barnakiel]

The answer is DON'T.

If you have to convince then its probably not for them.

b.

[Joefloki]

Originally Posted by Rickwig

How does one convince his spouse that this is a great way of life??? I constantly cruisers heading south in the ICW and have always wondered about this. I just wish I could have this life style, man I am jealous of you cruisers.

How to convince ? Hm, with a lot of love to each other.
My wife was not sooooo happy at first, so I gave her the opportunity to stay at home this year for a while. These 3months separation have made her so unhappy that she worked on herself to find out the advantages of boat living.
Meanwhile she likes sailing, but we have made the compromise to stay at least some months a year at our home apartment.
We love each other very much, I have the best wife in the world and will never have another one.