2020, life, post-covid and the meaning of it all...

[gabereiser]

Hi,

I'm new here. I've been watching youtube videos of people selling off into the sunset (yes, I spelled it right) for years now and I knew that was what I wanted to do... someday. In fact, me and my wife had talked about it on numerous occasions. We lived in Orlando, FL for almost a decade and would go out to my childhood stomping grounds in Cocoa Beach, FL for some surfing and would look at boats to live-aboard. We had kids though and for us the most important thing was their future (education, acceptance, competition, friendships, etc) so we put the idea of a live-aboard in the back of our minds for "retirement" (does one really, truly, retire? maybe when you're 65+).

I'm currently 37. Been an engineer for almost 20 years now. I skipped college and went straight to work after graduating high school. I'm now a director level exec and my professional career couldn't be better. However, typing this intro in a 1 bedroom loft in downtown Denver with my son who's 12 and it's just me and him now. 2020 has been the year from hell for me. Has made me really, REALLY, think about what I want out of what remainder of a life I have left. I've lost so much and yet, I'm still employed - I have a roof over my head - I have food in the pantry - I have one of my kids.

I've spent the better part of the summer and fall researching and seriously considering the "lifestyle" after everyone decided remote work is "cool" (I had been doing it for several years but didn't want to make the leap for fear of how others would see my commitment, imposter syndrome and all, don't worry about it). I have a plan, like so many before me... It's time to put the blinders on, hunker down, and execute the plan.

So, if you've done this... If you've sold it all and bought a boat and made it sustainable (electric, solar, water maker, etc) I'd love to hear from you, follow you, watch your videos, hear your story. I want to sock all my earnings away while I sail for my son. For him to continue the lifestyle and to not ever have to worry. Tall order I know, but it's about being humble, kind, living off land (seas), helping others, and having a good heart - the rest will follow.

In the end, I want to live a life worthy of a novel. Good times, bad times, and the times that make you want to suck a shotgun. I have always been a fighter, my son as well, so I want to teach him to be a good human and give back time since we are all borrowing it. I'm glad I found this place and I hope to learn as much as I can from it as well as meet others who can guide me in my journey of transformation.

[gabereiser]

Oh yeah, my experience with sailing consists of a little bit of coastal day cruising and that's about it. I do however have extensive experience in aviation systems, weather information, amateur radio, hardware development, soldering, car engines (diesel isn't that much different is it?), simulation software for DoD stuff, so I get the math and the physics pretty well. Of course, the first time is still your first time.