Ahoy From an Older Newbie

[Nemo55]

Hi Ladies and Gents, and those undecided.
My names Alex i'm in my 55th year, and i am done with dry land.
So this June 2012 will find me living aboard a boat, (Sail Boat ) hopefully.
I am an ex tour bus mechanic and jack of all trades, i have a love affair with Classic cars or older Rat Rods if you like,but no longer have the physical wherewithal to continue mucking about with old rusted metal.
Health problems a few years back forced me into early retirement (totally unprepared financially or mentaly) but i'm learning to adjust to the new limitations placed on me my by the excesses of a reckless youth.
My family have been seafarers forever,(i was born and raised in Liverpool. U.K.)both myself and my brother are the amongst the few males in my family to have never taken to the sea for life.
Although both of us have been working fishing boat deck hands in our youth.
My longest time at sea was three weeks in very intense Northern Canadian waters (not for the faint of heart) and then i was a young 17 year old.
I have acquired a 28 foot Cal flatdeck sailboat but am considering a 31 foot Jim Brown Tri-Maran because of it's ease of handling and stability in the deep blue.
All of this i have gleaned as a lurker around forums such as this one (and i am very appreciative of other peoples offerings) and as a Jack of all trades and Older inventor like my father before me, i believe i can give assistance to almost anyone who cares to listen as i am myself.
I currently reside in Mission British Columbia Canada (part of the Fraser Valley) with my eldest daughter who has just about single handed,ly kept me from going off the rails when i suffered a bad heart attack over three years ago.
But now it is time for her to continue on with her life, and time for me to get out of her way as it where.
As such, i am moving aboard boat this summer, as it makes more sense financially for a single person, and appeals to my swinging compass at this time in my life.
I look forward to meeting some of you on the waves, and look forward to chinwagging along with you all on this forum.
Thanks for having me.
Al

[Waterway Guide]

Welcome aboard, Al! Good luck with your new adventure. BTW, Jim Brown lives (or lived) close by here, and I also have a Windrider, which he designed. Great boats.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Alex.

Ah, the excesses of a reckless youth ...

[Johnny Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Nemo55

Hi Ladies and Gents, and those undecided.
My names Alex i'm in my 55th year, and i am done with dry land.

I look forward to meeting some of you on the waves, and look forward to chinwagging along with you all on this forum.
Thanks for having me.
Al

Welcome aboard CF Alex. Yee are but a "youngster" but understand the reckless youth part. My "hippie" generation used to wonder how/if we ever would make it to 25 let alone 55!
Thanks for lurking and now finally participating!

John & Carol

[Lancerbye]

Welcome aboard . From another west coaster Canuck. Have been living aboard full time for over a year now.

[Troublemaker]

Welcome aboard neighbor I'm a stones throw away from you, Pitt Meadows. This is to funny your handle is the same name as our boat, we have it moored underneath the Golden Ears bridge, as I type this I'm looking at the clock because I have to meet a boat mover at Haney Marine I'm putting Nemo on the hard for about a month. Alex this is great forum to be a member with, lots of good people lots of great stories and tons of info.

[Nemo55]

Hya neighbor
Thanks for the welcome, as to your Haul out,,are you using Norm Dogget of Agonic Marine.??
I can speak for him as he did my haul from Surrey to Mission, great guy.
As to my handle,,i guess Nemo wasn't as original as i thought (tongue in cheek) Hope all goes well with the haul out.

[Nemo55]

Thanks for the welcome John&Carol

Originally Posted by Johnny Cruiser

Welcome aboard CF Alex. Yee are but a "youngster" but understand the reckless youth part. My "hippie" generation used to wonder how/if we ever would make it to 25 let alone 55!
Thanks for lurking and now finally participating!

John & Carol

[Nemo55]

Thanks Gord
The excesses make for great story telling

Originally Posted by GordMay

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Alex.

Ah, the excesses of a reckless youth ...

[Nemo55]

Thanks for the welcome,
my learning curve is steep but my awareness of my limits are still being fathomed,,,in other words,,"Happily Ignorant to the Impossible am i" ...Thank God!!

Originally Posted by Waterway Guide

Welcome aboard, Al! Good luck with your new adventure. BTW, Jim Brown lives (or lived) close by here, and I also have a Windrider, which he designed. Great boats.

[Troublemaker]

Backatcha

Yes we did use Norm today our first time with him, I almost started smoking again not because of Norm, just to many other things going on today at the same time, mother nature being the first, we had some pretty good winds today, and the high tide was at 10am. All is well Nemo is high and dry and I will start the prep work on the boat tomorrow to get ready for the real pros to do the heavy end of the work next week.

TM

[pillum]

Welcome aboard Nemo, just another two years or so for me to retire and I'll be joining you on the deep blue. Great to see you still fit enough to take the big step.

[Nemo55]

Thanks for the welcome Pillum, the fitness to proceed only comes from my deep delusions,,"If it be Folly to continue Let Madness Reign" I hope the years move fast for your incoming Retirement, and then go dead slow once your in it deep..Long Life!!!

Originally Posted by pillum

Welcome aboard Nemo, just another two years or so for me to retire and I'll be joining you on the deep blue. Great to see you still fit enough to take the big step.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Good to have you here.
kind regards,

[Huey2]

Welcome aboard! My wife & I just spent two weeks checking out Florida marinas where we plan on spending 3-4 winter months. We enjoy six months of it now in Michigan. I think you will like the boating life.