| Many people dream of moving onto a boat. After all, | | | | surprised at how quickly a surplus of cash can add up |
| it's a great lifestyle- who wouldn't want to live on a | | | | from these 'lost' dollars. |
| boat? You're surrounded by nature. The laid back | | | | From a more philosophical standpoint, excess |
| attitudes of fellow boaters is fun and friendly. The | | | | overhead is like a massive anchor to your freedom. |
| freedom to come and go as you please. And best of | | | | Ultimately you have to decide if you're 'working to live' |
| all, if you don't like your neighbor, you just move! But | | | | or 'living to work' because the more you spend the |
| how do you make the transition from a house or | | | | more time you have to work to cover those costs. |
| apartment on land to a boat? | | | | The last and probably the most difficult tip for moving |
| Here's three important tips that can get you started | | | | onto a boat involves changing your attitude towards |
| towards living on a boat and enjoying beautiful sunsets | | | | work and time. When you live on a boat things slow |
| and margarita's from your own floating home. | | | | down dramatically. In many ways moving on a boat is |
| 1. Lose the Stuff | | | | like stepping back to a simpler era when technology |
| 2. Lose the Overhead | | | | wasn't making our lives easier and we weren't faced |
| 3. Lose the Attitude | | | | with dealing with a thousand tasks per day. Living on a |
| Step one seems pretty straightforward but you would | | | | boat is not only a lifestyle it's a life. To get the most out |
| be amazed how hard it is to downsize from the | | | | of living on a boat you just can't operate the same |
| average 1500 square foot home of jammed closets, | | | | way you would living in home or apartment on land. |
| overstuffed attics, and cramped garages into a 3-500 | | | | From the outside, it appears a lot of your time is spent |
| square foot boat. Don't start hyperventilating just | | | | doing nothing on a boat. But in reality this is time well |
| thinking about it. Don't worry, the hardest part is just to | | | | spent. |
| start! | | | | Taking a chill pill and re-prioritizing your goals can help |
| Getting rid of all your 'prized' possessions that you | | | | you take advantage of this wonderful lifestyle and |
| haven't look at in years is painful. Both for the memory | | | | explore some of the dreams and desires you might |
| your stuff brings back, but also for how money you | | | | have forgotten in the rush of the rat race. The |
| might have spent on the stuff for it to end up in a | | | | average male lives 77 years and if you're lucky you |
| closet. Plan on a yard sale to benefit 'the cruising kitty' | | | | can have at least 65 years of health and vitality |
| and clear out as much as possible in one fell swoop. | | | | without any significant medical issues. Are you going to |
| After you've divulged yourself of your excess | | | | have the strength and energy if you wait until the |
| possessions through a yard sale, consignment shop, | | | | magical "one day, someday" when all the stars align |
| charity organizations, and finally the dumpster behind | | | | for you to start living a fulfilling life? |
| the grocery, plan on storing the remainder of your | | | | If living on a boat is a dream, make "you" a priority and |
| possessions in a family members garage, or a paid | | | | don't wait for "someday" to come. By changing your |
| storage unit for six months to a year after your start | | | | attitude about time and being mindful that we can |
| living on a boat. After six months on the boat, review | | | | never get it back you'll be well prepared to maximize |
| your remaining possessions and you'll be amazed how | | | | your new life on a boat. |
| unimportant many of these previously priceless | | | | From a practical standpoint it's pretty obvious that you'll |
| heirlooms have become in your new life. | | | | need to scale down your stuff to move on a boat. It's |
| Repeat this step a few times and you'll be down to | | | | a cathartic process that can free you emotionally and |
| the few items that are truly important possessions | | | | physically from your past and prepare you for a new |
| worth keeping. | | | | future. By reducing your overhead, you're not only |
| Step two is important for practical as well as | | | | helping the bottom line but you are cutting the ties that |
| philosophical reasons. In the normal day to day grind of | | | | bind you to land. We all have bills to pay, by slashing |
| the rat race it's easy to subconsciously accumulate | | | | these expenses to the bare minimum we create an |
| gadgets, recurring subscriptions, and miscellaneous | | | | opportunity to work less and live more. Changing our |
| expenses that you may not notice on a monthly basis | | | | attitude about what society expects of us and our |
| but definitely impact your bottom line. By cutting your | | | | attitudes towards work is tough. We're ingrained with a |
| overhead and simplifying your expenses you are | | | | subconscious social guilt that casts the shadow of |
| buying yourself freedom. It's hard to sail away into the | | | | doubt in taking time for ourselves and stepping outside |
| sunset and still collect the 49 magazine subscriptions, | | | | of the rat race to find a life of freedom and personal |
| enjoy the gym membership, blockbuster movie | | | | satisfaction that may be lacking in your life on land. |
| membership, or even collect your bills every month. | | | | By slowly and diligently practicing these three steps |
| Every dollar you save is a dollar you don't have to | | | | you can pave the way to a smooth transition in your |
| earn. | | | | new life on a boat. Take your time. Wether it be 10 |
| You can prepare for your new life on a boat by | | | | days or 10 years, keep working towards your goals |
| systematically cutting your overhead by reviewing | | | | and you'll be rewarded by a new life filled with beautiful |
| monthly bank and credit card statements looking for | | | | sunsets, ocean breezes, and new exciting |
| big and small expenses that can be cut. You'll be | | | | experiences. |