Kate and I are still trying to figure out how this whole boat trip idea is going to work. We are telling ourselves that we are three years into our ten-year plan. This ten-year period began at the time we were married. The initial thought was that we would get a boat and live on it for a year, but a while back Kate said a year might not be long enough so I have it in my head that we will go for two. We do not have a specific agenda or destination and tell people we will be traveling "about" the world, but not necessarily around it. I imagine we will be in the Caribbean initially. We think there will be four of us as the plan does not currently involve having more kids.
An important part of our plan is the ages of the kids, Leif (born 8/25/09) and Ruby (born 20 days ago on 8/2/09). We want them to be old enough to enjoy the experience, but not so old that they dislike being taken from their own lives, friends, etc. when we go. We intend to home school them and have some vague idea about this from Kate's sister, Ann, who has home schooled three kids (so far). Our current plan has us leaving when they are ages 7 and 9. Ben, my older son who lives with his mom, is worried what this will do to Leif's hockey skills.
Kate's and my mental preparation for this trip is different, but complimentary. Kate thinks about the interpersonal dynamics and how we will get along as a family. I think about the more concrete aspects of the trip--what type of boat, what will we be able to afford. Kate is reading "Changing Course: A woman's guide to choosing the cruising life" while I am reading "Sensible Cruising: The Thoreau approach." On a walk by Lake Calhoun with Ruby and Leif today, Kate brought up the idea that we should be scheduling some dates when we can share with each other the things we have been learning about. She also wants me to read some chapters out of her book (she mentioned one on "fear"). I am talking to Kate about her racing on Captive Heart, our J/27, in the Thursday night races next year, both so she can get more sailing experience and so we can work together on a team. I am also wanting her to get on some of these cruising boats so she can begin to appreciate the various types that I am thinking about. Right now there is an Alden 44 in VA (s/v Juno) that I would love to go see, but I am realizing that it is not worth it to go alone and Kate and I need to be looking at boats together.
As far as my current thoughts on boats, I currently like the Alden 44, though I wonder if I will really like how she sails, coming off a J/27, and I like the Cambria 44, though I need to think more about that small aft cabin. I posted a comment on a guy's blog who is cruising an Alden 44, initially trying just to learn more about his boat and the experience of cruising on it with kids, and now he is done with his cruise and is suggesting that I buy it from him. I then was in touch with another Alden 44 owner but was concerned when the pictures he sent of his boat showed the boat motoring As for how I began focusing on the Alden, I prefer the style of the older boats, I want a boat with good hull integrity and I want a boat that sails well. I want an aft cockpit and Kate is fine with that. I like that the older Aldens have two beds in the aft cockpit. (I wonder, though, since the aft cockpit is frequently listed as the master, if Kate and I would want to be in the bow.) I like that the Alden does not waste space on a second bathroom. And I think I will be able to afford one and still take a few years off without selling the house. Other boats on my list would be Cambria 44 (like the deep cockpit, but aft cabin feels confined), Passport 40 (more affordable, but not sure if I would fall in love with her), Mason 44, Shannon 43 (very strong, but would sacrifice sailing ability and probably too expensive anyway). Another thing I like is a centerboard as that will enable me to get to shallow areas, but still go upwind.
I am thinking also about if we can do this financially. We are putting away a set amount of money each month and paying off home equity loans by scheduling payments beyond the required amount. One of my concerns about buying a boat now, as much as I would love to start taking short trips on it, is that the costs of keeping and maintaining it could blow the budget and we might not have the savings in 7 years to quit work, still pay the mortgage, health insurance and school loans, and have enough left over for the trip.
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