[pwd72s]

Stan Mott (Yes, the R&T cartoonist) is a friend. He & his lady were liveaboards for 18 years. A '57 foot wooden ketch. It's definitely an adventurous and often difficult life, being a "liveaboard". Techweenie nailed it...it's a hassle for many of the daily functions we take for granted. from laundry to shopping to showers...all present problems. As far as actual hours boating? A 10 year old with an optimist dinghy sails more hours in a year than a liveaboard on a 40' yacht. On the flipside,Stan & Ise saw and experienced things that most of us never will. Most of his time was spent in the Mediterranean, then out the straights of Gibraltar, across the Atlantic, to the Caribbean for 5 years. From there to Florida where he sold the boat. He's now living in Germany. For a guy in his 30's it could be an interesting lifestyle, but it's work. Now that I'm in my 60's? I prefer the comforts of a house. Oh, I've spent a few months aboard Stan's boat when he needed crew. A great experience, but one that convinced me it's not what I'd want as a permanent lifestyle.