I just mentioned I’ve been thinking how much I’d just LOVE to be able to just chuck it all and go sail around the world. Seriously.
Yeah, I’ve spent about the last 40 years TRYING to do just exactly that. I’ve spent almost my entire life at sea, hoping to see the world, have some adventures, and earn a living at the same time.
I keep TRYING to get the hell out of the Gulf of Mexico, go somewhere interesting and get a job where I really love what I’m doing, like I used to love what I do now. It seems no matter what I do, even if I manage to find a job overseas somewhere, I keep getting stuck right back in the Gulf of Mexico again. Right back to the same old, same old. Right back to the place where they suck all the excitement and enjoyment right out of being a mariner.
I’m up here at the DP Conference in Houston this week. I’m here hoping to learn something useful, meet some interesting people, get a feel for what’s happening in the DP world, and maybe even get a clue about who might be hiring DPOs.
Well, I have met some interesting people, and I have learned a little bit, but it sure doesn’t look good for anybody hiring any DPOs anytime soon. The more I think about it, the more I think it might just be time to say the hell with it.
I still have no idea how I could possibly make it work, but the more I think about it, the more I want to just GO! The only thing holding me back is the fear of wondering how in the heck will I be able to support myself?
I’ve been trying for years now to figure out SOME way to pay my bills without having to be out on a ship somewhere. I’ve tried vending machines. I’ve bought rental property. I’ve been working on writing, photography, etc.
That’s even one of the main reasons I started this blog, hoping to find a way to get around the editors, to get my photography out to the world (and hoping someone would like it enough to buy it). I still haven’t figured out what the hell happened to the blog when I moved it from wordpress, but it seems I’ve lost most of my readers since then. 🙁
I have actually sold 2 photos online so far. I’ve earned 50 cents for the 2 of them. 🙁 I have had a couple of my articles published, and once I even got paid. I wonder if I stayed home and was able to spend more time on it, if I could somehow earn enough to survive?
I wonder if I just did take off to travel for a while how long I would be able to last? It must be possible somehow, I just don’t know how I can do it!
I need to spend some time seriously figuring out my finances and looking at ALL options. I need to get over being so spoiled and afraid!!!
A few years back I had a friend who made his living ferrying yachts from country of manufacture to the purchaser. His wife and child went along on all the jobs. I wonder if there are still opportunities like that.
Thanks for reminding me of that. Yes, there are still those opportunities out there. It seems to be a very closed club, but maybe I can find a way in.
Perhaps take a series of ‘sailbaticals’. Work, then sail, then work. Paid sail boat deliveries is definitely another good way to make money, but I have never been paid to sail.
I like that! “Sailbaticals”. Yes, I would like to do that, the problem is that the rules have changed and in order to keep the licenses I’ve worked so hard to get, I need to keep working on those kinds of boats. It’s scary to contemplate losing everything I’ve worked so hard for. I guess I really can’t do much about the price of oil killing off the work, but it’s still hard to try and figure out how to keep from going into the hole.