Retirement plans often revolve around envisioning a slower-paced life, but for a growing number of adventurous older adults in the United States, the idea of avoiding traditional retirement altogether by living and working on a sailboat has become a new way to embrace one’s golden years. This unconventional approach to retirement offers freedom, adventure, and endless possibilities while avoiding the rigidity of traditional retirement.
In this article, I explore how living and working on your boat can help you avoid traditional retirement. If you are like us, you may be searching for a lifestyle that keeps you active, happy, and financially secure while avoiding the doldrums of retirement.
1. The Best Way to Avoid Retirement: Live Aboards
While living in a marina isn’t for everyone, choosing to become a liveaboard on a sailboat is an exciting endeavor that can provide a fulfilling alternative to retirement plans. It allows you to remain active and engaged in a unique way. New cruisers who believe they have to give up the creature comforts of home are often surprised by the amenities in a marina.
From clean laundry facilities, to hot showers, to cruisers’ lounges where used books and strong air conditioning occupy the shared space: a nice marina can provide the fair-weathered cruiser an amazing alternative to an isolated suburb.
Marina Memories
Think about it: you are surrounded by like-minded folks with a passion for the outdoors and the ocean. You can wake up on your boat with a cup of coffee, head out to the cockpit or take an easy stroll around the marina. And you generally avoid turning on the news and being inundated with sad stories that weigh you down for the day.
Even though Kevin and I generally anchor out and avoid marinas now, we were not always this way. Some of my best memories happened at the Channel Islands harbor where Kevin taught me how to sail on a 23-foot Compac.
We would wake up and watch seasoned sailors glide up to a dock and daintily step off their sloop. Or we might have joined others on a stand-up paddle around the marina waterways. Not to mention, the harbor included great restaurants, including the absolute best Brazilian Restaurant called Moqueca. The main dish features a “Specialty dish called Moqueca from Southeast of Brazil. [This dish features a] choice of seafood cooked in a clay pot with olive oil, onions, cilantro, tomatoes, squeezed limes, coconut milk and urucum essence” (Yelp owner description). Just writing about this dish makes my mouth water.
Humble Beginnings in Morro Bay
Also, Morro Bay Harbor is where our boat, Flying Free, stayed tethered to a mooring ball for two years. The holiday boat parades, kayaking a short distance from the boat to watch otters every day of the week. And of course, some of the most epic sailing conditions you can imagine all happened outside this harbor. When we’re too old for the physical demands of sailing, I imagine we will return to this harbor on another vessel.
2. Staying Financially Secure
Instead of relying solely on retirement accounts and social security, opting for a nomadic lifestyle on the sea offers a chance to remain financially secure. By working on your own boat, you can save on the cost of cruising. You can allocate money for health insurance and maintain your bank accounts while avoiding property taxes. This can be a right choice for financial freedom.
Many, many cruisers we know gave up their homes to live full-time on their boat. The savings for them means they can live comfortably on about $2000 per month. Obviously, the fixed costs will vary widely depending on your lifestyle, the age of your boat, and your location.
However, Kevin and I notice that we save anywhere from $1500-$2500 per month simply because we’re not ordering Amazon “necessities” and eating out at restaurants. We’re not driving our car and spending $70 or more on each tank of gas. And we’re not filling PG&E’s bank account with our rarely used but extremely expensive electricity costs.
In Mexico, we buy simple ingredients, like a bunch of asparagus for 99 cents. Or we catch fish from the boat to make mahi-mahi tacos or ceviche. At most in Mexico, we have spent about $200 on groceries, and this trip to the tienda can easily feed us for 3 or 4 weeks. Here in California, $150 trip to the grocery store lasts about a week (and we’re frugal).
3. A Nomadic Lifestyle for Active Cruisers
The best thing about a nomadic lifestyle on a sailboat is the freedom to explore new places. From the British Virgin Islands to Puget Sound, you’ll have ample time to sail to different places and experience new cultures.
And your entrance into a culture will be unlike anything you would experience if you simply fly to a location and stay for a short time. In Perula, for instance, we experienced a weekly plaza festival which included different types of street food. Vendors sold candy, chocolate-cream stuffed Churros, and birria tacos with freshly made tortillas.
Most importantly, we were the only gringos mingled amongst locals. We practiced our Spanish, enjoying the warm breezy evening that kept los ninos—all the kids and extended families—outside until late at night.
Short Trips Away from the Boat
Additionally, a huge perk of the cruising lifestyle is being able to leave the boat. You can park it in a slip or anchor it somewhere secure. Then, you can rent a car and visit a region or part of the country you would never normally fly to.
For instance, after spending over two weeks with friends cruising down the Sea of Cortez and landing in mainland, Mexico, we decided to rent a car in La Cruz. The four of us drove to the town of Tequila, about a 4 hour drive. We roamed this town, savoring the vibrant colors and the sounds of dance music blaring from tequila “buses.” And, yes, we learned a ton about tequila, the different qualities of it, the proper way to sip it, and more.
4. Navigating Healthcare and Insurance
Staying in good condition and managing your mental health is easier when you constantly stay connected to nature. And finding medical care abroad may be easier than you think. You have access to health care and may not even use your own health insurance.
Luckily, an abundance of hiking and ocean activities will keep you as active as you want. When we move from anchorage to anchorage, we spend at least 2 hours a day on top of or in the water. Diving, snorkeling, swimming, paddling all contribute to us feeling alive and boosting our serotonin levels.
Boat insurance is another important aspect to cover, particularly when cruising in hurricane-prone areas like the Atlantic Ocean on the East Coast. Ensuring your boat is in good condition, understanding weather forecasts, and knowing the Coast Guard’s recommendations are all essential to avoid hurricane-related issues.
In my article about why you should only live on your boat for half the year, I discuss various options for insuring your boat. The cost can be much less than home insurance.
For the hurricane season in Mexico, for instance, we stay on the move as our boat must be out of the hurricane belt by June. The beauty of this is that we don’t stay comfortable in one place for very long. We have cruised up and down both sides of the Sea of Cortez.
5. Constantly Learning
Moving to a sailboat—even it it’s only part-time or half the year—offers a chance to create an entirely life. Instead of spending your days on dry land, seeking out ways to occupy your time, you’ll enjoy the adventure of experiencing the world’s oceans. It’s a fantastic way to find your sweet spot in life and learn a new skill.
The incredible challenge of it all is bound to keep you young. If you can entertain a flexible mindset and don’t mind constant movement, you will thrive. I can honestly say not one day on the boat passes without me learning something significant.
Not only have I learned to be a lifelong sailor, I have taken up sewing, learned how to freedive, and experimented with new recipes.
6. Staying Active and Engaged
Sailing into retirement (or pre-retirement) also means your life will be ripe with social activities. Yacht clubs and yacht brokers in marinas provide an excellent platform to meet like-minded individuals and form a vibrant community. Or simply being at anchor, you will be invited to other cruisers’ boats for cocktail hour or stand-up paddle boarding or hiking.
And if you are an introvert like me, you will have to schedule alone time (and not feel guilty for doing so). Kevin can talk to people all day long, every day. I have to politely excuse myself from the myriad social activities happening in an anchorage, at shore, or in the marina.
Additionally, as a lifelong runner, I had to learn other forms of land-based activities. I joined yoga “classes” in the cruisers’ lounges or beaches; I now do weight-circuit exercises on our foredeck; and we regularly walk up to 10 miles a day when we are in a bigger town (without a rental car). There is no doubt that you will stay physically active with boat life.
7. Working Remotely is Now Commonplace on a Boat
Most importantly, a sailing/cruising lifestyle now allows you to work remotely. How many people do you know who have picked up another job right after or soon after they retire? More than half of the people we know who have retired in the last 5 years are now doing some other job, even if it’s only part-time.
Are they bored? Is it a desire to stay busy or to make extra money? Is it a wish to extend one’s expertise in a new direction? My dad is 85 years old and a “retired” geologist. But he still gets jobs doing consulting for various firms. For him, to retire is to die.
He knows what so many of us, young and old, already know: that it may not be enough to simply find a new hobby or meet a few new neighbors once retirement happens. Especially if we live until almost 90 years old. Do we knit, or play pickle ball, and enjoy nice dinners with friends every week for the next 20 or 30 years? Our longevity is a gift which may just happen because we embrace productivity on our own terms.
Sailing offers more than a quick hobby. It is a completely new lifestyle that will test everything: your fears of an open ocean, your tolerance of adapting to new environments, your marriage or ability to communicate under intense pressure. The list goes on. I’m hoping it’s the challenge that will invigorate me and help me stay young.
Staying Connected Professionally
And the best part? With the reality of Starlink, cruisers no longer have to be stuck in a marina if they wish to work. So why not continue working while traveling by boat?
I believe this is especially important if you are a skipper, or a woman who acts as a skipper or first mate. The majority of female sailors I know learned how to sail from a male partner. The man has enticed his partner to join him on the journey of a lifetime.
While adventurous women embrace the calling with open arms, it is easy to struggle emotionally with the lifestyle. After all, if you are used to being in charge of your life, your work, your family—and then, all of a sudden, you are following your captain’s lead. Well, this represents a real shift for a strong, independent woman.
Cruising and being on a sailboat has been the most exhilarating thrill of my life. In part because it has taught me that’s okay to lean on someone else (my amazing husband). But many cruising women I have met struggle with this change. To accommodate the shift, a first mate ought to explore ways of staying mentally busy. Avoiding traditional retirement by working remotely would allow a first mate to live the lifestyle on her own terms.
Choose a Different Kind of Retirement
Living and working on a sailboat offers a unique path to avoid traditional retirement while staying active and financially secure. Instead of settling into the sedentary life that retirement often brings, you can set sail into a world of adventure and discovery.
By choosing a nomadic lifestyle, staying in good health, and managing your finances wisely, you can navigate the challenges of retirement and create a fulfilling and active life aboard your own sailing vessel. This is not just a retirement plan; it’s a lifelong journey filled with endless possibilities, new skills, and the thrill of exploring great places on the high seas.
Retirement plans often revolve around envisioning a slower-paced life, but for a growing number of adventurous older adults in the United States, the idea of avoiding traditional retirement altogether by living and working on a sailboat has become a new way to embrace one’s golden years. This unconventional approach to retirement offers freedom, adventure, and endless possibilities while avoiding the rigidity of traditional retirement.
In this article, I explore how living and working on your boat can help you avoid traditional retirement. If you are like us, you may be searching for a lifestyle that keeps you active, happy, and financially secure while avoiding the doldrums of retirement.
1. The Best Way to Avoid Retirement: Live Aboards
While living in a marina isn’t for everyone, choosing to become a liveaboard on a sailboat is an exciting endeavor that can provide a fulfilling alternative to retirement plans. It allows you to remain active and engaged in a unique way. New cruisers who believe they have to give up the creature comforts of home are often surprised by the amenities in a marina.
From clean laundry facilities, to hot showers, to cruisers’ lounges where used books and strong air conditioning occupy the shared space: a nice marina can provide the fair-weathered cruiser an amazing alternative to an isolated suburb.
Marina Memories
Think about it: you are surrounded by like-minded folks with a passion for the outdoors and the ocean. You can wake up on your boat with a cup of coffee, head out to the cockpit or take an easy stroll around the marina. And you generally avoid turning on the news and being inundated with sad stories that weigh you down for the day.
Even though Kevin and I generally anchor out and avoid marinas now, we were not always this way. Some of my best memories happened at the Channel Islands harbor where Kevin taught me how to sail on a 23-foot Compac.
We would wake up and watch seasoned sailors glide up to a dock and daintily step off their sloop. Or we might have joined others on a stand-up paddle around the marina waterways. Not to mention, the harbor included great restaurants, including the absolute best Brazilian Restaurant called Moqueca. The main dish features a “Specialty dish called Moqueca from Southeast of Brazil. [This dish features a] choice of seafood cooked in a clay pot with olive oil, onions, cilantro, tomatoes, squeezed limes, coconut milk and urucum essence” (Yelp owner description). Just writing about this dish makes my mouth water.
Humble Beginnings in Morro Bay
Also, Morro Bay Harbor is where our boat, Flying Free, stayed tethered to a mooring ball for two years. The holiday boat parades, kayaking a short distance from the boat to watch otters every day of the week. And of course, some of the most epic sailing conditions you can imagine all happened outside this harbor. When we’re too old for the physical demands of sailing, I imagine we will return to this harbor on another vessel.
2. Staying Financially Secure
Instead of relying solely on retirement accounts and social security, opting for a nomadic lifestyle on the sea offers a chance to remain financially secure. By working on your own boat, you can save on the cost of cruising. You can allocate money for health insurance and maintain your bank accounts while avoiding property taxes. This can be a right choice for financial freedom.
Many, many cruisers we know gave up their homes to live full-time on their boat. The savings for them means they can live comfortably on about $2000 per month. Obviously, the fixed costs will vary widely depending on your lifestyle, the age of your boat, and your location.
However, Kevin and I notice that we save anywhere from $1500-$2500 per month simply because we’re not ordering Amazon “necessities” and eating out at restaurants. We’re not driving our car and spending $70 or more on each tank of gas. And we’re not filling PG&E’s bank account with our rarely used but extremely expensive electricity costs.
In Mexico, we buy simple ingredients, like a bunch of asparagus for 99 cents. Or we catch fish from the boat to make mahi-mahi tacos or ceviche. At most in Mexico, we have spent about $200 on groceries, and this trip to the tienda can easily feed us for 3 or 4 weeks. Here in California, $150 trip to the grocery store lasts about a week (and we’re frugal).
3. A Nomadic Lifestyle for Active Cruisers
The best thing about a nomadic lifestyle on a sailboat is the freedom to explore new places. From the British Virgin Islands to Puget Sound, you’ll have ample time to sail to different places and experience new cultures.
And your entrance into a culture will be unlike anything you would experience if you simply fly to a location and stay for a short time. In Perula, for instance, we experienced a weekly plaza festival which included different types of street food. Vendors sold candy, chocolate-cream stuffed Churros, and birria tacos with freshly made tortillas.
Most importantly, we were the only gringos mingled amongst locals. We practiced our Spanish, enjoying the warm breezy evening that kept los ninos—all the kids and extended families—outside until late at night.
Short Trips Away from the Boat
Additionally, a huge perk of the cruising lifestyle is being able to leave the boat. You can park it in a slip or anchor it somewhere secure. Then, you can rent a car and visit a region or part of the country you would never normally fly to.
For instance, after spending over two weeks with friends cruising down the Sea of Cortez and landing in mainland, Mexico, we decided to rent a car in La Cruz. The four of us drove to the town of Tequila, about a 4 hour drive. We roamed this town, savoring the vibrant colors and the sounds of dance music blaring from tequila “buses.” And, yes, we learned a ton about tequila, the different qualities of it, the proper way to sip it, and more.
4. Navigating Healthcare and Insurance
Staying in good condition and managing your mental health is easier when you constantly stay connected to nature. And finding medical care abroad may be easier than you think. You have access to health care and may not even use your own health insurance.
Luckily, an abundance of hiking and ocean activities will keep you as active as you want. When we move from anchorage to anchorage, we spend at least 2 hours a day on top of or in the water. Diving, snorkeling, swimming, paddling all contribute to us feeling alive and boosting our serotonin levels.
Boat insurance is another important aspect to cover, particularly when cruising in hurricane-prone areas like the Atlantic Ocean on the East Coast. Ensuring your boat is in good condition, understanding weather forecasts, and knowing the Coast Guard’s recommendations are all essential to avoid hurricane-related issues.
In my article about why you should only live on your boat for half the year, I discuss various options for insuring your boat. The cost can be much less than home insurance.
For the hurricane season in Mexico, for instance, we stay on the move as our boat must be out of the hurricane belt by June. The beauty of this is that we don’t stay comfortable in one place for very long. We have cruised up and down both sides of the Sea of Cortez.
5. Constantly Learning
Moving to a sailboat—even it it’s only part-time or half the year—offers a chance to create an entirely life. Instead of spending your days on dry land, seeking out ways to occupy your time, you’ll enjoy the adventure of experiencing the world’s oceans. It’s a fantastic way to find your sweet spot in life and learn a new skill.
The incredible challenge of it all is bound to keep you young. If you can entertain a flexible mindset and don’t mind constant movement, you will thrive. I can honestly say not one day on the boat passes without me learning something significant.
Not only have I learned to be a lifelong sailor, I have taken up sewing, learned how to freedive, and experimented with new recipes.
6. Staying Active and Engaged
Sailing into retirement (or pre-retirement) also means your life will be ripe with social activities. Yacht clubs and yacht brokers in marinas provide an excellent platform to meet like-minded individuals and form a vibrant community. Or simply being at anchor, you will be invited to other cruisers’ boats for cocktail hour or stand-up paddle boarding or hiking.
And if you are an introvert like me, you will have to schedule alone time (and not feel guilty for doing so). Kevin can talk to people all day long, every day. I have to politely excuse myself from the myriad social activities happening in an anchorage, at shore, or in the marina.
Additionally, as a lifelong runner, I had to learn other forms of land-based activities. I joined yoga “classes” in the cruisers’ lounges or beaches; I now do weight-circuit exercises on our foredeck; and we regularly walk up to 10 miles a day when we are in a bigger town (without a rental car). There is no doubt that you will stay physically active with boat life.
7. Working Remotely is Now Commonplace on a Boat
Most importantly, a sailing/cruising lifestyle now allows you to work remotely. How many people do you know who have picked up another job right after or soon after they retire? More than half of the people we know who have retired in the last 5 years are now doing some other job, even if it’s only part-time.
Are they bored? Is it a desire to stay busy or to make extra money? Is it a wish to extend one’s expertise in a new direction? My dad is 85 years old and a “retired” geologist. But he still gets jobs doing consulting for various firms. For him, to retire is to die.
He knows what so many of us, young and old, already know: that it may not be enough to simply find a new hobby or meet a few new neighbors once retirement happens. Especially if we live until almost 90 years old. Do we knit, or play pickle ball, and enjoy nice dinners with friends every week for the next 20 or 30 years? Our longevity is a gift which may just happen because we embrace productivity on our own terms.
Sailing offers more than a quick hobby. It is a completely new lifestyle that will test everything: your fears of an open ocean, your tolerance of adapting to new environments, your marriage or ability to communicate under intense pressure. The list goes on. I’m hoping it’s the challenge that will invigorate me and help me stay young.
Staying Connected Professionally
And the best part? With the reality of Starlink, cruisers no longer have to be stuck in a marina if they wish to work. So why not continue working while traveling by boat?
I believe this is especially important if you are a skipper, or a woman who acts as a skipper or first mate. The majority of female sailors I know learned how to sail from a male partner. The man has enticed his partner to join him on the journey of a lifetime.
While adventurous women embrace the calling with open arms, it is easy to struggle emotionally with the lifestyle. After all, if you are used to being in charge of your life, your work, your family—and then, all of a sudden, you are following your captain’s lead. Well, this represents a real shift for a strong, independent woman.
Cruising and being on a sailboat has been the most exhilarating thrill of my life. In part because it has taught me that’s okay to lean on someone else (my amazing husband). But many cruising women I have met struggle with this change. To accommodate the shift, a first mate ought to explore ways of staying mentally busy. Avoiding traditional retirement by working remotely would allow a first mate to live the lifestyle on her own terms.
Choose a Different Kind of Retirement
Living and working on a sailboat offers a unique path to avoid traditional retirement while staying active and financially secure. Instead of settling into the sedentary life that retirement often brings, you can set sail into a world of adventure and discovery.
By choosing a nomadic lifestyle, staying in good health, and managing your finances wisely, you can navigate the challenges of retirement and create a fulfilling and active life aboard your own sailing vessel. This is not just a retirement plan; it’s a lifelong journey filled with endless possibilities, new skills, and the thrill of exploring great places on the high seas.
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