Where To Retire On A Boat...

[Trim50]

I've been pulling together my list of dive sites that I would like to dive-on before I kick the bucket. In doing this I've come across a lot of ex-cruiser web sites in which cruisers found a place and simply decided to call it home. So this got me thinking....

If you were to drop anchor and retire on your boat, where would it be and why???

[redbopeep]

Originally Posted by Trim50

I've been pulling together my list of dive sites that I would like to dive-on before I kick the bucket. In doing this I've come across a lot of ex-cruiser web sites in which cruisers found a place and simply decided to call it home. So this got me thinking....

If you were to drop anchor and retire on your boat, where would it be and why???

We wouldn't (at least not until about 40 years from now...in our 80's). But, if we wanted to stay put in one place, we'd find a wonderful house in a scenic location in a city or near arts/culture and other city-available amenities with 4 seasons to enjoy, a garden, and a place for my piano and a garage for all the tinkering we both love to do. We'd likely go back to canoing and sail-canoing on rivers and lakes with occasional adventures abroad.

“The desire to build a house is the wish of a man content thence forward with a single anchorage. The desire to build a boat is the desire of youth, unwilling yet to accept the idea of a final resting place.” - Arthur Ransome

[MMNETSEA]

Somewhere warm, good fishing, good food - good government - few rules affecting the cruiser.



P.S.

Ken, on the subject of Dive Sites, see if you can find Paul Lees's "The Dive Sites of THAILAND"

- comprehensive coverage of diving and snorkelling . Published by New Holland -

ISBN 1 85368.515.1

[JeanneP]

I loved SE Asia, and could have stayed there for many more years. *It's culturally rich, the people are generally very lovely, and it is an inexpensive place to live. *And the weather is warm all the time.

Singapore gave us our "big city" fix and was a source of the luxury items, especially foodstuffs such as croissants and imported cheeses, that one starts to miss after a while. *An easy place to be.

[Trim50]

Originally Posted by JeanneP

I loved SE Asia, and could have stayed there for many more years. *It's culturally rich, the people are generally very lovely, and it is an inexpensive place to live. *And the weather is warm all the time.

Singapore gave us our "big city" fix and was a source of the luxury items, especially foodstuffs such as croissants and imported cheeses, that one starts to miss after a while. *An easy place to be.

Everyone that I know who has been to Singapore tells me that I will really love the place. Over the years I've done a lot of business with Singapore, but never actually visited. I'm amazed at how a small island location can have such influence around the world.

Would you live in Singapore, or some location near by?...Langkawi, Malaysia maybe?

[Trim50]

Originally Posted by redbopeep

We wouldn't (at least not until about 40 years from now...in our 80's).

Unfortunately genetics on the male side of my family tends towards a far shorter life expectancy. I have yet to witness a male in my family that lives past 65 while the women seem to have no problem living into their 90s…seems odd, but it is a fact. All of the men on both sides pass on due to some sort of heart related illness.

This has a lot to do with my present life choices and direction at 43.

Originally Posted by MMNETSEA

Ken, on the subject of Dive Sites, see if you can find Paul Lees's "The Dive Sites of THAILAND"

- comprehensive coverage of diving and snorkelling . Published by New Holland -

ISBN 1 85368.515.1

My #10 site:Richelieu Rock, Thailand 8°38'55.47"N, 97°38'5.32"E

[Duane2312]

Originally Posted by JeanneP

I loved SE Asia

Did you travel to Viet Nam? If so, did you like it? I think that would be facinating. I have read your blog but don't remember if I saw anything on Viet Nam.

Thank you!

[MMNETSEA]

Originally Posted by Trim50

My #10 site:Richelieu Rock, Thailand 8°38'55.47"N, 97°38'5.32"E

Richelieu Rock is some 49nm NNE of the above position, which is that of the Similan Islands (which is another excellent dive site).

9d 21.8809' N x 98d 01.2341' E

Similan Islands

8d 38' 55.47" N 97d 38'5.32" E

Extract from Paul Lees Book :-





Richard

[Frank]

I read somewhere once that the three top retirement spots for many cruisers were the Vancouver area, south of Hobart Tasmania, and Bay of Islands in NZ.

All way too tropical for my taste

And - yes - there is good diving in southern Chile.

[lantamariner]

I was happily passing through Thailand and Malaysia on the way to nowhere a few years ago and the place just will not let me go! Having made at least 150 trips between Phuket and Langkawi, a mere 120nm, I still find new anchorages and experiences each time I make the trip. The food is great, the costs are low, the people are friendly, the weather is excellent, and Thailand claims to have at least 24 of the top ten dive sites in the world! For now at least, the paperwork involved in staying long-term in either Thailand or Malaysia is fairly simple as long as you have enough money in the bank to show you can look after yourself. (US$ 25,000 in the case of Thailand) Medical facilities are very, very good and also cheap by western standards. This area should be on your short list.

Best wishes, wherever you may go.

[Trim50]

Originally Posted by MMNETSEA

Richelieu Rock is some 49nm NNE of the above position, which is that of the Similan Islands (which is another excellent dive site).

On Google Earth I have a spread of some 20 locations which claim to be Richelieu Rock...I guess the local DMs will know where it is.

What charts did you use?...I'll have to us my Navionics when I get home.

[redbopeep]

Originally Posted by Trim50

This has a lot to do with my present life choices and direction at 43.

We hear you, Ken. When confronted with our mortality, we often re-assess and re-direct what we're doing. Just glad that you're doing that now. Live the life you want, now. You'll have no regrets.

Fair winds and following seas,

Brenda and David

[Trim50]

Originally Posted by redbopeep

We hear you, Ken. When confronted with our mortality, we often re-assess and re-direct what we're doing. Just glad that you're doing that now. Live the life you want, now. You'll have no regrets.

Fair winds and following seas,

Brenda and David

Well, strangely enough, everything the doctor tells me that I need to do to extend my life precisely results from cruising. Eat more fish, exercise, reduce stress and eat more fish.

The one thing I do know, is that I don't want to be like my father and grandfather who worked like fools all their life just to retire and die within 18 months. God bless them both, but I plan to live a little.

[Trim50]

Does anybody have any info or opinions on the Phillippines?

[JeanneP]

Originally Posted by Duane2312

Did you travel to Viet Nam? If so, did you like it? I think that would be facinating. I have read your blog but don't remember if I saw anything on Viet Nam.

Thank you!

Regrettably we did not go to Vietnam, nor did we meet anyone who had sailed there. *We know quite a few people who traveled by land there, leaving their boat in Thailand or Malaysia. *When we were in SE Asia it seemed that the Vietnamese government didn't know what to do with foreign yachts, and the one or two boats that we heard had visited (I'm relating second-hand info., mind), were not allowed to travel around in their boat. *Friends who have visited say it's a beautiful country.

Most people we met loved the Philippines, but many commented on the need for constant vigilance with respect to tropical cyclones. *

[MMNETSEA]

Originally Posted by Trim50

Does anybody have any info on the Phillippines?

Hi Ken ,

Here is a good start :- Click

The commodore old friend, who I can put you in touch with ( He is also a top class dive operator)

Also check out member Wisken posts - she and her Husband are in Samal.

General comment :-

Bureaucracy sometimes involves greasing the palm.

Typhoons regular north of 10 degrees latitude during May >> Nov.

Poverty - grinding !!

Otherwise a good place to cruise during the good months - options then:-

Are to sail to Palao, probably the best dive sites in S.E. Asia 7d 30'N x 134d 35'E.

Northern coast of Borneo - the river systems are marvelous - check Click HERE?

their travels up rivers in Borneo are fascinating - and they also give a lot of info on cruising S.E. Asian waters.

Richard

P.S. I used CMAP charts to illustrate posts with Faststone Capture to define specific areas.

[lynger1]

Originally Posted by Frank

I read somewhere once that the three top retirement spots for many cruisers were the Vancouver area, south of Hobart Tasmania, and Bay of Islands in NZ.

All way too tropical for my taste

And - yes - there is good diving in southern Chile.

Hi i dont think Tasmania and NZ is tropical

seems you dint leave your shore that mutch

[redbopeep]

Originally Posted by Trim50

Does anybody have any info or opinions on the Phillippines?

I spent 6 weeks there many years ago. At that time:

Plus side includes... Great diving and snorkeling. Lovely islands. Cheap to rent a private plane and go places. Fun.

Negative side includes... pickpockets, thieves, scammers

[Trim50]

A couple pf us are talking about setting up solar farms in the islands where electricity costs justfy the watt-hr rate of solar.

I think I would enjoy hanging out diving while working 1-2 days a week.

[rigamarole]

I can't really see retiring on a boat and staying on one place but if I had to spend a few years in any one location it would be the Med and specifically the Ionian Islands. Second choice would be San Francisco Bay. Third, Hawaii