Hello And Howdy

[indygabo]

I'm Gary and my lady is Donna

Donna and I have been graced with a 1971 Coronado 27 topmast sloop. She's in rough shape and in need of lots of TLC. The Avalon, not my lady. We are planning on learning about sailing/cruising from the fin keel bottom up. I've sailed dinghies in small lakes and Donna has taken sailing lessons from a local marina. This should be entertaining.

We're a couple of near 60's who've seen lots of life and are looking for more. Our earliest dreams included sailing and now that we are here in our lives, no kids and just us, it's time to start living life again. Donna is an LPN and I'm a musician/singer/handyman. We live and work in the Gulfport, FL area and love living on the water. Now we're gonna start the process of living on the hook. Downsize, simplify, minimize, organize, work and save. Should take a few years to get it down. By then the hope is we'll be in a position to purchase 34' + and start living the life.

It is our hope that we can get to know some of the expat communities around the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, maybe even up the west coast of Central America. Have a lot of fun, make a lot of friends, play a little music and make a little money once in a while. It don't get much better than that.

Oops! I hear the laughter of the gods. Time to stop dreaming and start doing.

[Lighthouse]

Welcome aboard Gary and Donna.

Live your dream! Go for it!

Make yourself at home here - "JeanneP" is still buying the drinks today.

[JeanneP]

Welcome!

[TomHoffman]

Hi Gary, I am also new to this forum. You and Donna are much like my wife and myself. Similar ages and desires. You at least are in Fl already. We probably won't get there for at least a couple of years more.

A book I would recommend, you may have already read it. It is a very straight forward tongue in cheek treatise on Living aboard on a small income.

Here is a link for the book itself.

http://www.amazon.com/Voyaging-Small-Incom...l/dp/1888671378

It is a great read.

Regards,

Tom...

[MMNETSEA]

Hello Gary and Donna,

Wonder how many Coronado 27's are sailing out there ? What a popular boat :-



Wish you both all the best in your new life.

Richard

[redbopeep]

Welcome Gary and Donna

Please enjoy the boards and make sure to visit the cruising wiki, too!

The book that Tom linked to IS a great read on just how to live on a small income while one is voyaging. Both hubby and I loved it and found it to be very useful.

Fair winds,

[gslabbert5119]

Welcome aboard this fantastic forum, which is full of info and more than helpful sailors. Glad to see Lighthouse is offering out other peoples liquor again, he is so generous ...

[Apolima]

Welcome Gary and Donna,

Messing around with boats and cruising are well worth the effort for those with the inclination.

Nothing like it.

My wife and I are sitting in our Durbeck 46 in an anchorage in Baja, Mexico in much better health than when we first retired last fall. If you happen to end up out on the west coast of Central America, look us up and join us for cocktail hour at sundown.

Good sailing

Gary