5 Years and counting

[Wildbill]

Hi All, Well I've been lurking for a while. They say if you want to give the Lord a good laugh tell him your plans. Well here goes...5 years from retirement from my Hospital and planning...My wife of 37 years is tolerating my urge to do the loop, and cruise awhile till I can't anymore. I have been reading and learning, and refreshing my knowledge. As I approach my last relicensing for my medical license, I will shift my learning from medicine to cruising. My introduction to boats besides the runabout we had at camp began shortly after my father died when I was 11, with 3 older sisters my neighbor who owned North Atlantic fisheries thought I'd become a "sissy boy", so along with his son, my friend, he put us on the boats...initially a stern man for a purse seiner, then a lobster boat and eventually with training and Butt kicking (portuguese fishermans attitude adjustment for smartassed kids), running the boats. At 18 off to college...degree in Fisheries biology, Salmon geneticist, short Air Force stent, Fire fighter, Fire Academy Instructor, EMT, Lieutenant Heavy rescue, and worked for State Environmental Mgt..and 3 kids in between...Mid-life crisis...Off to medical school to become a Physician Associate...25 years later, Looping around to boats and the Great Loop...Still own 3 boats, 2 Bass boats, but all under 20'

 

[menzies]

Welcome aboard!

 

[High Wire]

Welcome aboard. Sounds like a high level plan. Good luck

 

[GFC]

Bill, I've always believed that a plan is nothing more than a wish or a dream until you commit it to writing.


About five years ahead of my retirement date I started a "Countdown Calendar" in Excel, using one row for each day until I pulled the plug. My starting point was 1750 days to retirement. Every few days I'd go in and delete the requisite number of rows to get to the then-current date.


The first several hundred deleted days seemed to take forever. Getting down to 1000 also took forever. From 1000 down to 500 they speeded up, then from 500 down to about 250 they were screaming by. The last couple hundred went by in a helluva rush and then it was time to turn in my keys.


So convert your plan to writing, stick with it and before you know it you'll be done with all those knot heads at work and working your way down the ICW.


Welcome aboard.

 

[BandB]

I never believed in going too far in detailing five year plans, just sort of perhaps an overall goal. Too many things happen and change. I strongly believe in a one year to 18 month planning horizon. There you detail the steps aimed at your ultimate dream and you set goals and plan the actions necessary, then hold yourself accountable.

 

[GFC]

B, I hear what you're saying. My situation was a bit different from most. My partner and I formed a buyout plan for that 5 years so I knew at the start what my last day was going to be.


Then it was just a matter of making sure everything was aligned for that date.

 

[Wildbill]

Great Ideas

Great Ideas, Thanks...Sorry for the slow reply, working over New Years and BUSY...Drunks, Trauma, Assaults, -35 degree wind chills brings out the best in people As I'm an analog man in a digital world, I'll start working on that spread sheet (with wife's help), my 5 year plan hinges on 20 yrs at this hospital, once you hit 20 yrs you can buy your existing health insurance for $80 a month when retired...Good Deal...still deciding whether to sell house on lake or rent for income..Boss says I have to sell my toys (tools) before she'll totally believe this is happening...Once spring is here, couple nice old military rebuilds moving out of big garage haven't fired them up in a year so probably time, let someone else enjoy...Bill

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Welcome Bill. I did something like Mike. Start your search now. You and the Admiral figure out what kind of boat you want. Attend every boat show you can go too, to include places like Ft. Lauderdale, Seattle etc. Build your wish list with the deal breakers and have to have items. Get to know boat porn sites like Yachtworld.


I would buy your boat at least 2-3 years before you retire, so you can immerse yourself in learning your vessel and fix things. Then when the big day comes you and the Admiral are ready to go!


Good luck, but MOST OF ALL make it fun.....

 

[Capitaine R]

Close to the same

Wildbill, we are close to the same schedule. And the more I research the trip the more we are looking forward to the adventure.

 

[markpierce]

It's amazing how much one can save ($$$$$) for a future boat purchase during five years on berthing, insurance, and maintenance costs on a boat not yet purchased.

 

[Comodave]

Welcome aboard.