Sometimes, in life, we come to a point where we start questioning the path we’re on. Is this really all there is to life? Here, you can follow my transition from regular life to living on a sailboat.
For many of us, including myself, life seems to revolve around working, making money, paying bills, buying stuff we don’t need, and trying to impress others with our perfect lives. A few years ago, I started questioning whether this was what I wanted.
Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t unhappy. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that I didn’t want to be stuck doing the same things for the rest of my life. I have two wonderful children who are grown up and about to start their lives. While I’m proud of them and loved being a father, I realized there’s so little left of “the regular life” that makes me happy. We only have one chance at life, and I didn’t want to look back with regret.
During the COVID pandemic, I began exploring the idea of buying a sailboat to experience the world differently. Instead of constantly flying around the world and staying in hotels, I wanted to experience the world more slowly. A sailboat would allow me to go wherever and whenever I want and always have my home with me.
After endless evenings browsing boats for sale online and watching YouTube videos, I finally decided to take the plunge. I started looking for the perfect boat and spent every evening searching the major sites online. One day, I found it—a Halleberg-Rassy Monsum 31 named Luna, located in Sweden, where I live, but 500km away.
At first, I was hesitant because I wanted a larger boat. However, Luna was perfect for me. It had a brand-new engine, new sails, and lots of new electronics. The previous owner had planned to fix the boat and take a long trip, but a growing family made it too small for them, and they decided to upsize.
After a few hours of deliberation, I decided to buy it. The previous owner agreed to splash and rig it after winter storage, and I’m now just waiting for the spring to arrive.
Here she is, my new boat Luna. Isn’t she beautiful? I’m beyond excited.
Since my sailing experience is limited, I’ve decided to spend this summer improving my skills and getting to know the boat. After the summer, I’ll haul the boat out and make the upgrades necessary to make it a true liveaboard.
Ultimately, I realized life is about experiencing new things and taking risks. It’s not about the stuff we own or the money we make. I hope this story inspires you to take risks and live the life you truly want to live.
