Fredo,

One can live aboard for extended periods on almost any boat with a cabin.
The question is how much room do you require to live the way you want?

Are you prepared to get rid of virtually everything you have except some
limited wardrobe items or to place them in storage?

Do you want to do all of your laundry at the nearest coin wash facility?

Are you going to want reliable and efficient heat and air conditioning?

Are you and/or spouse prepared to cook meals using the very limited space
and appliances typical of a smallish boat?

For a time my wife and I very seriously considered living aboard. This was
25 years ago so our conclusions are probably out dated. However after a lot
of thought, boat show visits, literature study, and talking to folks living
aboard we concluded that the smallest vessel we would want to live on was a
42 footer. Specifically a Kady Krogen Pilothouse 42 with double sleeping
cabins and a single diesel with a diesel generator. YMMV, but a 32 to 36 SV
would get very old very fast for us.

As to how much you will have to spend, that depends entirely upon the boat
and lifestyle you chose. Slip rent is a major factor. Add on insurance and
maintenance. Will you be cruising? Short term slip rent is much higher as
is insurance. With an SV sails will require replacement and repair now and
again. With an MV fuel and extra maintenance is costly. IMO, living aboard
in some reasonable level of comfort is not a money saving proposition.
Unless, you want to be a boat bum who always anchors out, fishes for food,
does odd jobs around the marina, cuts his own hair.... you get the picture.

Butch
"FREDO" wrote in message
.. .
I am considering a new (to me) boat for my retirement!

How does a used 32-36' SV sound?

Is this something my wife and I can live aboard if need be for an extended
period of time?

How much money USD should I expect to spend?

does anyone have any brand/age recommendations?

Fredo