Hello all,

Man is the corporate filled with people lacking integrity, or what? I'm
fed up. After working in the corp world for over a decade, I'm working
on getting out.

I've been dragging my feet, but I started a company name for my
photography, and hope to start making money selling my photos. But I'm
not sure if I'll be able to make what I'm making now.

So question(s) #1:
- Will your overall expenses decrease by livingaboard, especially if
you don't tie up at a dock? Obviously rent/mortgage is decreased
drastically.
- Car, insurance, gas, repair, & inspection costs are gone. I have a
mountain bike and canoe if I need to hit the food market. Is it stupid
to have a small motocycle or scooter?
- Utilities? They should decrease, right? I love camping so luxuries
won't be missed.
- Are there charges for docking up and re-charging battteries and
getting water? How much?
- How many meals do you eat with fish you caught? So do food costs also
decrease?

But new costs - boat maintenance? Others? How much? So the main
questions is if overall expenses do decrease - by how much percentage
wise? By 50% - or even more. If by 50% than in essense my photography
could net me 1/2 what I currently making and I'll still be okay.

My experience: none.

I'll be going to the local sailing club - The Philadelphia Sailing Club
- and will inquire about membership. I know they also instruct. If it
takes 2 years - it takes 2 years. If it takes 4 years - then 4.
Whatever it takes, I'll wait but I feel I need to start now - I've been
thinking about this for a while and and I know myself well enough that
livingaboard would be the life for me. I don't know how many years it
will take to save for a boat and to learn the skills - but if I don't
start now, it will take even longer ot it will never happen.

4-5 years ago I slimmed down my possessions. I feel I need to slim them
down again. But what size boat would be a good size. Any
recommendations? Though I read 25-35 with 30' recommended. Correct?

My sailing needs/uses: I don't care about speed or racing - I'm a "stop
and smell the flowers" kind of guy. I would only need to sail to move
around to see a new place. Do not feel that I would ever need to be far
out to see but can see myself sailing from Florida to the Caribbean. I
would also use it to sail up and down the East Coast for photo
opportunities (fall foliage in Northeast in Sept/Oct., etc.) and to
attend art festivals where I could display my photography in Big
cities: Boston, New York, Philly, Washington DC, Baltimore, etc.

I might also sail around for contract work. I contacted well over 200
magazine publications and found ~ 50 that would be interested in my
photos and some of them hire you for a particular job - e.g. pics of
Sping hikers on the Applachian Trail in Virginia - whatever. That's it
- cruising around for fun and photos.

Any thoughts or advice.

Sorry for the looooong post - I'm normally not that gabby.
Jim