"Jim K." wrote in message
ups.com...
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.

Having been in the corporate world for 25+ years, I feel your pain.

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.

I know some photographers who make tons of money. Others are barely getting
by. I can't comment beyond that.


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.

Possibly less.. certainly less if you put your mind to it.

- 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?

Seems reasonable to me.

- Utilities? They should decrease, right? I love camping so luxuries
won't be missed.

Yup.

- Are there charges for docking up and re-charging battteries and
getting water? How much?

Yup. Depends on the marina. Not much typically. Get solar panels, then you
won't have to charge the bats so often.

- How many meals do you eat with fish you caught? So do food costs also
decrease?

I wouldn't bet on it. Much of the expense is all the other stuff besides the
main course.


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.

Yup.. depends on the boat, the issues. Figure $4-10K per year or more or
less in maintenance.

My experience: none.

Time to get some. Get out on the water. Take classes, hitch rides,
volunteer. You need to get experience sailing and on lots of different
boats.

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?

30 seems about right. Of course, there are always people who jam into
something smaller, but why live in a cramped space.

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.

Ask more specific questions, you'll get more specific responses...

Jonathan

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com