If we were rich we'd just bring a big bag of money and be done with it. But, we are not rich, so now that our offer has been accepted, we proceed with a combination of house and car buying to make it all work. Next steps - survey (aka home inspection) and the sea trial (aka test drive). Like a home, we'll get an IRS tax deduction on the loan interest, but like a car, she'll continue to depreciate. So financially, buying a boat makes absolutely no financial sense, especially for retirees like us. We just don't care. It's the last item on our joint bucket list. When and where else do you get to pick a name no matter how silly others might think it. She's our "retirement project", never be really done, ever...
Like giving birth to a child, we take delivery. Unlike a child, there is no bodily pain or toilet training, just financial pain. But, care and feeding there is and there is lots of it. You really have to love your boat because it requires constant care whether it's washing and polishing the deck, adjusting a gauge or hunting down a special part for a special connection. Just like a kid, the fun part is dressing her up and buying toys to amuse and educate her. Lots of new stuff and lots of high maintenance! Do we really need that gadget? Do we really need to add that feature? Probably could get by without them, but like showing off your kid and making sure she gets all the smarts possible, you must do everything within your power to make her perfect. Some stuff we can do ourselves and some we'll hire the experts to take care of. We will do first those things that make a life aboard most tolerable here in the Bay this next year and some can be done later when we are ready to head south down the ICW and some off shore sailing to Florida and the Caribbean. Guaranteed that we will keep very, very busy.
Who want's to provide parental oversight to us kids so that we stay on budget. I really don't have to go back to selling shoes at Nordstrom's and John certainly doesn't want to deliver mail.
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