Does Living On A Boat Get Old And Travel Advice For Women

Does living on a boat get old? What’s it like as a Western woman travelling in Muslim countries? These are just two of the questions you’ve put to us that we are answering in a new series of Q&A sessions.

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Does the Liveaboard Dream Ever Get Old? A Sailor’s Perspective

We recently launched a new Q&A series to connect more directly with our community, and the very first question we tackled was a profound one from a viewer named Keith: “Does your lifestyle ever get old?”

It’s a simple question, but it cuts to the very heart of what it means to live this life. After more than a decade of living on a boat, it’s something we’ve reflected on deeply. The perception is often one of a glamorous, permanent holiday—an idea encapsulated by the phrase “living the dream.” But does the dream fade when it becomes your daily reality?

“Living the Dream” vs. The Daily Grind

The expression “living the dream” is one we hear all the time, both from people on land and fellow sailors. It conjures images of endless sunsets and carefree adventure. While those moments are a cherished part of our lives, they don’t tell the whole story.

The reality is, life is still life, no matter where your home is. We still have to clean our teeth, do the washing, feed the cat, and go to the shops. The day-to-day routines that make up a life exist here just as they do in a house. If the lifestyle were only about the highlight reel, perhaps it would lose its lustre. But the substance of this life, and the reason it remains so fulfilling, lies in something much more profound.

The Secret Ingredient: Constant Stimulus

So, what prevents this life from becoming a monotonous routine? The answer is simple: constant stimulus. The key to not letting any lifestyle grow old, whether on land or at sea, is to keep your mind engaged, to keep learning, and to have a purpose that drives you each morning. Life on a boat provides this in spades.

From the moment you wake up, you are engaged with your environment in a way that is fundamentally different from living in a static home. The first thought of the day might be a practical one: “Are we dragging anchor?” You are constantly solving small problems and learning from your surroundings. This state of active engagement is a powerful antidote to boredom.

A Never-Ending Learning Curve

Living on a boat is an exercise in perpetual learning. Unlike a house, our home is a complex machine that demands a vast and ever-growing range of skills. No day goes by where we aren’t learning something new, whether it’s a new piece of software for editing or a new nuance of our boat’s engine.

To live this life successfully, you have to be, or become, a jack-of-all-trades. The list of skills required is almost endless:

• Navigation and map-reading
• Sailing and weather forecasting
• Engine maintenance and diesel mechanics
• Plumbing and electrics
• Fibreglassing, woodwork, metalwork, and sail repairs
• Radio operation and knot tying

You never, ever stop learning. Each system has its personality, and each problem presents a new challenge. This constant need to learn and adapt is perhaps the most stimulating part of the lifestyle.

Beyond the Boat: Exploring, Creating, and Connecting

But the stimulus isn’t just about fixing things. It’s also about the world that this lifestyle opens up to you. Our life is a tapestry woven from exploring new places, meeting new people, learning new languages, and pursuing our interests.

To keep things fresh, it’s vital to have passions outside of the boat itself. For Liz, that became travel writing, a skill she developed to the point of running her online course. For us, it’s about documenting our journey through photography and video, a creative pursuit that keeps us engaged and allows us to share our world with others. These projects give us a purpose beyond simply sailing from A to B.

Ultimately, whether a lifestyle gets “old” has less to do with the location and more to do with your mindset. As the adage goes, “only boring people get bored.” By embracing a life of constant learning, creativity, and connection, we discover that our dream, far from growing stale, continues to evolve and enrich our lives every single day.

Two Videos

The first question was posed to us while Jamie was conducting a live stream on Facebook. He was asked if his lifestyle ever gets old. Meanwhile, Liz was asked for some tips for Western women travelling east to Muslim cultures.

These are straight-talking responses to these questions, and the format is in addition to our weekly vlog that comes out every Thursday. We hope you enjoy them.

Does your lifestyle get old?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3stiNUVpT70

Travel advice for western women
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhI290If1y8

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