Why would anyone choose to live on a micro income?
Living with less is something I strive to do on a daily basis.
My desire to live by minimal financial means funnily enough emerged when I was studying to be a stock broker and financial advisor.
I took, and passed, my series 7 exam which afforded me the license to professionally trade and give financial advice.
Why I put so much effort and expense into forging this second career was beyond me for many years. However, in retrospect, my knowledge of money is one of the things that ultimately set me free from it.
I studied full time for over a year to pass the Series 7. The exam is a 6-hour ordeal and they say it is the 3rd hardest test to pass after the Bar and the CPA exams.
Basically I studied money, how it works, and the system that regulates and controls it.
Some might think that by being a sailing bum I’m not savvy in the ways of the matrix, nothing could be farther than the truth. The truth is, I just don’t want to be a part of a system that is designed to enslave (indebt) humanity.
When I say I’m an anarchist, I mean it from my core, however most people have no idea what anarchy is and give me the evil eye when I tell them.
Anarchy is the system that all natural things live within. It is the natural order of things, and in turn, how God (nature) intended us to live.
Freedom is the absence of control. When we spend our time working for paper (money) in order to afford basic human rights like shelter, food, and water, one can only rationalize that this is a system of slavery in every sense of the word.
Every living thing on the face of this earth has the right to breathe, eat, drink, have access to shelter, and Love. These are things that ethically should have no cost, nor should they be bought or sold. In my very humble opinion anyone in the business of buying or selling basic human rights is the problem. That goes for various government agencies, credit card companies, insurance companies, and 
companies that force or brainwash (media) people to give up their freedom out of fear for what nature has provided us.
The system should work for the people with the sole objective of increasing our quality of life, not the quality of life of just a few.
Do I think we should burn the world down, no. Am I a violent man because I’m an anarchist, no! Anarchy is peace, and peace is what I believe in with every breath I take. That being said I do wish to protect my way of life, and not living in the states is the only way I know how to do that.
It physically hurts me to live in the western system. It pains me that every cup of coffee I buy, or every time I put food in my mouth I’m supporting war, murder, and the suppression of humanity.
I know so many of you are rolling your eyes right about now, but until you live out of the system and have some sort of 
perspective you just wouldn’t understand. I didn’t either. When I left the states on my journey so long ago I considered myself a republican and had a very different view of the world that was limited to the perspective of media and conventional travel.
I had no idea what was behind the wizard’s curtain. I didn’t have poor friends, or friends that didn’t have access to basic human rights like clean drinking water. Neither did I know that I could live in paradise with my wife for $200-400 a month, catching fish, buying natural groceries from local farmers, swimming, reading and writing not having to worry about bills.
I wasn’t a good financial advisor as I directed my clients towards early retirement. My idea of a retirement income was far too humble, and the idea that one must spend their lives dedicated to the pursuit and accumulation of money just never worked for me. I was a bad financial advisor because I was not motivated by money itself and cared more about my clients and ethics, than my own income. 
I did however get into the market out of greed, I wanted more than my share and looking back cant believe I was ever like that. People can change!
My daily routine was not only filled with stress, but I was also polluting myself with “news” throughout the day, as well as keeping my eye closely on the market.
All in all I learned one thing. Money would never afford me what I truly hungered for, Love and Freedom!
I was in Costco today, shopping for food. People pushed (well got way too close in my space) to grab scraps of free food samples. I turned an isle and saw two heavy older women stealing (gorging themselves) with fresh berries from a container and hiding the carton in the pile, I got a bit upset.
“Really, you have got to be shitting me, would you like me to buy those for you? If you can’t afford the meal I don’t mind buying you some food”. They both wore 
expensive clothes and an over-abundance of repulsive perfume. “No, we were just sampling them”. I cocked my head and gave them a look of shame. “You know as well as I do you are not allowed to open packages of fresh food and sample whatever you want”, I just walked away laughing and shaking my head, they were so embarrassed as I spoke to them loudly to ensure everyone else would hear our conversation.
If you look at the menu above you will see that I have decided to give both of my films away for free. Just click on the links, watch, and enjoy. If the films provide you with some value, please feel free to make a donation.
I don’t like money or selling, I much prefer barter, support, and helping others when we are able. If I was paid for all of the help I’ve given people on their boats over the last decade I wouldn’t be so broke, but I wouldn’t have so many friends either. I’d rather have the friends!
I’m about to launch something pretty cool, “Sailor TRAKS (Totally Random Acts of KindnesS)”
Sailors reach areas of the world that most do not. In many of these areas we find people in need of a little help.
It is my intention to raise micro-donations to help people with small projects like buying a solar panel and LED light for a family so they might read at night, installing water 
filtration for clean drinking water where it is needed, buying a kid a bike that might never have one, or something as simple as giving someone a $2 pair of reading glasses. I’m going to introduce small projects and people to my audience through Project BlueSphere, and with no administrative costs, assist and allow my audience to donate to projects they find worthwhile.
I’m also going to coordinate other voyaging sailboats to do the same through Sailor TRAKS, so as a community of international sailors we can plant seeds of Love during our travels and touch the world in places where some need a hand. The reality is a set of tools can change a man’s life, and to most of us, the cost of a set of tools means very little.
I guess what I’m trying to get at is instead of over consuming this holiday season, try focusing on what is really important. Take a second to watch the Charlie Brown Christmas Dance, its good for the soul!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1LUXQWzCno
The family I’m spending Christmas with has a nice alternative to spending tons of money on gifts. Everyone wraps and brings something from their homes, something they do not use. You are not allowed to spend any money. All the gifts are placed together on a table. One by one each person picks one up. If they don’t like it they can ask someone to exchange it for theirs and the other person cannot refuse. But a single present can only be traded twice, after that you’re stuck with it. Nobody knows exactly what they’re getting until the end of the game. Some will get something they like, some won’t. But those people can bring it back for the next Christmas games, which is pretty funny because some presents have been around 
for a decade so they’re funnier every year. It’s not about the gift, it’s about sharing fun and laughter with your loved ones.
I’ll be in Miami till after Christmas. Carla may stay an extra week or two as she has an opportunity to do some canvas work in exchange for a new Profurl furling system for Eleanor (our new WestSail 42).
Also if anyone needs any help on a cruising project or delivery I’m looking for some work (or barter).
When I get back to Eleanor in the late winter I will need some money for fuel and a few projects in order to make my trip South.
And some of you may have heard through the grapevine that Carla and I have adopted a new member of our family.
Nacho is a little mutt that was abandoned by my sister’s house. He was just a puppy when they found him about a year ago and his back was covered in scars from abuse. They think he was a bait dog used to train fighting dogs.
He is a happy little guy and has adopted Carla as his new master. I’m looking forward to sharing a lifetime of fun and good times with him and he will also help us keep unwanted critters off the boat and let us know if anyone approaches during the night.
Peace, Love, and Coconuts
Sail far and Live Slowly
– alex