The adventures of Lorilee, Part I
These next few posts are sort of a “retroactive” blog. Before Alex invited me to PBS, I was writing my story on a legal pad. So here it is:
Written December 21st, 2014, Orange County Airport, California
So I made an offer on a boat last night. Lorilee is a 1975 Westsail 32, and she is gorgeous. She definitely has signs of her age, but all in all she is solid, dry (mostly), and she is a Westsail! I have had my eye on Westsails ever since I opted for a monohull. They’re slow, heavy, solid, and comfortable. All excellent qualities for a voyaging sailboat. And I finally found one within my budget.
Let me back up a bit. So things have been happening faster than I had originally planned. My original “plan” was to get out of debt, save, buy my boat, and leave. Well, I decided a while back that it would be in my best interest to get a boat now rather than later. I can learn her systems, her sails, and her character now. By doing this, I have given myself three or four years to prepare and learn the boat. I could have started with a cheaper boat, but I want to learn everything about my boat. I have the financial means to do it, so why not?
Since I made the decision to pull the plug about six months ago, the thought hasn’t left my mind. For years now, I have felt the need to escape “progress”. People suffocate me. Society suffocates me. I lived in the city for a couple of years, and I simply couldn’t handle it; traffic everywhere, people everywhere, bludgeoned by advertising, and choked by noise pollution. I couldn’t even see the stars at night. I moved back to my hometown in the Texas countryside two years ago – which has helped some – but I still have the intense burning to leave. Every day I wake up with the gnawing idea that I’m destined for more — that this cannot be “it”. I need to be close to nature and self-dependent; but most of all, I need to be free. I long for something greater. Something different. I am young, healthy, and am in the best physical shape of my life. There is no better time to do this than now.
Alex’s writings have been a complete inspiration to me. An inspiration to UNPLUG from this busy-body beehive that we call “society”. As I’ve said before, I have always felt detached from those around me. As if I don’t belong here. Alex’s philosophy spoke to me. Live simply and slowly. Sail far. Be free.
So upon my return from the trip to free Eleanor of the frozen North, I made an offer on a Westsail 28 named Zosha. I was awestruck. The 28 provided so much comfort and space for her size, and she was for sale at an amazing price! I immediately made an offer. The seller conditionally accepted the offer, but he had already given first right of refusal to a gentleman from Florida. Well, keeping his word, the owner sold the boat to him. While I was very disappointed, I totally understood. I would have done the same.
So I put out of my head the notion of a buying a boat right now. I wanted to focus on getting into a more financially stable position, and continue selling more of the crap from my house. That was until this week…
A few days ago, Alex sent me a listing for Lorilee on Craigslist. The price was definitely right, but she was berthed in Long Beach, California (I’m near Houston, TX). After some exchanges with the seller, I bought a flight and booked a room. I was going to do this!
She was beautiful. Grinning from ear to ear, I spent four hours onboard with the owner, inspecting every inch, asking every question that could come to mind. She needs love, but she has character and soul. The boat was finished by the seller’s father, and so the joinery and woodwork is very good. And the hull is as solid as a rock. The seller invited me back for dinner that night, so I had a couple of hours to think. I made my way over to the beach and put my feet in the Pacific Ocean for the very first time — but it won’t be the last.
Upon returning to Lorilee, the seller and her boyfriend had ordered a pizza and we watched Captain Ron (how appropriate, right?). After the movie ended, I made them an offer. Now, the seller had already received a couple of other offers, but she said the prospective buyers “weren’t right” and turned them down. I suppose that after having a boat your entire life – especially one with as much love and character as this one – you want to ensure she goes to a good home. She accepted my offer.
So here I am in the Orange County Airport, battling delays, flight changes, and expensive food — all with a smile on my face. I am beginning a new chapter of my life, and though I have quite a large learning curve ahead of me, I couldn’t be happier.
– Ryan
Published in Ryan Bradfield
Yeah!! I can’t wait for the next one! I ate this one up!! I can’t recall whether I remembered to breathe or not.
Ryan, did you realize that Lorilee and Eleanor were both built in 1975? (So was I, by the way).
Alex was saying they most probably sat next to each other in the yard.
They’re like cousins now finally part of the same adventure together! Pretty cool, huh?
Yeah Alex just told me. Pretty cool! Lorilee’s hull was finished in August of 1975. I believe the previous owner’s father spent two years finishing her out.
She looks so beautiful! Looking forward to the next blog!
Welcome, Ryan.
I’m kinda in the same boat as you so to speak. I desperately just want to leave. I started seriously thinking of doing this about a year ago. At 48 years old, I know time is getting short. My problem is I have about 1500 bucks in the bank, and I want to leave yesterday.
Look forward to more of your posts.
Thank you fishin4bogey. Do it. Your time is not getting short. Just remember we’re not promised tomorrow, so you have to do what makes you happy today. It’s never too late to pursue happiness!
Ryan. Enjoying the start of your PBS blogs. I have been on and off following PBS since the beginning. I just recently unplugged at 57 yrs old. Not in the same way as you and Alex, but out of the system so to speak. In June I moved from NY to a very little town 2 hrs. north of Bogota Colombia. I am beginning to feel the wanderlust after being in a quite small town for 8 months. Alex inspired me in much the same way he did you but I wouldn’t, couldn’t break away back then. Now I am in a financially better place with money to live for a few years, when I will have a pension and SS coming in. Money as big an issue any longer. I love the ocean. Have my SCUBA certification. Been on lots of boats of others and my own. But never a sail boat. I guess the thought now scares me a little because I am clueless about sailboats in general and sailing one specifically. Looks great, sounds fun. Spear fishing your dinner would be awesome.
So being from Houston Texas do you have much sailing experience? I would love to hear more about how long you have been sailing and what you consider your experience level to be. To be truthful boredom is my biggest fear. Its just starting to raise its head here in Colombia..
Thank you! Congrats on being an ex-pat. I actually may be coming down there for work in the next six months. I have a project going into a plant in Villavicencio.
I got PADI certified last year before a trip to the USVI. I absolutely loved it. I’m a bit of a marine biology addict, having had a few saltwater aquariums and done tons of snorkeling over the years. I’m debating whether or not to take a small scuba compressor with me when I leave. However, it’s just one more thing to maintain and carry parts for. I’m thinking I’d rather get better at holding my breath.
You might think I’m crazy, but I’ve only been sailing twice in my life. The first time was when I was seventeen. I was a prospective student of the US Naval Academy. I got the chance to spend a week up there touring the campus, going to a few classes, and seeing the sights. One of the days whilst I was there, I got to go sailing on the Chesapeake with a few officers. It was a life changing experience. The second time I went sailing was a few weeks ago on Lorilee. :) That too was a life changing experience!
A lot of people have chastised me for jumping in head first like this, but here’s my logic in doing so: I “could have” bought some junky little trailered boat to hone my sailing skills for a few years but A) this would be more money and would require my buying a truck to tow it, B) I’d still be maintaining and refitting an old boat, and C) I’d never be able to sell it. Catalinas and MacGregors are a dime a dozen around here. So to answer your question, my experience level is pretty much conceptual at this point. Sailing itself is an easy concept to comprehend from books and reading online; it is seamanship that is gleaned from experience.
Hey Ryan,
Yeah, the more I think of it, the more it makes sense to just start this journey. Scumbuster is a bit of an inspiration. He’s 9 years older than me. I need to start this ball rolling today! Instead of throwing away a few grand to move into an apartment, I may just stay in my nice cozy efficiency. It’s about 400 bucks a month cheaper than a decent apartment. Not to mention a few grand more for furniture.
I was hoping to head to Texas and get a job driving a truck on the rigs. May still do that, but might wait a year before I do until things in Midland stabilize a bit. Plus I can power save and have some fat cash when I get there. The one anchor I have is my ex-fiance’s daughter. I love that kid with all my heart. Eventually she will get older, and while I have no doubt we will have a good relationship, she won’t be that little girl who runs into my arms when I see her. Eventually her mommy will find someone else, and there I’ll sit…out in the cold. Honestly, if I had a boat, and some cash in the bank, I’d leave tomorrow.
Ken…
Ken,
I have a few friends that work wireline out in Midland. Things are VERY unstable right now. That said, if you want to find work somewhere in the US, Texas is the place to be. I may be able to put you in touch with some folks in O&G. Start making smart decisions to move towards your goal. Even small things like not moving into a nicer apartment is a step in the right direction.
I was pretty much in the same boat, so to speak. I was engaged to a beautiful woman with a 4 year old girl. Though I was content, there was always something missing. So sadly, I broke it off. The hardest part was leaving her daughter. It was like losing my own child. I haven’t seen her since the day they left, and I’ve thought about her everyday since. Coincidentally, the day Lorilee was delivered to Texas, was a year to the day that I broke up the engagement. Strange how the universe works, isn’t it?
I figured that even if it takes me a few years to get ready to leave on my voyage, everything I do from this point on is taking a step in that direction. Every decision is weighed against that Leaving Day. I’ve pretty much sold all of my stuff, my house is for sale, and I have a solid boat.
I’ve got 12 years tractor trailer experience and all the endorsements to haul frac sand, water or oil. Right now with a lot of the new wells not going up, other than oil hauling the ads have dwindled. That’s why it’s temporarily on hold.
Not seeing that girl will kill me. I’ve been a part of her life since she was 4 mos old. I have to choose whether I want to leave her, or miss out on a recent dream of mine, and go sail the world. This is something that has happened over the past year. Now it’s damn near all I think about.
Being a grown up is hard!
Ken
However it wouldn’t be forever…….
@fishin4bogey… I lived pretty frugally in the US to retire when I did. Its only 5 years early but that’s 5 good years of retired life. FYI it isn’t as expensive if you get out of the US.. My wife and I are living on about $1200 a month.
@Ryan… Small world. I have been to Villavicencio. Its south of Bogota. I have been told that the most popular tourist attraction in Colombia is the Salt Cathedral in the town of Zipaquira. Its about 1 hour north of Bogota. If you get down this way let me know and I can recommend some sights to see while your here.
Actually your sailing experience gives me some hope that im not too old to conceder it.