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

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.

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…

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.

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!

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.