Just because you’ve technically entered your “twilight” years by retiring doesn’t mean you’re ready to slow down. You no doubt had visions of rocking in a chair on the porch, watching the neighborhood kids kick your azaleas, but it turns out that with people living longer, healthier lives these days, you’re still fit and active despite the fact that you are a grandparent. So when you no longer have the hustle and bustle of work to occupy your time, you may be at a loss as to what to do with your excess energy. You could follow in the footsteps of your grandparents and volunteer at the library or some kind of social outreach center, but that sounds kind of stodgy. Instead, why not add some excitement (and activity) to your life by learning to operate a sailboat? Here are a few good reasons why it’s never too late to take to the open ocean in search of adventure!
- Transportation. A lot of people decide to take their newfound free time as an invitation to travel, but these days it can be pretty expensive to see the world. Between the cost of getting from here to there, lodgings, food, and entertainment, you can easily blow your yearly budget (which now operates on a fixed income). Instead, invest in a sailboat. If you use it enough, it will virtually pay for itself (since you can sleep and cook in it in addition to using it for transportation).
- Room with a view. Think of all the exotic locales you’ve been dying to see but never had the time or money to visit. Now imagine taking months to sail to them, stopping at bustling port cities and tiny islands along the way. You could wake up every morning for a walk on the beach, catch your own breakfast (provided you like fish for the first meal of the day), or surround yourself with warm, sparkling waters and no other living soul for miles. Plus, you’ll see sights that few other people in the world have witnessed (living, as they mainly do, on land).
- Physical fitness. If you are under the misapprehension that sailing requires no stamina, think again. Unless you have a crew around you, you’re not going to be lounging on the deck with a mimosa all day. You will not only learn your boat like the back of your hand, you’ll also be crawling all over it like an ant to adjust lines, correct the sails, and steer. In short, you’ll become intimate with every corner of your vessel as you zip back and forth to make sure the craft is running smoothly.
- Relaxation. Of course, it’s not all work. There will be plenty of down time to park the boat and enjoy the view and the breeze on your face. And many people opt to use their sailboats to entertain friends and family on day trips or extended vacations. This, after all, is what retirement is supposed to be all about.
- Anyone can do it! Unless you suffer from some kind of physical ailment that prohibits you from moving about the boat, there’s absolutely no reason you can’t learn to sail. At the very least, consider taking lessons to see if you like it. Even if you are not too keen about being on the water, you may find that the physical activity and the feeling of power and freedom leave you wanting more.
Chris Larue writes for BluWiki where you can find Snapple Coupons and Pearle Vision Coupons.
Comments on this entry are closed.