The hesitation up till now is easily understood. When the stock market was soaring you didn’t want to cash out your position. When the stock market faltered there was the inevitable wound licking. Then there was the uncertainty before the election, then the uncertainty after the election. Of course you wanted the kids out of high school… college… grad school. Now you are duty bound to worry about the grand kids education… weddings… retirement funds.

OK you get the picture. There are plenty of reasons to keep you from doing things you really want to do. While those reasons seem endless, the reasons to do it often boil down to the simple facts, you want to, and you’ve earned it. So the question: "is it finally time to go cruising?" After all, other folks have overcome the same doubts that have stymied you. They have worked out issues with kids, grand kids, animals, the house and even continuing work obligations. You can as well.

The reason you should is not because the cruising lifestyle is right for everyone. For some the reality of it is not at all what their dreams have lead them to expect. For other’s, however, the reality is that and more. You will never know which camp you fall into unless you try. Buy a boat. If it doesn’t work out you don’t have to truck the thing to the landfill. There are plenty of ways to move on if you find that the lifestyle isn’t for you.

If you cannot bring yourself to that step… charter. Make it a point to charter a boat either by yourself or with a captain who can show you the ropes (sorry). One-week of cruising will teach you more than years of reading or dreaming. Remember a dream not explored is simply disappointment.