How to Quit Your Day Job and Travel the World by Sea

How to Give Up Your Boring Life and View the Planet by Sea

Working a regular nine-to-five job is great if you don’t mind staying in one place all your life. Some people are drawn to a life of travel and adventure, though, particularly on the sea.

 If you’re ready to do something new and exciting, maybe you should quit your day job and head for the ocean. Of course, this isn’t a decision to be made lightly.

 Many people say they’d like to quit working and travel the world, but few actually follow through and do it. That’s because you have to make adequate preparations and possess or cultivate the right mindset to make it a successful venture.

 If you feel truly serious about heading to the sea and starting a new life there, the followingessential steps might get you there.

 Assess Your Financial Situation

 Very few can take the leap into the unknown without a sizeable savings account to cushion the fall ifthe venture doesn’t pan out. You might come up with a great idea to make money while you travel, but you may not have a strong sense of the potential expenses.

 Take stock of your current financial situation. Try to calculate the living costs and other necessary expenses. You’ll probably have to give up your apartment, which will reduce or eliminate many of your living expenses, but docking your boat and making payments on the vessel will at least partly substitute for them.

 Try to save the equivalent of at least six months worth of living expenses, including travel costs for visiting various ports. This should protect you from devastating losses or getting stranded after running out of money.

 If the endeavor doesn’t pan out, at least you’ll have gotten six months of travel out of it! Travel blogger Chris Guillebeau says you might not need as much money as you think.

 “Many people, young and old, have no problem happily spending their money and even going into debt for luxuries each week,” he says. “I’ve chosen to focus my own spending priorities on meaningful experiences.”

 Find Your Vessel

 When you’ve determined how much you can afford to spend on the venture, find a suitable vessel to carry you around the world in comfort. There are thousands of options for boats that are adequate to live in and travel longdistances, so make a list of priorities along with your budgetto help you narrow theselection.

 For long-distance, comfortable travel, a yacht is likely to be best. You can shop new or used yachtsin the size, price range, and style to fit your needs without having to worry about getting stranded on the open sea.

 Remember that with a yacht, you will likely require a few crew members to operate a vessel of that size. Despite the added cost, this can bean advantage, because it’s safer to travel with others and have more experienced individuals on board to handle rough seas and weather.

 Gain Experience

 You can’t hope to navigate the open ocean safely without knowing what you’re doing. Perhaps you know a thing or two about boating, if you’re considering taking to the sea. But it doesn’t hurt to obtainfurther experience.

 Even if you have crew members, you ought to educate yourself on sailing conditions, boat parts and mechanisms, yachting, and more.

 If you live near a body of water, you should be able to find local boating classes from which you learn all the basics and get experience. Once you feel comfortable captaining a boat without the supervision of an instructor, you’re likely ready for your adventure.

 Discover a Way to Make Money

 Unless you’re planning to travel for only a relatively short period (as long as your savings last), you may have to find a way to make money. You might not want to return to the daily grind after you’ve tasted the joys of living and traveling on the water.

 The simplest way to generate income is travel blogging. Not many bloggers travel primarily by sea, so you might make a fortune in this market if you know how to attack it. If you’re good with words, social media marketing, and documenting your travels, this could be an excellent financial avenue.

 Take Freebies

 Sheena McKenzie writes in a CNN Travel article about several ways you can travel the world by sea without spending a dime on travel costs. She suggests volunteering as a crew member for a private yacht; hopping on a research ship that accepts volunteers;serving as a tutor for kids who already travel around the world by sea; or working in some other capacity.

 “From 20-year-old backpackers to 80-year-old retirees, an increasing number of people are volunteering on boats for a remarkable chance to travel the world — all without spending a dollar,” she writes. “If you're willing to roll up your sleeves, the world could be your oyster.”