tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151368408276565644.post1073253632454992857..comments2023-04-03T05:15:12.911-07:00Comments on You, Me, and the D: The Challenges of Cruising YoungUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151368408276565644.post-70272446106838568352013-02-20T04:47:29.658-08:002013-02-20T04:47:29.658-08:00Hey Dave,
Just discovered your blog because we ar...Hey Dave,<br /><br />Just discovered your blog because we are in the process of doing something similar. Strangely, my wife and I are both from the lower mainland, and my wife actually knew Jessie!<br /><br />I liked this post. Our generation is fairly quiet on this point, but most of us have figured out that we got a raw deal. While older people (like the posters above) take it very personally, it's actually just supply and demand. <br /><br />Baby boomers rode a demographic and technological wave that made many of them very wealthy, often by accident (such as the way property prices have skyrocketed by thousands of percent over the last 60 years), here in Europe. The oversupply of money has driven up prices, not just in the cruising world, but in life generally. It's just maths, but it's understandable that older people would take it personally, as it undermines the achievements they are proud of.<br /><br />That's why they shout down anyone who mentions this. Didn't you know, we're just lazy ner'do'wells who don't appreciate how hard our betters worked to get their free education, cheap housing, lucrative pensions, etc?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151368408276565644.post-86887007094390385242012-09-20T06:12:02.290-07:002012-09-20T06:12:02.290-07:00Dave,
I hope you don't get discourage by some...Dave,<br /><br />I hope you don't get discourage by some of these responses. I am 37 and working with my Bride to get out there cruising. So I fall in between you and those complaining about your post and share many of the same values and thoughts as you. <br /><br />I have tried to have similar conversations with many about how the personal choices of the Baby Boomers and following generations are having significant impacts on inflation and the way of life of those that followed. You can see it in the housing and mortgage crises and in the general cost of items. Many of these cruisers you are out there with are only able to go in the $300K plus boats because of cashing in on a false inflation in the value of their houses or the stock market. Their only real “success” was being lucky enough to be born prior to the 1960s; they were able to “market time” by sheer luck. Those of us that have come after are forced to deal with the reality of working for less money in real dollars and seeing the buying power of those dollars continue to diminish. <br /><br />And please don’t give me the BS response you aim towards the Occupiers or other derogatory names you have for those that don’t agree with you. I have degrees in geology and chemistry and my wife in accounting. We have been working for 15 years and have advanced to beyond a normal career path. We have no kids and our only debt is our mortgage on a small, 750 sf house purchased for $240K in 2002. We did everything “right” in accordance with “American Dream”; college, saving, house, etc. Yet we find ourselves in the middle of the reality that even earning a household income over $150K a year, we won’t be able to retire like those before us. There will be no social security, our 401Ks and IRAs will be lucky to be valued in equivalent dollars as we put in and our house will likely be worth less then we paid for it.<br /><br />So I agree with what you and Jeanie are doing. Get out there and get life experiences. Those are way more important than earning less than your labors are worth. <br /><br />Keep Cruising!<br /><br />Jesse on s/v Smitty<br />Jesse on s/v Smittynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151368408276565644.post-70192246696061614722012-09-17T08:59:39.924-07:002012-09-17T08:59:39.924-07:00I actually hesitated for months about this post be...I actually hesitated for months about this post because I knew it would piss a bunch of old and young people off. I equally discriminate if you happen to read it.<br /><br />I started a thread that got a lot of comments and views (30 000) and I took the opinions and simplified it into a few paragraphs. <br /><br />After months of young cruisers we met reiterating the same challenges, and old cruisers reinforcing the stereo type. I gave up and wrote it out.<br /><br />I guess the reality of the world is for each person to discover on their own.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17069362778309219425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151368408276565644.post-88633333260849138922012-09-16T18:31:43.094-07:002012-09-16T18:31:43.094-07:00So, I wanted to cruise back in 1984, but instead I...So, I wanted to cruise back in 1984, but instead I worked for 28+ years. Now I go cruising and it is all my fault?<br /><br />Oh come on! What crap!<br /><br />Listen to the others' comments -- stop blamin' the "older" cruisers for something that is not their fault (but is ALSO their problem, too - just like you).<br /><br />FYI, not all "older" cruisers have unlimited incomes.<br /><br />Stop being do self-absorbed. You need a (light) smack up the backside of your head.<br /><br />Somebody's goin' to get a hurt real bad! (apologies to Russell Peters)<br /><br />(I'm sure you'll have fun with my comment... ;-)<br /><br />David<br />Vancouver<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151368408276565644.post-56595673113044291002012-09-15T10:27:05.042-07:002012-09-15T10:27:05.042-07:00I wrote this to start putting thoughts of younger ...I wrote this to start putting thoughts of younger cruisers we've met along the way and our own opinions and experiences in words. I knew it would get under peoples skins.<br /><br />It is understandable how many of you will find this post harsh. However, they are just facts and experiences we have observed.<br /><br />Maybe we are spoiled to be out here cruising and enjoying life, but if so we spoiled ourselves after years of hard work and personal sacrifice.<br /><br />Relative to astronauts we are under achievers, but from our observations there are not many of us out here our age. Define what it is to achieve as you wish, but I think we have done ok in life. WE set our own personal goals and we achieve them, and we enjoy our time spent working towards those goals.<br /><br />Older cruisers with pensions, $300k plus boats and bank accounts to match don't mind bribing an official $100 to make clearance easier, the government then wants a cut, and cruiser inflation occurs. Example in Panama residents need to get a licence to drive a boat, it lasts 3 years, if you are born panamanian you pay $18 if you are white you pay $260..... the licence is the same. If you are a cruiser here, you get a far larger fine for a boating violation than if you are a local.... Because retirees are coming down here and flaunting their wealth comparative to the surrounding people. Everyone justs wants their cut.<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17069362778309219425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151368408276565644.post-29626640804015098152012-09-15T09:03:56.739-07:002012-09-15T09:03:56.739-07:00Wow, I'm young too but this post just came off...Wow, I'm young too but this post just came off as way judgemental.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151368408276565644.post-13544552219463023992012-09-14T16:58:30.927-07:002012-09-14T16:58:30.927-07:00Dave, I usually appreciate your blog, but this one...Dave, I usually appreciate your blog, but this one is down right pathetic. Maybe older cruisers waited to cruise until they were fully prepare and can enjoy the experience rather than be frustrated and unhappy! Blaming older cruisers for the entry fees charged by opportunist foreign countries "because they can" is also pathetic. Here in Seattle, the economy is booming and it's really hard to even hire a responsibly capable person. You just sound like a spoiled underachiever!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com