How Smart Financial Planning Led to Living on a Catamaran Full-Time

How Smart Financial Planning Led to Living on a Catamaran Full-Time

Join us on this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast as we chat with Bradley and Kate Swarthout about their journey from leaving a traditional life to living full-time on a catamaran in the Caribbean with their son and dog. Through financial planning, learning to sail, and navigating various challenges, they embraced an adventurous, non-traditional lifestyle. They share insights on pursuing unconventional paths, highlighting the importance of experiences over possessions, goal-setting, and taking calculated risks while planning for the future.

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Summary

Choosing a Life of Adventure

Bradley and Kate have made the Caribbean their home, living full-time on a catamaran with their son and dog. Their journey began when they felt inspired by a YouTube video that sparked the desire to escape the monotony of their traditional life and careers. After watching a family living on a sailboat, they dreamed of pursuing a more adventurous lifestyle. Feeling unfulfilled by the routine of everyday life, they saw this as an opportunity to make a big change.

Transitioning to Living on the Catamaran

Transitioning to life on the water involved breaking the news to family and friends, some of whom thought they were crazy. Bradley and Kate had always loved to travel, but the decision to sell everything and live full-time on a catamaran became real when they finally bought the boat. Step by step, they learned to sail, chartered boats, and attended sailing school, facing a steep learning curve with no prior experience. These challenges not only strengthened their relationship, improving their communication and closeness as a couple, but also required smart financial planning. As savvy savers and investors, they downsized from a house to an RV and sold most of their belongings, including cars, to purchase their catamaran with cash. They emphasize the importance of intentional preparation and planning to make a lifestyle like this possible.

Encounters with Nature: Sharks and Hurricanes

Living on a boat has brought unexpected encounters, such as Bradley’s run-in with a great white shark while spearfishing in the Bahamas. Another adventure involved weathering a hurricane while docked in the Bahamas. Fortunately, they avoided the worst of the storm, but others were not as lucky. Despite the dangers, these experiences brought a sense of accomplishment and reinforced their decision to live an adventurous life.

Advice for Achieving Your Goals

Bradley and Kate encourage those seeking an unconventional lifestyle to start by writing down their goals and taking action, despite potential criticism or misunderstanding from others. They stress the importance of believing in yourself, learning from mistakes, and prioritizing experiences over material possessions. Seizing opportunities for adventure while young and able is key, and they challenge societal norms, urging others not to let corporate expectations dictate their life choices. With proper financial planning and goal-setting, they believe that anyone can achieve their dreams of living a more adventurous and fulfilling life.

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