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<![endif]-->I live alone

on a 31' boat.  At its widest point it is 11'6", yet it's spacious enough

for my needs.  Seven years ago I lived in a 3000 square foot condo at the

marina where I kept my boat.  That place was much more space than I

needed, consumed too much time to maintain, and was expensive to heat during

the New England winters.  One day, as I was looking out my living room window at my boat, I asked myself "why not try living on it for a year?"

I gave up the condo, moved onto my boat, and I've now lived here for over seven years, with no plans to move back onto land.

I have all the amenities that I need: queen size bed, gas stove and oven, refrigerator, microwave, shower, wireless internet and cable TV. 

As it is a small space, it’s inexpensive to heat.  With the money that I save I can easily afford to drop my laundry off at the local “fluff ‘n’ fold”, eat out often, and take some very nice vacations.

While I’m saving money, my biggest savings by living in a small space is time.  I have a freedom that none of my landlocked friends can imagine, and they usually envy.

However, the best part of living on the boat is my fellow live-aboards at the marina.  They are like-minded individuals who share my sense of freedom and have learned that what really matters in life is not owning the things that usually end up owning us.

I have many friends who lately have either lost their job or fear that they’ll lose theirs soon.  I have no such worries.  Should I get a pink slip, I’ll cast off the dock lines and sail to the Caribbean, excited about the future.

How many people in their forties can say they own their own home, have no debt, and enough money to maintain their current lifestyle the rest of their life?

I can.