I also will take some exception with Jim's advice to sell a home. The assumption is that real estate always goes up--this is not as dramatic as one might have seen in the last few years--especially in some parts of the country. Right now it appears that we are near a peak. We tried renting our high end house for 6 months to an attorney friend while we went for a short cruise--it was not a break even for us, considering taxes, property repairs, and maintance. The next two longer trips--4 years each--we sold a home at the height of a real estate cycle. The appreciation of the house paid for our boat, and crusing the full time for 4 years each time. There was no problem with a home to worry about--even with a real estate agent there are still problems (I am renting some property currently and problems do occur which an agent will not make a decision on). We could not have been able to afford to purchase a boat of the size and type for long voyages and finance adventures in the middle of our lives without selling our houses. We were able to buy other houses upon return, which again we made money on (rule--buy golf course or buy waterfront)--when we returned. All of our cruising was financed by the appreciation of our houses. We never had to touch savings or retirement funds. If you are only going to be gone for a year--OK--keep the house. As for women--I find that they are just as enthusiastic as men. In fact right now my wife wants me to buy another trawler for the Pacific North west, when I want to buy a trailerable power cat, for the Bahamas... There is no set rule. Regards, Bob Austin

On 1/29/06, Bob Austin <thataway4@cox.net> wrote: > The next two longer trips--4 years each--we sold a home at the height of a > real estate cycle. And how often can you predict that?? If you can then you should continue as you are as you will be filthy rich in no time. BUT.....most people cannot predict the top of the market, nor the bottom, so they better be careful because if they sell at the bottom and have to buy back at the top....OOOOpps, Keeping a home does not include any risk when it comes to markets, others yes, but not markets. You have one, you have one, no market tops or bottoms to worry about. My wife is NOT resistant to cruising...she is resistant to cruising with the uncertainty of WHERE she will come back. She wants a HOME that is HERS to come back to. I think MOST women have that fear, its genetic. Jim Isbell "If you are not living on the edge, well then, you are just taking up too much space."