Cruiser economics

Tom's new friend

The world economy is probably in better shape than anyone realizes. Why? Because live-aboard cruisers like us are entirely excluded from statistics. For example.......a few days ago we were low on food and needed a new SIM card. The neighbor anchored next to us had just pronounced his outboard dead........which is ideal because we have three spare outboards.

Fast forward a few hours and he's got my old outboard and I have 4 kilos of tuna, a new SIM card and 550 euros. Bamm !!!

Four kilos of tuna

Its a strange community we belong to. We are acquainted with 20-25 boats and most of us are heading south. We have exchanged boat cards (even yachts have these) and we know the basics about each other.. We help other boats where possible and socialize together in kind of a random, haphazard way. The other night we had a Swedish couple onboard who sailed here via the Gambia (yes, the place in Africa). The unifying trait is that everyone is really cheap and also a bit strange.........one guy has a fiancee 30 years younger........another seems like he's running from the law.

All in all there is nothing better than this in the world.......but occasionally a sobering reminder of the dangers presents itself. The French Coast Guard is still looking for an overdue boat near St. Lucia. There were 4 aboard this small boat and nobody has seen them in 2 days. Hope they made it.