A life on the boat – stories from dropouts
A life on the boat: stories from dropouts
Imagine waking up every morning, the sea gently lulling you into the day and your gaze falling on the endless horizon. No rush hour traffic, no city noise, no appointments. For some, this is just a vacation dream – for others, it’s reality. Life on a boat has become a philosophy of life for many dropouts. In this article, we tell you stories of people who have turned their backs on everyday life and opted for a life on a sailing yacht or catamaran.
The dream of the sea – and its reality
Not everyone who lives on a boat has previous sailing training or a lot of experience at sea. Many of today’s “liveaboards” were previously employees, self-employed or families with children who have consciously swapped the traditional life on land for a free, decelerated existence on the water.
A couple from Germany explains:
“We quit our job, gave up our apartment and bought a second-hand catamaran. Today we anchor somewhere between Istria and Dalmatia. It was the best decision of our lives.”
Freedom between anchorages
The most common motivation for switching to a boat is freedom: no fixed obligations, a self-determined daily routine and direct contact with nature. The coasts of Croatia in particular – with their countless bays, idyllic little towns and well-equipped marinas – are considered an ideal area for long-term sailors.
Whether you own a sailing yacht or would like to rent a catamaran in Croatia for the first time, the area around Istria offers the best conditions for beginners and experienced sea nomads alike. If you want to try out what it feels like first, you can charter a boat in Istria and test life at sea for a few weeks.
Challenges and findings
Of course, life on a boat is not just a postcard idyll. There are challenges: Technology, weather, supply of water and electricity – and sometimes loneliness. But many dropouts report that it is precisely these challenges that have grounded and changed them.
“You learn to make do with less, to appreciate the essentials and to live in the here and now,” says one family who have been traveling along the Croatian coast on their sailing yacht for three years.
Is that something for you too?
If you’ve been dreaming of quitting for a while, it doesn’t have to be a complete restart. Try it out: Hiring a catamaran in Croatia or chartering a sailing yacht for a few weeks in Istria is a perfect first step. You’ll get a feel for life on board – and maybe it’s the start of something completely new.
Our summary
A life on a boat is more than just a lifestyle – it is a conscious decision for freedom, adventure and simplicity. The stories of the dropouts show: Taking the leap into the unknown can lead to a fulfilling, authentic life. And perhaps you too will soon no longer just dream of the sea, but live right in the middle of it.
