Captain Beefheart

Thanks for the advice all, especially the last two. I have given myself two years to decide/save for this. Maybe it will be a four day week by then!

Somewhere between Huddersfield and Whaley Bridge, maybe paying somebody else to take it through the Ashton/Hyde section ? I've seen his channel. I seem to remember he worked 2 days a week, but I believe the YouTube game does suck up a lot of time. I need to watch some more, as I thought his was an older boat than that. And I sort have have forgotten the social thing for the last 12 months!

In response to both, I would be avoiding Manchester (something of a guiding principle). My commute threshold would be 50 miles and think I could satisfy this + license requirements moving on a distance every weekend or two, but likely heading back to where I started after 6 months, then reviewing the strategy. I do agree this would be the biggest test of the whole endeavour in a number of ways, social life included.

Hello all, new here. I've been spending some serious time wandering the canals window shopping and looking to do a narrow boat holiday soon. I'm afraid to say I'm another one of "those" looking for a major change after having lots of time to think over the last year. The lifestyle feels like it would be a good fit in a number of ways and I've had people suggest it to me over the years too (maybe it's a certain boaty look?). I've been reading a lot, creating spreadsheets, doing thought experiments etc. The maths is workable, after going over it about 300 times, but more importantly I'm wondering if anyone else has/had a vaguely similar set of life circumstances living aboard happily. I'm still fairly young and currently single, have a 9-5 which can be draining at times, alongside some freelance work, then spend the rest of my time with painting and photography (which I'd like to put front and centre in my life within 5-10 years). I'm keen on the outdoors, which the latter pursuit revolves around. If I was to create one question from this - how much time should I reasonably expect to spend working on/maintaining a boat in the region of 40-50ft, 30 years old and of course, in the best condition I can find and already liveable? I would intend to continuous cruise most of the time to save mooring costs for commuting fuel, but aware this could become tiring in of itself. I could reasonably retreat to a marina over winter or when things otherwise get tough, if needs be. Am I likely to have a nervous breakdown within a year? I'm partly of the mind that a boat might be the best place for that! But really interested to hear any thoughts or advice from current or retired busy bodies living on the water.