PeteR had some good thoughts. While visiting Guana this summer, I walked out and perused the lots offered for sale along the beach south of Nippers and fell in love with the view. It would be fantastic to purchase a lot and build a small cottage overlooking the barrier reef within walking (crawling) distance of Nippers. The thought of waking up and throwing dive gear into the dinghy and putting out to the reef for hours of diving just gives me the Willies. My bubble was burst though when "Dennis" passed by the islands. If you owned a "cottage" that you lived in part-time, you would have to worry about what was going to be left after the storm. Same with a live aboard boat. My father-in-law owns a 45' cabin cruiser that they live aboard 6 months out of the year and they were on pins and needles until word was passed back that there was just minor damage to the aft canvas cover and some minor damage to the dinghy. The fellow that owns the marina they stay at moved the boat out into the middle of Marsh Harbor so they had someone that took good care of the boat in their absence. A cottage can't be moved to a hurricane hole or a safer location. I'm sure my father-in-law would have to agree that finding the "best" boat for a live aboard would be a tough decision. We have talked at large on the merits of the many different types of boats that would be the "best" live aboard. He owns a cabin cruiser buts still thinks he would enjoy a small trawler that would be economical on fuel yet give enough living space to be comfortable.

If I had the choice, I would vote for "trying" different combinations of boats till you find the right one. Same with the cottage. There are so many different places to go and to stay that you could try all sorts of combinations till you found the one that feels right foe you. We had a ball going around to different islands and "hanging on the hook" until we got the bug to see something different. It was also nice to be able to motor back to Marsh Harbor and take on fresh water and stretch our legs in town from a marina that was considered "home".

If you do decide to build and need someone to "caretake" periodically while you are not there just drop me a line and I am sure between Hurricane and a few others we could make sure it is kept in good shape for you during your absence :>)

Steve

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