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The happiest guy in the world
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Interesting vid about a guy who has lived on a cruise ship for the past 20yrs.



Not my idea of happiness, but interesting nonetheless

My ideal happiness is living in a tropical climate with friends and family around and an active outdoor and social lifestyle. Fully intend on making this happen.

What’s yours?
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Re: The happiest guy in the world [triguy101] [ In reply to ]
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Not having to work. Living with access to water in my backyard. Going fishing every day.

That would make me happier.

How does Danny Hart sit down with balls that big?
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Re: The happiest guy in the world [triguy101] [ In reply to ]
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I remember reading about 15-20 years ago that you could buy a room on a cruise ship, like a condo and just live on the boat. Wherever it goes, you go. When it is out of service or dead heading, you stay on the boat. But this guy seems to be booking week+ cruises on all different sorts of boats. I believe I remember the purchase price was like a million dollars or so, but this has to be so expensive to book week by week. I'm sure he gets the killer price and deals, but still, for a private room 365 days a year, year after year?

But now that I think of it, if he pays like a grand a week for a private room(probably less with his frequent sailor discount) that is only $52k a year, so doable for a well off retired corporate guy who seems to be single and all alone in the world. He would just be coming up on that million dollars now at his 19 years. If he had a million+ dollars in a 5% account, then he could just be living off the interest. Not too many expenses outside the ship if you actually live on it full time..

I applaud guys like this, every once in awhile while I was single think about what they do, but never could pull the trigger and just drop out and be on cruise control so to speak...
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Re: The happiest guy in the world [monty] [ In reply to ]
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"I remember reading about 15-20 years ago that you could buy a room on a cruise ship, like a condo and just live on the boat"

I think you're thinking of "MS The World" http://aboardtheworld.com/our-story/
http://www.cruisemapper.com/ships/ms-The-World-1119

It's currently in Italy - the "condo ship" is insanely expensive - like Millions to buy and expensive yearly fees.

This guy is doing it on the cheap - especially because the cruise fare includes food (but not alcohol).





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Re: The happiest guy in the world [triguy101] [ In reply to ]
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I think I would go nuts doing what he is doing. Not having to work is great but doing a job you like is better.

They constantly try to escape from the darkness outside and within
Dreaming of systems so perfect that no one will need to be good T.S. Eliot

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Re: The happiest guy in the world [triguy101] [ In reply to ]
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A few years ago my then-employer held our annual employee retreat at a Club Med in Florida. Hanging out by the pool one night after dinner a guy and his partner - both retired - told a few of us how they lived nearby but had worked out some kind of membership deal with the resort where they basically had access to all the same amenities as guests except an actual room - all-inclusive breakfast/lunch/dinner, all-day open bar and sports facilities, and it cost them way less than anything they'd been able to find in nearby retirement communities.
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Re: The happiest guy in the world [triguy101] [ In reply to ]
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I wish I could have lived the life of Jimmy Doolittle.

B.S. from UC Berkley and M.S. and PhD from MIT.

Earned his pilot wings in 1918. First pilot to perform an outside loop. First pilot to takeoff and land an airplane entirely on instruments. Winner of the Schneider, Bendix, and Thompson air racing trophies. Managed the aviation department at Shell Oil.

Came back on active duty at the start of WW II. Planned and lead the Doolittle Raid. Won the Medal of Honor. Continued to fly on missions as a general officer in various commands with the 12th, 15th, and 8th Air Forces. Made the courageous (and correct) decision to allow 8th AF fighters to go on the offensive vs. Luftwaffe fighters in early 1944 (vs. staying in close escort with 8th AF bombers), effectively eliminating the Luftwaffe fighters from NW Europe by the time of the Normandy invasion.

Served as a general officer with the USAF Reserve post-WW II and also as a director at Shell Oil. Retired as a 4-star general.

Married to his wife for over 70 years.

"I Could Never Be So Lucky Again"

https://www.amazon.com/Could-Never-Lucky-Again-Autobiography/dp/0887407374

"Human existence is based upon two pillars: Compassion and knowledge. Compassion without knowledge is ineffective; Knowledge without compassion is inhuman." Victor Weisskopf.
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Re: The happiest guy in the world [triguy101] [ In reply to ]
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I think it would be nice to live like that for awhile, but I'd get bored and probably want to drink everyday. Turn into an alcoholic. Probably eat too much and not get enough exercise. I need fresh cool air, not air conditioning or pools filled with chemicals, plus the toxic environment of diseases that typically festers on cruise ships would worry me. Watching all the other families and couples would probably make me depressed, especially if my children or grandchildren weren't around.

I'd rather live in a cabin in the woods, surrounded by nature, perhaps near a river or lake. I think that would be more peaceful than living on a cruise ship.
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Re: The happiest guy in the world [tri_kid] [ In reply to ]
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tri_kid wrote:
I think it would be nice to live like that for awhile, but I'd get bored and probably want to drink everyday. Turn into an alcoholic. Probably eat too much and not get enough exercise. I need fresh cool air, not air conditioning or pools filled with chemicals, plus the toxic environment of diseases that typically festers on cruise ships would worry me. Watching all the other families and couples would probably make me depressed, especially if my children or grandchildren weren't around.

I'd rather live in a cabin in the woods, surrounded by nature, perhaps near a river or lake. I think that would be more peaceful than living on a cruise ship.

My buddy ran a scuba dive operation in the Caribbean and that's exactly what happened. He dived all morning and afternoon and then partied with the clients all night. It was great at first - a new set of bikini'd babes every week and the divers took him out to the bar every night and he never paid for a drink. The pay was not great but he had a free room and food at the resort but the tips were good. He saved more money than if was working back home in his old job. The downside was that he had to come home after about three years to dry out.
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Re: The happiest guy in the world [tri_kid] [ In reply to ]
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tri_kid wrote:
I think it would be nice to live like that for awhile, but I'd get bored and probably want to drink everyday. Turn into an alcoholic. Probably eat too much and not get enough exercise. I need fresh cool air, not air conditioning or pools filled with chemicals, plus the toxic environment of diseases that typically festers on cruise ships would worry me. Watching all the other families and couples would probably make me depressed, especially if my children or grandchildren weren't around.

I'd rather live in a cabin in the woods, surrounded by nature, perhaps near a river or lake. I think that would be more peaceful than living on a cruise ship.

Tried that. Black flies, mosquitoes, deer flies, moose flies, noseeums, etc. I'd take the cruise ship.
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Re: The happiest guy in the world [tri_kid] [ In reply to ]
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I'd rather live in a cabin in the woods, surrounded by nature, perhaps near a river or lake. I think that would be more peaceful than living on a cruise ship.


I think a lot of people wish for that but the reality is far different. If you're in a remote area there is no t.v., internet or the comforts that people are used to and almost everyone would get bored out of their mind. I travelled around the world and can't tell you how many times I'd say beautiful remote areas and no one was around but you go a little further and everyone is in the same spot. Most people like the idea of being alone and in a peaceful area, but the truth is they want to be around other people. In general, people aren't nearly as good at being in nature as they think. People want to be around other people.
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Re: The happiest guy in the world [triguy101] [ In reply to ]
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One of my favorite authors wrote about his time on a cruise ship, and used it for the title of his book of essays.


Last edited by: trail: May 9, 18 19:10
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Re: The happiest guy in the world [Alvin Tostig] [ In reply to ]
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Last summer I visited the SAC museum where they have an exhibit on Doolittle. When the war broke out he was working in Detroit for the auto industry. The military called and asked him to bomb Japan. When he agreed they asked how soon he could be in DC. His answer: six hours.

“Read the transcript.”
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Re: The happiest guy in the world [Sanuk] [ In reply to ]
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Sanuk wrote:
I'd rather live in a cabin in the woods, surrounded by nature, perhaps near a river or lake. I think that would be more peaceful than living on a cruise ship.


I think a lot of people wish for that but the reality is far different. If you're in a remote area there is no t.v., internet or the comforts that people are used to and almost everyone would get bored out of their mind. I travelled around the world and can't tell you how many times I'd say beautiful remote areas and no one was around but you go a little further and everyone is in the same spot. Most people like the idea of being alone and in a peaceful area, but the truth is they want to be around other people. In general, people aren't nearly as good at being in nature as they think. People want to be around other people.

A few have pulled it off, kind of.



--------------------------
The secret of a long life is you try not to shorten it.
-Nobody
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Re: The happiest guy in the world [triguy101] [ In reply to ]
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Because I like to stereotype........

I can imagine I'd run in to the cruise ship version of H2O fun and unfortunately being on the ship there would be no way off

I suspect if you are prone to it, it's lonely. Superficially you are surrounded by people and as he Does, see the same people on other ships at various times but it's no different to going down to a bar where everyone knows your name

My preference is mountains, not isolated but a smaller town, access to bikes, skiing, walking and things for my kids to do

I'd pick the alps
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Re: The happiest guy in the world [triguy101] [ In reply to ]
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When he gets tired of cruising, does he take a vacation from it and go sit in a house for a week?
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Re: The happiest guy in the world [rick_pcfl] [ In reply to ]
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rick_pcfl wrote:
When he gets tired of cruising, does he take a vacation from it and go sit in a house for a week?

Haha. No he commutes to a city on a train and then does a 12hr work day
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