I am a young adult in my early 20's, and I have a couple years of college left until I get my degree(you could say I'm on the 6 year plan) After getting my degree, I plan on welcoming the real world, get into my career field(Social Work) and start fending for myself. I figure I can live at home for about a year after graduation, to save up some money and get some capital under my belt, and then I'll either have to get my own one bedroom apartment, or get a room mate or two and rent a 2 or 3 bedroom house or apartment. Since I'm more of a solitary type, I think I would rather have my own place opposed to having roomates, unless they were close friends.

I figured for what I will be spending just renting a place to live, why not invest in a living space that you can own? Now right out of college I probably will not have to money to start investing in a house, won;t think about buying a house until marrige or kids are in the picture. I am seriously thinking about investing in a house boat. I just started researching them, but it looks like you can buy a quality new model for under $100,000, that's less than a condo.

I love to fish, love the outdoors, and I think I would absolutely love waking up every moring on top of a Lake and look outdoors to find everything I love right there infront of me: mountains, the water, wildlife, nature...it would be heaven.

I am looking for any information I can get, links, magizines, and hoepfulyl some first person experiences and knowledge. This is something I am really serious about and would love to spend my bachelor years on a houseboat, fishing every day after work, waking up and taking a swim if I want, meeting people with the same interests as me, and just living a happy simple life on a lake.

Looking for some help on planning this sort of life. Like I said, any first hand personal knowledge or experiences will be the most help, but anything will be appreciated.

-Joe

Add'l costs to consider....

Slip / Dock rental

Utility hookups and cost at the dock

Trash / Sewage removal

Boat / Engine maintenence

Licensing Cost

Insurance Cost

Shorter loan period and higher interest rates

depreciation on a boat as opposed to appreciation in real estate....will be a big factor when reselling

I've never owned a houseboat but these are some thoughts that I'm sure would be more expensive than a condo.

Point is do alot of research before you dump $100,000 in a boat

Yeah thanks man. I still have 2-3 years to think about this. I may be better off renting soemthing in the vacinity of some good fishing areas(lakes, ponds, creeks, steams, river, coast) and purchase a nice fishing boat.

As far as it goes now, it looks like a really good option, and I'm sure I will learn a lot more about it before I make a jump into anything. Its just going to take some research and talking to people to really get a feel for it.

Jwo,

To be a successful social worker you will need your Masters in Social Work degree.

So plan to get your Masters Degree and then plan your future.

Sorry to have to break the news to you, but you really need a Masters or a Ph.D. in Social Work to get a good income.

Good luck.

http://houseboatmagazine.com/?pageID=14&Iid=28

Jwo,

To be a successful social worker you will need your Masters in Social Work degree.

So plan to get your Masters Degree and then plan your future.

Sorry to have to break the news to you, but you really need a Masters or a Ph.D. in Social Work to get a good income.

Good luck.

He speaks the truth!!!  

Unless you want to work for the state, and make a very low income you will need a minimum of a Master's Degree.  Without it you won't be able to afford a house boat!  

It seems more people are giving me information on Social Work than houseboating  

I have been told that I should get a Master's Degree by several people, and on top of the members here that are telling me...I guess it's the truth.

The thing is I am already 2 years behind my graduating high school class('03) I should have graduated this year with my bachelor's, but I'm still two years away from it. I'm 22 now, and that means I will be 26 by the time I get a Master's Degree. I'm sick of school as it is, and really just want to get a job, make some money, and learn from doing instead of reading books and listening to people lecture. I can;t stand being confined inside a classroom.

I was also thinking about restaurant management and/or personal training. I have worked in the restaurant biz going on seven years this Feb. and next to fishing, exercise and fitness has been a big passion of mine since high school. I really just don't know if I can do four more years of college. I have looked at job postings online, and most restaurant management positions(NOT FAST FOOD  > )   offerr decent middle class salaries around 50,000 a year after a few years of experience. And I don;t even need a college degree, but I would go get an associate's in Management from the local community college just to get that under my belt. That will take me less than 2 years, I can work as a manager at the restaurant I have been working at since High school, get some experience and get a better job with more money. Plus, I know most of the in's and out's of the biz and that will give me an advantage. it's not the most prestigous career, but I'm a simple working class guy that just looks at a job as a way to make money, and 45-55k in my mid-late 20's isn;t bad. Then there are always bonuses, raises and promotions to general manager. Some day I may open my own restaurant or small biz, and that experience of managing one could come in handy.

While you are thinking of buying a houseboat, you may be putting the cart before the horse here. It sounds to me like you want to be outdoors. How is sitting in a classroom a whole lot different than sitting in an office all day?

May I suggest that you consider employment where you will be outside all day. For example, I am in the timber business in East Texas. I am having a difficult time finding and hiring field foresters, those folks who have a forestry degree and who work out in the field all day with little time in the office. It seems many of the graduating foresters these days want to work in the office in front of a computer all day. Such foresters are fine at what they do, but I need someone willing to work hard outside of the office.

This is just something to consider before you make definite life choices. I hope this is helpful.

Tom

jwo1124,

Ask some friends at school if they have any family or friends with house boats and get with them.  I for one would only have one if it was a weekend or a holiday thing. That is to small living for me.

I would also stay in school.  I am 33, work full time and I am still in school.  It is so hard.  I was in a hurry to grow up, so I decided to go into the Army.  But I also knew that I was not mature enough to go to College after high school and I could not afford it either.  Finish your schooling up, then go get a house boat or anything else you want.  Take it easy.

M_Fields

One option is to buy a "totalled" or "engineless" salt water cruiser.

No need for an engine, if you want to "move" (to another marina), simply get a tow and set up shop at your new place.

I think Hoover hit the nail on the head. I do love being outdoors. I never liked just sitting in a classroom or behind a computer, unless I'm looking a fishing stuff on the web. The thing is I sort of d!cked off in High school and never took any real trade courses. I am a hard worker, I have lots of energy, and anything I have ever went after seriously in life I did it 110% I think I would like to get a job doing something outdoors that involves labor.  It will keep me healthy and in good shape-how many americans are overweight or obese from sitting in the office all day and not getting any physical activity.

All my relatives say "You may not mind busting your hump now in your twenties, but wait until your 40's or 50's and you will wish you were behind a desk." And that sort of scares me because what if it's true? On the other hand, I see a lot of older guys that still do labor because they have been doing it for 20-30 years and they have adapted to actually being a working man and doing work for a living instead of just writing reports or crunching numbers all day.

But yeah, I agree with what Sam said, I'll focus on school for now, and then my future.