the 'nest' thing for women isn't always so, or at least it's not always as strong depending on time of life, etc. Just trying to point out some exceptions, and to reflect that my wife, while definitely inclined that way, the land-based nest while cruising, that is, also is really, really flexible and adventurous. (It was her who really got us off the dock, in April, to go north, and propelled us to move aboard in February amidst a foot of snow on deck. Not much of a nest, but we did have heat... ;-) ) Anyway, just a bunch of stuff that's been rolling through my head, prior to a potential house purchase in the next week or so, and as we contemplate how this all fits into our plans/hopes to take off cruising in a few years, for a few years. It's an interesting thought process --but not much of a process, more of a ragamuffin collection of impressions, schemes, questions, trepidation, answers, revisions, etc.! ;-)

Anyway --point well taken. Keep my house (if I get one!) if I want to keep my wife! Seriously, this advice really does remind me to listen to what is important to her, which sometimes can be easy to downplay, when getting a boat and savings in order to take off cruising demands so much focus and money. In short, she's totally with me on taking off on a 2-4 year cruise, and it would certainly be easier to dispense with a house to achieve that goal...and she may well go along with it, but you're probably right that things would be better overall with the house...listen to those instincts...to keep her happy, which is not a trivial thing to your closet partner.

Interesting discussion. Really would like to hear the point of view of woman who have cruised, both younger women (under 30?) and older 50-60/retired age women, about the whole nesting inclination...probably would be the easy way to help me understand my wife better! ;-) What do I know, I'm only married to her, and I'm the one who brought the boat to the marriage ;-)