My wife and I have been talking about retiring in 7 years (early retirement) so we can go cruisinmg while we are still young enough to enjoy it. We currently sail a Hunter 28.5 on a lake south of Dallas. We are on our boat every weekend like religion. We are out on the water more than most sailboats on our lake. Last summer we traveled to the San Blas Islands and spent some time with our friends on their Tayana 37. We used the experience to help us decide if this is what we really want to do. I know the time onboard was not THAT long, but my mind was made up that cruising is the life. Here comes my question to those out there and those that have been out there:

What is a good time frame to seriously start looking for the cruising boat? I am not sure if that is even a question I should ponder or not. My lake can handle a 37 footer there just aren't any on it right now. I am one of the biggest boats out there on a 34,0000 acre lake.

We have thought maybe purchasing the two years before retirement so we have time to make changes and add equipment that we wwant / need for life aboard.

Any insight would be appreciated.