Dave,

As long as I can remember I had the dream of cruising. When it was years before we departed (2004) to go, we moved aboard and started in earnest to head out. We worried about unplugging. We worried about what we would and would not have. We even acquired over 500 hours of old time radio shows for all that extra time we would have. What we did not do was cut ourselves off. We watched TV, listened to the radio and read the news all the time.

I have to admit that I am a tech junkie, BIG TIME. That's mostly why I am here, and on other boards, almost every day when I have access to the internet.

Having said that, we cruised full time for over 4 years. At times we were anchored far from any shore contact for months at a time. And in all that time, we NEVER felt deprived! When we can we are hooked in. BUT, when out at anchored miles from the nearest other boat or shore side support of ANY time, we are just as happy! It's sort of an all or nothing feeling.

And I can tell you, that we were never board and I felt the MOST satisfaction during the months where we fished, swam, read and were almost totally self sufficient more than any time we were connected. We also never felt deprived by not connecting. It's sort of one thing taking the place of the other.

So, don't fret, it will be better than you expect! Or, at least it was for us.

Greg