MacGregorSailors.com

Nice too see your living life Boat.

Funny but you and I come from opposite directions, but we both seem to have arrived at the same destination and outlook on life

After being the CEO of a large IT company and having all the big house and super car thing, it all went belly up when my ex-wife and company accountant decided between them to be shall we say "creative".

It was actually what I needed in life, when I was CEO I had no time to really enjoy life, I can tell you for sure that money CAN NOT buy you happiness because money can not buy you TIME, I know, I have been there and no matter how bigger wad of bills I had in my pocket I still didnt have time to enjoy myself.

A few years later my second wife decided to walk out and leave me with 3 kids, 5 months, 4 and 6 years old, and large mortgage.

As a single parent I struggled to put food on the table, and pay bills, never mind have a few $$ left over to buy a boat.

Then suffering from severe depression my doctor told me I had to find something in life, so I decided to go back to my early years and build a boat, just a 10 foot dinghy, but a boat all the same. Building and working on boats is such great therapy, I would go to the shed and saw and hammer with dreams of being out on the water again. It was with great pride I launched that dinghy and the kids and I putted up the inlet with a trolling motor pushing us along.

Fast forward 6 years, and I still have not gone back to work, I look after my children, I have met a sensational lady who had never been on a boat before she met me but loves sailing, through careful planning and budgeting we have have 2 TS's a Macgregor X and a JOG boat, i have 3 beautiful children who know their dad, rather than seeing a man go out the house to work early in the morning and come home late at night . I volunteer my time, management experience and business skills at the local yacht club and have turn it around from making losses to making good profits.

Im still poor if you measure wealth by money in the bank, but Im a rich man, I have my kids, time to spend with them, I get time on the water and I have a understanding partner, what more could you want in life???? (Hmm maybe upgrading the 1995 Jeep tow hack might be good )

RussMT wrote:

Herschel wrote:

Folks, that story from Herschel really grabbed me - because if I had not had a dad that started me on a sailboat when I was a kid I too would have probably never thought I could get one. I'm here to tell all of you that are thinking that way that you CAN.

Boat, we need more trolls like you in the world. If we did, the world would be a better place.

BOAT started out as a troll. But he couldn't keep it up. Now he's a great contributor to this site.

--Russ

Well, that's nice comments coming from you guys.
(the Prozac the doctor gave me was a big help too). As soon as I finish my anger management class I should be a better troll. One thing for sure - as mike said - I feel very grateful for the life I have. You guys are all doing what people in the world do in countries where people have freedom. Australia and Canada and Arabia and all those guys in Switzerland and Baja and many places allow humans the ability to live a full life - we should all be enjoying it while we can because remember there was a time only about 75 years ago when one guy tried to enslave us all. Our freedoms are never free. There is always going to be someone out there that wants to make you their slave. Don't squander your own freedom and make yourself a slave to possessions or money or self doubt or whatever other dictator that might come along. Go for your dreams while you can. You will find that money is not really the problem, as mike said. (And it's almost ALWAYS not the answer).

There are plenty of MAC boats out there to go around for everyone, and if we run out I suppose some one will figure out how to make one.

6500 people! man, that's a small city! (We could start our own marina!) I hope they come back.

I believe there was an upgrade in this website several years ago. Maybe their comments disappeared with that transition?

sailboatmike wrote:Nice too see your living life Boat.

Funny but you and I come from opposite directions, but we both seem to have arrived at the same destination and outlook on life

After being the CEO of a large IT company and having all the big house and super car thing, it all went belly up when my ex-wife and company accountant decided between them to be shall we say "creative".

It was actually what I needed in life, when I was CEO I had no time to really enjoy life, I can tell you for sure that money CAN NOT buy you happiness because money can not buy you TIME, I know, I have been there and no matter how bigger wad of bills I had in my pocket I still didnt have time to enjoy myself.

A few years later my second wife decided to walk out and leave me with 3 kids, 5 months, 4 and 6 years old, and large mortgage.

As a single parent I struggled to put food on the table, and pay bills, never mind have a few $$ left over to buy a boat.

Then suffering from severe depression my doctor told me I had to find something in life, so I decided to go back to my early years and build a boat, just a 10 foot dinghy, but a boat all the same. Building and working on boats is such great therapy, I would go to the shed and saw and hammer with dreams of being out on the water again. It was with great pride I launched that dinghy and the kids and I putted up the inlet with a trolling motor pushing us along.

Fast forward 6 years, and I still have not gone back to work, I look after my children, I have met a sensational lady who had never been on a boat before she met me but loves sailing, through careful planning and budgeting we have have 2 TS's a Macgregor X and a JOG boat, i have 3 beautiful children who know their dad, rather than seeing a man go out the house to work early in the morning and come home late at night . I volunteer my time, management experience and business skills at the local yacht club and have turn it around from making losses to making good profits.

Im still poor if you measure wealth by money in the bank, but Im a rich man, I have my kids, time to spend with them, I get time on the water and I have a understanding partner, what more could you want in life???? (Hmm maybe upgrading the 1995 Jeep tow hack might be good )

*slow clap clap clap*

Thanks for sharing your story. Great message. Great story. Very inspiring.

--Russ

No comment

jackthedog wrote:No comment

Excellent post jack - I totally get the joke.


sub·tle·ty
ˈsədltē/
noun
the quality or state of being subtle.
"the textural subtlety of Degas"
synonyms: delicacy, delicateness, subtleness; More

What you guys have shared is very special. I am inspired by men like you, who have worked it out. It's another reason to appreciate the hard work done by the Mods & Heath for up keeping this special place. Thanks guys & Thanks Heath & Thanks Mods

Even the lurkers [not judging] apparently get inspired, or dream or are just helped to make it through another day in this grind that can objectify & empty Life. This is my favorite place to go on the internet ... "Where everybody knows your name..."

EVERYBODY!...


PS: Maybe they don't ned to talk to us... Maybe just dream with us... Hmmm

Totally agree with the above. I have my boat for 2 years now. This site is a goldmine, I did tens of mods on my boat inspired or just copied after what other people did. I am to damn sorry and lazy and I do not post. But, I have lot of respect and appreciation for those who did.

Thanks for all of the inspiration guys! I have a very supportive wife who is not that into sailing but is very okaythat i am. The encouraged me the whole way even to the point of going for a very nice instead of a very tired, but much cheaper . Two years on and I am still learning and loving every second on the water.

I love some of the responses that show people finally realizing what's important. I served 23 years in the Navy and always dreamed of actually being a sailor that SAILED. I also wanted something that I could do with the whole family and the Mac is just the ticket for weekend getaways on the Chesapeake.
It's been a rough couple years for the Hassler family with illnesses and deaths and those A-holes at the IRS, but we're enjoying the boat and the time together. After all those years deployed, I can finally share my love of the sea with what's her name and the kids.
My time still comes at a premium though and we have a LOT of activities we do together-cycling, fishing, hunting, sports, etc...so we don't get enough time on the water, or with the family. Working really hard to change that and downsize.
I mostly don't post because I learned a long time ago that I should never pass up a good opportunity to keep my mouth shut.

High speed internet at the house and on the water is iffy at best, so I check the board every couple days and hope to be a better contributor as I gain more experience with the boat and modern technology makes it to our little paradise in the boonies. You stalwarts please keep posting because I read a lot offline and really enjoy this board.

Xxx

Thats great to hear your on the mend John,

Well done with the project, its a hard slog but its worth it in the end, you have a real attachment to your boat.

Working on boats and the comradeship it builds is great therapy for the soul and the body

Looking forward to seeing some pics of her on the water

Long live the Ventures - and especially their owners! Sounds like you are about to have some well-deserved fun.

VENTURES ROCK!!!

Where would we be as a nation - as boaters - as Americans [& All Others - just making a point ]
If we don't know & value our boating family heritage.

Glad you're sailing John. The overcoming of all other obstacles & challenges precluding that duly acknowledged. Glad you're here & contributing

After all those years deployed, I can finally share my love of the sea with what's her name and the kids.
My time still comes at a premium though and we have a LOT of activities we do together-cycling, fishing, hunting, sports, etc...so we don't get enough time on the water, or with the family. Working really hard to change that and downsize.
I mostly don't post because I learned a long time ago that I should never pass up a good opportunity to keep my mouth shut.

What's her name...

JohnCT wrote:
We all have a story . . . .

We have guys posting mods and mixes and cool inventions for the boats but really, for me the most important posts are the ones like JohnCT posted.

Why,

Because I need the perspective more than any cool gadget: Yesterday I was out and it was hot and I was tired and the mast is getting heavier every year to lift and I am getting older and sometimes I want to gripe grip grip about all the work that it takes to sail a trailer boat.

Then I read a post like the one JohnCT writes and my whole mind completely changes. Now I am thankful for the sore muscles and ageing back and instead of fearing the task ahead is getting harder I look ahead to whatever years I can enjoy with real gratefulness. We are living the best lives and it has nothing to do with money.

Thanks JohnCT

(PS, I wish I could learn that lesson from shrek: I wish I could keep my mouth shut).