Emi Morin, a well-known psychotherapist, writer, and author of the popular book “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do,” has been living with her husband on a sailing yacht in Florida Keys, USA, for over a decade. The couple’s monthly expenses amount to less than $1,200, which is significantly lower than the average housing costs in the USA.
This is reported by Finway
Choosing Life on a Yacht and Moving
The experience of personal loss influenced Emi’s decision not to postpone her dreams. After losing her first husband at 26, her mother at 51, and her father-in-law at 71, she decided to cherish the moment. After several years of widowhood, Emi remarried Steve, who had long desired to live on a yacht. At that time, she was working as a psychotherapist and writing books. The success of her publications allowed her to quit her main job and pursue freelance writing, enabling her to work remotely and move onto the water.
In July 2015, the couple purchased a slip at a yacht club in Florida Keys for $106,500, using savings from book advances. They spent about $10,000 more to develop the adjacent piece of land. They bought the sailing yacht, which has three cabins and two bathrooms, from a previous owner for $80,000. The yacht only needed cosmetic repairs, so the price was quite favorable.
In December 2015, Emi, her husband, their dog, and cat finally moved onto the yacht, leaving their house in Maine. Although they initially planned for the sea adventure to be short-term, the couple has been living on the water for ten years, visiting Maine only once a year.
Cost of Living on the Water
Despite significant initial expenses, their monthly payments amount to only about $1,179. This sum includes payments for internet, mobile phone, electricity, insurance, property taxes, yacht club membership fees, and regular cleaning of the hull. Membership also covers water, cable TV, garbage disposal, and sewage pumping. Each month, they hire a diver to clean the underwater part of the vessel. Over the years, the couple has updated the interior, bathrooms, and air conditioning units, with most of the work done by themselves.
“Every day here feels like a little adventure. I’m glad I didn’t wait for ‘someday,'” she admits.
Impact of Yacht Life on Well-Being
According to Emi, living on a yacht has positively impacted her mental health. Instead of working in a windowless office, she now enjoys the ocean view every day. She stays active, often going for runs, enjoying sunsets, and taking walks along the shore where she observes herons and land crabs. She notes that the move has helped her better understand the benefits of “nature resets,” which she had previously recommended to her patients.
Of course, life on the water has its challenges—such as air conditioner breakdowns or nighttime storms—but such incidents are infrequent. Overall, each day for Emi and her husband is filled with new experiences and adventures.
Emi Morin’s story inspires others to make bold changes. For instance, Nazariy found the estate of 90-year-old grandmother Maria Hirkova in the mountains, while Victoria, returning from abroad, started a new life in a village. Mathematician Elmira also dared to move into an old village house, personally handling the renovations and sharing tips with her followers.