Question for the old farts out there

[whitlock87]

Here is my dilemma
My son who was my third most of the time is now on the other side of the country aboard the USS New York. My oldest daughter just had her first kid, so she has not time and my youngest is in collage and spends all her free time with her friends. So for all the older people out there in my situation I was wonder what have you done now that it ois just you and your wife or partner?
Sure in five years or so we will start to board again with my granddaughter, but what to do until. 
Looking for ideas and I tired fishing, but I suck at it

[sandm]

we struggle with the same issues being in a new city. always had family or other surfers that were willing to go out, but being in a new city with no family, most of the boating people we have met have their own boat. area is really only interested in fishing. for the amount of boats registered in the area, only a half dozen or so wakeboats.
tough to find people that are into the sport. heck, we'd be happy with someone that can watch and likes to hang in the sun and have a few cocktails but even that's hard.
interested to see what others post up.

[Dandy]

sandm - I think we should find a few weekends to meet half way, we can bring out boat one weekend and you the other. For us, we struggle with the same. Our 10 year old will "run rope" and hang out, but doesn't stay interested too long. For us, most of our friends that have an interest in water sports live 1.5+ hours away and friends in the area could care less. Its not just an age thing, I bet it happens with more of us towboat owners than you would think. Not everyone shares the same passion, then again I would prefer to live a costal or island lift - the wake boat does help with being landlocked.

We all just need to remember to be grateful for what we have...that being said I tend to be negative.

[jbort]

surf buddies - lots of them and while i'm in mid 50's age wise don't think i'm an old fart yet (although my 13 yr old would say different). there are 3 and we all hang together, drive each other's boat whenever needed and go for "guys" surf out 2-4 times per summer (or more).

[Ewok]

I face the same issues here in WA and ID. In TX, I could go out with my wife and a mirror and be fine to tow each other, here you have to have a "responsible observer", which usually falls to my 5yo. She's a great flag holder and rope getter. We do invite friends to go out with us almost every weekend but they usually bail at the last minute and it's annoying. We don't charge for gas or ask for anything except the company and being an observer, but it seems many people have something pop up at the last minute. It really surprised me because I would always jump at the chance to get out on anyone's boat. It's also scary to post a "find a third" add on CL because you never know what you'll find. There is a "find a third" thread on WW but I don't know how much use it gets.

[sandm]

I have posted a few times in the ww find a 3rd section on some responses but not much luck. I can say I met sue/Joe from boise off there a long time ago and they were great surf friends, but out here in wi, not much luck. we are also never looking for money and only ask for some help wiping the boat down at the end of the day but seems that anyone that has interests already have a boat. I have questioned several times why own a boat when there are others looking for 3rds and a few bucks toward gas are cheaper than owning one. met Dandy on a whim while in msp and they were great to spend the day with, but at 5hrs away, not practical. it is tough.
feels like this would be a different story in a warmer climate with more people around. I know here in wi, such a short season and seems that everyone has other priorities and interests. I get a sense in an area like phoenix or las vegas, it would be a much easier to find those that want to get out of the 115deg heat and onto water for the day.

[Matt Garcia]

Have you guys ever tried a local FaceBook group? My buddy created one to coordinate group rides when we ride or race off road (dirtbikes). It originally started with about 6 of us and now its up to about 30 members. Whenever we would me new people out on the trail or races we would invite them to our group. Its a great way to always find someone to ride with especially since most of us are scattered throughout the Dallas area and always have different schedules.

[.NOBODY]

Was in the same boat a few years back. Now just use the boat to either cruise up and down the inter-coastal for drinks and apps with the sound system cranked up just enough to be an annoyance. Life is much simpler without the rug rats but strangely we miss them. Will be selling our boat in a couple of years and upgrading to a Mastercrap CSX265 simply because we need something that can handle rough water as we traverse between Lake St Clair and the Gulf of Mexico. The stereo is on the blink right now and it's just not as much fun without all 7 amplifiers working to their full potential. Also, about every other month we head off shore when we can find the perfect "weather stall" to pull up some grouper. Boats just don't get used enough without a pile of kids, so we simply have to learn how to rekindle the romance with our honey.

[chpthril]

Round here, you dont need a 3rd, if you have a mirror. Wife and I rode alot on Wednesday afternoons, then Sunday mornings early, then had brunch before our son and his buds would come down.

[robert theisen]

Been boating since 1989 with no kids. Wait a minute, i don't have any kids.LOL Wife and i both wakeboard and surf. When we aren't we just chill. Nothing like the water to relax you.

[IDBoating]

Didn't anyone realize that by answering this thread you're self-identifying as a old fart?

[xpjim1]

We need to go out together. I am in the same boat - except now that the kids are out of the house I have no time

[boatwakes]

Why'd my response get deleted? Am I too young?

[Matt Garcia]

Why'd my response get deleted? Am I too young?

Are you sure you posted it? Nothing has been deleted.

[007]

Are you sure you posted it? Nothing has been deleted.

They say memory is the second thing to go...