Greetings from a first-time boat owner! I decided 7 years ago that I would someday own my own live-aboard boat, and after years of dreaming, scheming, reading and researching, looking at boats in various states, picking boaters' brains on assorted forums, narrowing down my preferences and considering all my options, I finally decided this summer that the time was right! I took a Boating Safety course through the USPS (scored 100% on the exam!!!), got a few lessons on the water, and on Friday the 13th last month, I became the new owner of a 1992 Carver 33 Aft Cabin! The "live-aboard" part isn't a reality (yet), but that's just a matter of time.
Still feeling a bit euphoric!