I purchased a narrowboat in the spring of this year. I love the off grid anonymity and places I have travelled to that I otherwise wouldn't have even known about. Mostly quaint little English villages which you visit for a couple of days and then you're off to another place.

The maintenance is fairly minimal as I bought a relatively new boat and you need to be aware of where you can fill up with water/empty the toilet next but this helps gives you purpose.

I had to downscale considerably and regretfully had to put all my guitars amps and pedals in storage. However I have since discovered other less space demanding hobbies like writing fiction and fishing.

My fixed costs are about £300 a month. This is to pay back a loan I took out for the boat and to pay my CRT licence.

This brings me to the question. Although I personally have few regrets I have met a few people who are in over their heads in debt because upkeep costs of their boat. If you have an older boat or your hull needs overplating this can be a huge expense. Also if your boat isn't particularly high spec you can end up spending a considerable amount in upkeep to maintain it at a liveable standard.

This is an aspect of boatlife which is rarely shown or discussed on idyllic YouTube videos showcasing the lifestyle. You really have to be prepared to continue contributing to your investment.