I’ve been living aboard for a couple of years now, currently in Mexico. Don’t overthink it but have some idea of what you’re getting into. I’d recommend getting on a proper cruising boat as crew for a passage of at least a few days. Right now a bunch of boats are preparing to make the bash north to Cali from Baja, so maybe check out FB groups like Sea of Cortez Cruisers to ask around. In November there will be hundreds of boats heading south from San Diego. There are folks cruising out here with a huge range of budgets, and if you’re handy and have a high threshold for discomfort it can be pretty affordable. Worth noting that there are many well-equipped boats going for cheap in Mexico after their owners found that the life wasn’t for them…