Taking a year to sail around the world on their boat was a risky move for Scott and Renee Weaver of Cary. The couple cashed in their life insurance policies, cars, town home, most of their furniture and two “very nice watches.”

“We sold everything,” said Scott, 40, who added that for most people his age such a move would be unlikely, but he felt the timing was just right. “Our dream was to retire and cruise on a boat for an extended period of time,” he said.

He had planned on taking this trip around age 55. “Renee and I started seeing people in the 50 age bracket with health problems and said why not take some time off now,” Scott said.

The trip was a time to relax and break Scott of his habit — work.

“Prior to our trip I was a workalcoholic,” he said. “My life was not well rounded.”

Scott said he had three things he enjoyed —work, spending time with Renee and his Australian shepherd Amstel, and boating. He said combining the latter two would make a perfect combination. Scott and Renee are in the Bahamas right now lapping up the sun. They dock to shore for power and water then head back out to sea for four to five days.

“In the morning we make coffee and watch Fox and Friends on our satellite TV for two hours,” he said. “In the evening when the generator runs we use the electric stove and watch a movie.”

Scott and Renee have also taken up scuba diving and snorkeling and visit different Caribbean islands. They admit it’s tough being on the 38-foot boat and would be even tougher if they couldn’t spend some time on shore. They try to go ashore every few days to gas up, get food and to keep the cabin fever at bay.

“We purchased this boat new as a weekend boat and not as a live-aboard boat,” he said. “Our dream retirement boat would be at least 50 foot and possibly a trawler.”

The life of boating is relaxing, Scott said. The duo has met other couples living on boats, but he makes sure to add that most are “in their late 50s to 60s.”

While meeting people has been fun, their life wouldn’t be complete without Amstel.

“He loves being with us all day on our adventure,” Scott said. “The freedom that Amstel has now is incredible as he has not been on a leash since August.”

When they’re finished sailing, sometime this summer, Scott plans to return to his former job at Leith Automotive. But he and Renee agree that they will go back out to sea in the future.

“But it will be a larger boat!”