The "right" way to go cruising?

Way back when I first started dreaming about leaving the "rat race" and sailing off to beautiful blue waters, I really didn't fully understand that the "rat race" will follow you and it's not as easy and romantic as advertised. At least not the way we're doing it. 

We're what's called working cruisers, a rare breed. The vast majority of cruisers either have a large retirement or at least a social security check coming in. While we're in a location working for months on end, we watch as boat after boat come in for a few days to visit and re-supply and then off for more sailing the islands, fishing and relaxing. We hear about their plans on sailing to South America or the pacific islands and then hear about their adventures on their blogs or emails. They have the cash to buy replacement parts and pay experts to fix things and go out to eat at local restaurants and bars. 

Our income, on the other hand, is only what we can earn where we are. And working in Mexico isn't as easy as we'd like. Any repairs we need must be done by ourselves and usually with second hand parts we scavenge from swap meets. Eating out or going to bars is a rare thing indeed and always on a tight budget. 

As I write this we are in La Paz Mexico, for the second time in 3 years. The first time we were here for almost a year, working full time, and made just enough to make a short trip to the states to visit family and work up there. Now we're back here working again, knowing full well we can't get out of here for at least through another hurricane season. Of the over 200 cruising boats here we are the only ones, we know of, that don't have a monthly check coming in from somewhere. The only exception to this is one friend that just sailed down from Canada this year. We'll see how long he makes this work.

It's still a good life. We make many new friends, from all over the world, swim in warm clear waters, fish, watch as Dolphins feed under our boat almost daily and enjoy the beauty that is Mexico. But most people don't understand that this isn't as easy and carefree as they may think. A can't tell you how many times we've considered packing in and moving back to the states for a "normal" life (whatever that means). We work almost every day and struggle to make ends meet just like everywhere else. 

Maybe someday we'll have enough to sail to the pacific. Anyone know where a good canvas person or charter captain can get work in, say, Fiji?