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I have no clue how I got here but glad I arrived. Very interesting life. 20 years at sea in a "tight" living/working space is enough for you and your wife. Best of luck moving forward to you both.

You and your wife are the good people of this world. Thankful, respectful and honest. Good call.

Like the message at the end, reminds me of Jim Carrey Quote "I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer.”

I went through most of my life earning a 6 figure salary with bonuses every year but I was never 100% happy.. A few years back the company I was working for went under. I took a few months off before setting out looking for work. Plenty of jobs out there similar to what I did and I got a few offers. In the end I turned them down. I mate of mine who runs a pub in our village jokingly said "Why don't you come work for me? " For the last 2 years I have been working the bar during the week and run the kitchen on Sundays and I couldn't be happier.

Life changes for everyone its all about being happy good on putting your wife and future first.. Saying that i miss the Crew and AWOL videos no one else did them like you and the crew

I’m a wealthy guy by most standards but it took me until 68yrs of age to realise what you have found earlier in life that wealth is fantastic but you can only eat so much lobster as my son said to me one day recently. I now have stepped out of running our businesses & work 3 x days at a food kitchen for the poor in our city. Never have I had so much enjoyment helping others. I regularly donate anonymously when the kitchen is low on funds & have bought new equipment for the kitchen. No one has any idea it’s from our family, my son reckons he’ll now have his Dad around another 10ths & daughters too. My appreciation of my family has grown hugely. I’m able to do little things for many people again anonymously & see & hear first hand their lives change & improve. If you are in a wealth position you have the mental make up for change & I can only recommend doing something similar.

I am astounded by your principles and integrity. I have to wholeheartedly support your decision. Money doesn’t insure happiness. You have my utmost respect. We need more people that hold to their values and principles.

This is the first time I stumbled on your YT videos> I'm not in to sailing, yachting or or whatever, but man, your eloquence and being a real gentleman really hits. Not a single negative word or comments. you now have my like & subs. 🙂

After a few years working on a glass fabrication production line and being miserable, i landed what a thought was a dream job as a precision machinist that came with high pay and quarterly bonuses. The working environment was so miserable, I've never been so unhappy at a job. When the orders slowed down and lay-offs were imminent I was the first to volunteer. I took a long time off because I couldn't stand the thought of starting another job doing the same thing everyday. Eventually I saw an ad for a carpenter's apprentice position and I jumped at the chance. I love what I do now and the people I work with are amazing. I make less money, but I am happier than I've ever been. Money is NOT everything.

Great video Tristan! Kudos to you for joining the "club" of financial independence. It was a tremendous and generous offer but more importantly your ability to be in a position to decline such an offer is of much more significance. I wish you and your lovely wife continued happiness, health and business success. Warmest Regards from Arizona.

I absolutely get that. I was also a super yacht captain for 27 years, mainly the Med, Caribbean and East coast USA. Like you, I worked with my wife for 16 of those years. In 2008 I flew to NY for an interview with someone who was buying a 65meter Benetti.. I got the job..but, on the flight back, I woke up at some point and had a bit of an epiphany and decided that I really didn’t want to commit to another four or five years. Also, with age, it was becoming a little more difficult to deal with owners who won’t take responsibility for their own decisions or actions…So I stopped. And am very happy that I did. Yachting is a fantastic career, if you have the right character for it, and I hugely enjoyed it..ultimately both the good and the bad times. My daughter is also still on the yachts..I think she has also done 20 years!! How time flies when having fun! Thanks for the videos, always good to watch 👍

I totally get it. I think people who are older with more life experience agree with your decision. Life and time are so precious. You spent 20 years yachting. It's time to change things up a little. Good luck and God bless to you and the Mrs.

"A Way Of Life", Oh! I always thought it meant, "Absent With Out Leave". 😂🤣😂

Unusual for a Brit to be so up himself he needed to share this!!

Tristan I am certainly one of the viewers who thought you are mad for refusing this amazing offer. However, the explanation you gave and the points you made led me to believe you made the right decision. Very interesting video. Cheers mate.

Good decision making. Balancing family, health, suitable work is so important.

Money is not always a good motivator. Great to see a young man with values. All the best.

I was happy to hear that you know and get along with Rico and Victoria from NuatiStyles . NuatiStyles and super Yacht Captain are my two favorite yachting channels.

Sounds like you made a wise choice. 4 years on a sub par yacht is bound to encounter problems and breakdowns exacerbated by remote location and supply chain restrictions. If he’s buying a boat that plenty of captains don’t consider quality tells me he isn’t listening to the advice of knowledge.

Tristan, you are a VERY honorable man with a exceeding amount of INTEGRITY. Money does NOT buy happiness. You made the correct decision.

Congratulations on your ethics! I have been a captain for 30 years and I had a similar situation a couple of weeks ago and also declined. Balance and happiness with the family are the most important everyday goals I always had.

Hi Tristan. You not prepared to name the bottom 3, but would you be able to mention who in your opinion are the top 10 manufacturers?

Sounds like you made the right decision. 4 years is quite the commitment even for a million dollar sign on bonus. ☘️🇺🇸

I love the way you deliver the stories inside yachting industry.

Life changes and age tend to change priorities and perspectives. Mad respect for putting principles over money.

It’s so nice to see someone choose life over money. Congratulations!

That just adds to your integrity as a human being, as you said most people would have said yes in a heartbeat. As you won’t mention your bottom 3 yacht brands , although we’d all love to know . What are your top 3 yacht builders.

I can see your point about the Money not being a Prime Consideration. If you are committed for 4 years to a Boat design/Build that you basically hate, then it will be 4 years of hating being there.

Excellent story! It's great to be able to get this clarity of what life is all about and say what you said. Money Is important to pay for a lot of stuff, but it should not be the final goal of one's life.

Thanks for the great stories and content you create, it's pretty cool to hear real life stories from the yachting industry. Maybe in the future you can do a video as to what's going on with your former colleagues from AWOL, an update of how the crew has moved on in the industry and where are they now kind of thing; that's if you keep in touch with them or see them at a yacht show or run into them in another port.

I've been to seeral weddings and funerals. Trust me on this, you haven't missed anything. If I could have been working on a yacht instead, I would have.

My boat is also called AWOL. she’s not exactly a supper yacht more like a 45ft narrowboat but she’s my home and I love her very much.

Props to you and Giv. Great heads and a great power couple. There's more to life than $$$$$$$$!

You are not mad. There's a reason why you declined. Glad to see you again. So sad I was not able to get to Ft Lauderdale while you were here (I live in south Florida). The time the meet and greet was just didn't work out.

You will never really know Tristan if you made right choice but taking the decision for happiness and you own dreams is worth more than paper money, thank you for sharing your story with us. You both sound such a nice couple and it would be such a shame to end up unhappy and tied into something you wre never 100% with.

Choice is the ultimate luxury in life. Congrats to you and your Mrs for having worked hard and delayed your gratification to giving yourselves this size of choice. I am sure after this vid the owner would have wanted you on board all the more.

I was spellbound while you told your tale! I think you should teach yachting class at university, if there is such a thing. It's a nod to wisdom that at a certain point, money can become a burden. I don't want to know the bottom three yacht builders, what about top 5? This was great!!! Keep it coming!

Chapeau Tristan, all my respect for your decision. You are right to do so. I did something similar. I downgraded the yacht size and I am now on a smaller one but I have my life quality back.

Very interesting, so pleased you are putting your happiness and work balance in place. Money really doesn’t ultimately bring happiness, it just helps. All the best Captain Tristan with your future.

Smart move! I took a 50% pay cut 8 years ago and went back to technical work from an executive-level position. This removed a very heavy travel burden and finally allowed me to live and be part of my kid's childhood. Money is not everything, in fact, often, the more money you have, the more miserable you are.

God bless you brother. May you and your family be joyful.

I very much appreciate that you both find your happiness more important than money. It is something one does not see much these days. It will certainly make you and your wife better persons and and add more to the quality and happiness of your lives. So in one word: "SUPER"!

Money is definitely not everything! It’s very pleasant to see you making a choice, with your wife, and being happy that you’d made it. No choice is every wrong it is just a new and different path to take. Good luck in your next great choice and hopefully fatherhood is one of those!!

Sometimes it is best to do what others will not. "A Way Of Life" is very interesting. As a veteran of the US Army, AWOL will always mean to me, Absent WithOut Leave. Big bad trouble. Nobody owns an acronym, so good luck to you! I completely understand the hesitancy to work a ship that you know isn't right. Too much potential trouble. If he was cheap on the boat, who knows where else that will show up? Because it will. Fair Winds and Following Seas to you and yours.

Tristan - it was great to talk to you for a bit a FLIBS and glad to have made your video :) Go fast owner :) Soon a go slow owner.. lol We talked about other offers you had as well - and turned down - you are truly honorable and it was a real pleasure meeting you, come visit Vegas soon!

Always enjoy listening to you and watching your videos. Wishing you nothing but the best.

Respect to you and your good lady!

Stong heart. Love and family is turely first. This is proof of faithfully clear minded person you are and have a blessed marriage. GOD BLESS YOU BOTH.

Good for you! Money is not everything. It can not buy happiness, but loving what you do as I do makes it worth living!

You are not only a great Captain, you and your wife are persons of high principle. Very few like the two of you; congratulations.😉

I think you made the right decision. The money isn't everything in such circumstances. I was offered the job of managing a language school in St Barts in the Caribbean by my former boss and discussed it with my wife. We decided to stay in mainland France due to the uncertainty involved for both of us and the fact that it might be paradise but the cost of life is high and not necessarily covered by the salary.

I've learned that family is the wealthiest a person can be. Kudos to your smart thinking and not rash decisions. Everyone is different. I've asked many of my wealthy friends what it's like. One answered with the money you make you would be too "IF" you didn't have 9 kids. I told him to keep the money, my life is full of excitement and never bored. Love my family and wouldn't trade it for anything. Understand we are a blended family with adoptive as well. God has blessed us and life is grand.

You are a wise man .Bless you both of you as the familly is so more important. Good luck.

Good for you ! Family and health (time) is everything

The body guard was a big warning sign for me. I think you made the right decision.

That is an amazing story, and it is a credit to you that money is not the only thing that matters to you. Awesome!

A clear head and sound decisions prevail. You are a sound chap Tristen.

it is rare and it is refreshing to see someone who is not motivated by money alone.

Excellent video Tristan. I think you made the right decision and for the right reasons. I’m retired from a career in management consulting, thus I’m not familiar with your industry, nor have I ever been offered a million dollar signing bonus. I spent a good portion of my career with Arthur Andersen, where the culture of the Firm taught me to always “Think Straight and Talk Straight”. Knowing you only through your videos, I sense you follow this mantra instinctively. While a million dollars is a lot of money, I don’t think that money is what makes us happy. You are smart enough to know that working on a ship which is not built to your standards, sounds like a recipe for disaster. Armed with a fantastic job offer, you traveled home, spent time discussing this opportunity with your wife and came to a very sensible conclusion. You should be proud of yourself for having the courage to turn down this opportunity. You definitely took the time to “Think Straight and then Talk Straight” as you declined this position. You are a better man because of your decision. My sense is that your future will be quite rewarding and fulfilling. All the best to you my friend.

As usual Tristan, you know how to share your little and big moments in your life. Nice story and I can understand but it must not be easy to refuse such an offer. I now know that it will take a starting bonus of two million :):)😀😀😀😀🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏👍👍👍👍

Should have told him. ….. “it’s a deal, if I can help you pick another boat”.

Much respect Tristan.

Start a family ! Nothing can compare to the love you feel being a father.

Tristan, you and your wife have you heads in the right place, and your principals are rock solid. Looking forward to seeing you at the helm of a super yacht.

Much respect to you and your wife , for what I also think is an excellent decision. I had the good fortune to live on Hilton Head Island in the 1980’s. I came from humble beginnings ( military family) but was well traveled by 21 years old. I was shocked at the power plays, back stabbing, adultery and just plain old injustice of how people in public service were treated. Yes, I met lovely caring business people too , plenty of yachts,but my lessons were learned. It’s the journey not the destination of life that makes me happy. Still modest but my family and grandchildren will always know that their time with me is the most valuable possession I have. Aloha from Hawai’i 🌺

Tristan, I would love to see your generic check list for buying a brokerage yacht if you are advising the owner. Let’s say 60 meters 6 guest cabins with limited chartering. What are the top 3 important things age, hours, crew capacity, brand etc vs what can be changed in a refit - cosmetic issues. What are the recommended toys that guests love and what is not worth it. How many crew do you recommend and what positions? How many engine hours suggest a zero hours overhaul is needed? How far from the galley to the dining tables? You have lots of stock videos you can use to illustrate good vs not so good so as to conclude best in class. Focus on value and practicality. What things make a crew happier and how many inflatables are 1 too many? What software or management tools are worthwhile. - safety, crewing, charter management, purchasing? I know your insight would be invaluable and you could also write a companion article for a magazine or a broker. This could further your brand. Call it the Good, the Bad and the Ugly or 10 tips to choose your next yacht. In the meantime you and Gib need to start on the 2040 green crew ;-) Stay well.

And there was me thinking that a 9-month deployment in the Royal Navy was a long time! Four years is a whole new level! I wonder if he would of let you film on-board had you of said 'yes'? If I had the boat and the money, I would probably offer you the same sort of 'golden handshake' :-) #fairwindsandfollowingseas

Tristian great video as always. Great life story of insight to your life and mindset. With this story what I find awesome and interesting. Is based of your reaction, expression to saying it out loud as to the amount offered. That someone only based off of your content and not knowing you personally held you in high regard and value to offer 1 million. Back to expression and watching a few of the channels. I’m speculating and guessing most captains are getting offered 1 million to start or take over. But this is a testament to you as a captain , a content creator, husband, and over human being! I know if I was in the same situation I to would have also made that offer to you. I say this do your new ventures, do new things with in the industry. Also keeping up with yachts and what you need so if in 2, 3, 4 years you decide you want or possibly need to go back (shit I mean life happens!) You can go back. But for now this is your path and fit for you and your life. Interesting enough my curiosity and my question is. Was that signing bonus/salary or was it signing bonus + salary.

Never seen your channel before, But you certainly give mee the feeling that you are a good man.

Nice one, you did the right thing, money is not everthing

Well done mate!

I can tell you from experience, nothing, compares to the day, your child brings home thier child and you see the future in thier eyes. If that is what your planning, you will not regret it for one minute. Your blessed with a great life. Enjoy.

Tristan, you and your wife did the right thing. As much as the planned voyage interested you. Four years is a long time to be stuck with NOT being able to start a family when that is what you both want to do. Further you know the reasons why the boat builder is in your bottom three superyacht builders. That in itself points to a frustrating time for her future captain.

Thank you for sharing..Contined success...

That lighting burned through my eyes and out the back of my skull, and gave my neighbor 5 houses down cancer. There are no words. RIP the multiverse

Full respect to you !

You're right. After reaching the point of independency, the focus switched from money to time. Time to enjoy, to meet new people, to learn, to teach, to explore. CU next month 🙂

Enjoying this vlog and then my ears pricked up when you mentioned the Gosling bar. Goslings is my favourite rum from my time living in Bermuda early 80's. Also a follower of Nautistyles and Aquaholic. I'm not surprised you declined the offer of employment. 4 years is a long time on one world tour. I would love to know the name of the boat builder, but I will never know!

Quality of life is very important! Glad you made the right call for your family! 👍👍👊👊 Respect!

Truly inspirational mate.

Respect, family first🤟

Good on you and your wife’s decision to continue with your original plan/ be true to yourselves…no amount of money can get time back

Thanks Tristan, you are 100% right, money does not equal happiness and you have to make decisions about what is best for the happiness of yourself and your loved ones. If you are short of money, extra helps, but if you have enough for your lifestyle of choice, then extra does not help, indeed it can ruin what you already have.

Definitely made the right choice Tristan. Putting the caption on to your next video to watch says it all.

I have always liked the video s you have filmed I think that thay are very interesting I learn something from them god bless you and your wife I look forward to seeing next video

My estimation of you and respect has just jumped by magnitudes. Good on you for not letting the big payday blind you to what's important in life. Respect, Sir!

I agree with you completely! I have always told my family never enter a bargaining situation being weak. You have to be able to say no for what ever reason you choose.

Glad to see you are in a position to say no to that and not let it derail your life goals.

Quality of life is the important point. Not having money is a big issue to quality of life but once you have everything you need and some on top then you really do not need more. What would you rather have, some friends over for a good meal once a week or a slightly better car and no friends?

Hi Tristan, that is just the way to make decisions in life!!! I quote: "It is not improving our..." That is the point! So many people would have been tempted by the money, but money does not equal happiness. Good decision. To everybody telling Tristan, that he is mad for turning down this offer, sorry but you did not get it. Money is both nice and over-rated. If you need the money, if it improves your life... By all means take it. But if not, if you are "happy" where you are and the commitment might reduce your happiness, just say no. Tristan, should we ever meet in an anchorage or marina, beer will be on me. 🍻 Stay safe and happy Dirk

Man, that boat must really suck for you to walk away from a $1M bonus.

I think you did the right thing for you and your family

I spent 24 years in the restaurant biz, from cook and server to general manager. Working holidays, no real vacation time. After reacting to every stage of COVID lockdowns, I hit a breaking point where I had to walk away. I've been enjoying the last couple months of peace and quiet, enabled by some modest investing success. Nothing luxurious, but adequate for my needs.

i have loved your AWOL and understand completely , good luck and hope to see you in the future .

I like your analysis. Good presentation. 👍👍

Interesting , Thank You.. After 20 years It is probably a good time to take a break , raise a family. Thank You for sharing

Thanks for the great story.

Work to live . . . or live to work. Living is the preferred goal. Good on you Tristan and good on your wife.

Everyone dreams of being rich enough to say "Money will not make you happy".