I gave up my tech job in Seattle to live on a sailboat. I've fought off pirates at 3 a.m. and it was terrifying — but I'll never go back to my old life.

• Brian Trautman has spent the past 14 years living on a 53-foot sailboat, sailing to 46 countries.
• He quit his tech job and sold his house to embark on his journey, where he met his wife.
• The couple fund their adventures by creating content about living on the boat.

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed interview with Brian Trautman, a 47-year-old sailor and content creator who lives aboard a sailboat with his wife and daughter. It has been edited for length and clarity.