NEW BERN, N.C.- As Hurricane Earl kept creeping closer to eastern Carolina's coast, some left their homes to the mercy of the sea while others braved the storm on the water.
"It's your home and it's not your normal life you know,” said James Shutt, owner and captain of sail boat ‘Millie C. Moore’. “You choose this life for the thrill."
Out of 100 boats docked at the Bridgepointe Marina in New Bern, about 20 families live aboard their vessels. It would take more than the threat of a strong hurricane to make them leave.
"They want to protect their home just like people want to protect their home inland,” said Kim Hill, Bridgepointe Marina Manager.
Shutt docked his sail boat here about two months ago. He and his wife will stay through the end of hurricane season. But as the first major storm was making a brush with Craven County, some opted for higher ground.
"My wife is in that motel behind us across the river,” said Shutt. “The only smart one in the family."
Others experiencing their first hurricane have to look past strong winds and a threatening forecast for the silver lining.
"It's our home, it's where we live,” said Alison Fieber. “But we are on floating docks here so it's a really nice perk."
"I'm just watching lines for my friends here,” said Shutt who spent the day tying down lines for his neighbors.
"It's a community,” he said. “We all help each other. And it's a different life than people who live in shore and in a house. You know, I had a nice secure house in the hill country of Texas and I left that for this."
Boaters say they live for storms like Earl to sail on through. Most boaters living aboard at the marina are planning on staying through November until hurricane season ends. From there, James Shutt and his wife will head on down to the Bahamas.
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