From Financial Auditor to Ocean Adventurer

Hi, I’m Nita,  a former auditor turned full-time sea creature. I spent years in the finance world, crunching numbers for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), wearing heels, and navigating client meetings, quarter-end audits, and tax reports. My days were defined by deadlines, spreadsheets, and the soft hum of office lights. But one day, everything changed...

Climbing the Finance Ladder

I graduated with a degree in economics, with a minor in tax and audit. Like many ambitious students, I followed the path that seemed secure and “successful.” I landed a job at PwC not long after finishing school, a dream for many fresh grads. I dove headfirst into the high-paced world of financial auditing, spending long nights poring over numbers and learning how to speak the language of balance sheets, client risk, and audit strategy.

After gaining a few solid years of work experience, I decided to pursue a master’s degree abroad. I packed my bags and moved to New Zealand, where I expanded my knowledge and global perspective. I returned to Indonesia even more qualified and motivated, landing a role as a senior finance consultant. The hours were still long, the stakes still high, but the paycheck was good, and from the outside, it looked like I had it all figured out.

But deep down, something was missing. I had ticked all the boxes, degrees, job titles, promotions, but there was a quiet emptiness I couldn’t shake.

The Day I Took a Breath Underwater

And then one day in 2013, while on a much-needed break, I went scuba diving for the first time.

It’s hard to describe the moment that changed everything. I remember descending slowly, equalizing my ears, and then suddenly… silence. Peace. Color. Life. My eyes locked on vibrant coral reefs, manta rays gliding by, and fish moving like synchronized dancers in the current. It was like seeing the world in color for the first time after years of grayscale.

I took a deep breath underwater, and something clicked. Something inside me stirred that I hadn’t felt in years.

That single dive did what no spreadsheet ever could: it made me feel alive.

From that moment, I couldn’t stop thinking about the ocean. I started carving out time between consulting work to dive more, travel more, and explore Indonesia’s coastlines and remote islands. I became obsessed, not just with the marine world, but with the feeling of freedom and curiosity that came with it.

The Leap: Sabbatical, Scuba, and Sailing

When the Sea Calls, You Answer

Within months, I made one of the most impulsive, and, to many, incomprehensible, decisions of my life: I handed back my work badge, packed one suitcase, and walked away from everything that looked good on paper. My corporate career paused. My heart slowed, and my soul exhaled for the first time in years.

“There goes years of studying,” someone said. “Your bachelor’s, your master’s, your CPA… all for what?”

“You’re not gonna make it.”

“That’s career suicide.”

Those were the things I heard the most after I broke the news to my friends, family, and colleagues. For an Indonesian girl in her early 20s, quitting a well-paid, stable job in a respected firm wasn’t just unconventional, it was considered reckless. In their eyes, I was throwing away everything I had worked so hard for: the late nights, the promotions, the validation. A few even bet I wouldn’t last more than a few months before begging to come back.

But I wasn’t running away. I was running toward something, I just didn’t know what it was yet.

What I did know was that my body was exhausted, my creativity was suffocating, and I didn’t recognize myself anymore. So I gave myself permission to pause. I booked a one-way ticket. I didn’t have a five-year plan. I didn’t even have a one-year plan. I only knew I needed to stop numbing myself with spreadsheets and performance reviews and start listening to the part of me that still believed life could feel a little more alive.

Landing My First Job On a Boat

Somewhere during that sabbatical, somewhere between sunsets and spontaneous conversations, chance and courage collided.

I struck up a conversation with Maria who happened to be hiring crew for a yacht. One conversation led to another, and before I had time to overthink it, she offered me a job on the spot.

Suddenly, I swapped boardrooms for bowlines. I went from structured work weeks and high heels to barefoot days under the sun, learning to tie knots and read the sea. It was the kind of “questionable decision” people love to gossip about, but for me, it was the beginning of everything.

I traded balance sheets for tide charts, corporate jargon for star maps, and performance bonuses for quiet joy. I had no maritime experience, no long list of qualifications, just a willingness to learn, a curious spirit, and a gut feeling that this was exactly where I needed to be.

And here I am, a decade later. Still proving every “you’re not gonna make it” wrong. Still living my dream, every single day.

Navigating the Yachting Industry: A New Career Path

Let’s be real, my finance degree didn’t exactly scream “qualified deckhand” or “yacht marketer.” I had zero maritime experience, no STCW certificate at the time, and no cruise ship résumé to wave around. But I said yes anyway.

I learned everything on the job, how to steer, moor, clean, assist guests, prep cocktails, and eventually, market charters. Every day I fell harder for the ocean and the freedom that came with it. My adaptability became my anchor in the yachting world, especially in Indonesia, where the industry looked very different a decade ago.

At that time, there were hardly any women working on deck, and definitely not in leadership roles. It took months, maybe years, to earn the respect of other crewmembers, 95% of whom were male. One of the first yachts I worked on had an all-male crew. I was the only woman onboard, sleeping in a shared mess with eight men. Privacy was non-existent. Personal space? A luxury.

There were trips where the boat was overbooked and I had to give up my own cabin to accommodate a guest’s baby-sitter. I’d sleep on the floor or rotate sleeping in a crewmember’s bed while they were on night watch. I was constantly improvising, constantly proving myself.

And while there were unforgettable sunsets, manta ray dives, and laughter-filled nights under the stars, there were also moments that nearly broke me. Navigating a male-dominated industry wasn’t easy back then. I faced harassment, both mental and physical. One crew member used to brush up against me inappropriately, touching my lower back and bum under the guise of “accidents.” It was disgusting and infuriating.

Thankfully, I had allies, senior crewmembers who didn’t just turn a blind eye. They stood up for me. That particular crew member was eventually fired after a separate incident involving guests, but I never forgot how vulnerable and isolated I felt in that moment.

Still, I stayed. Not because I had something to prove, but because the sea gave me something the corporate world never could: a sense of self. And slowly, I began carving out space for myself, not just as a crew member, but as someone who could bring value beyond deck work.

UPDATE IN 2025: The Life I Never Planned (But Always Needed)

After years of sailing, I finally walked away from full-time boat life in December 2024. It was time. My back needed a break, and so did my soul.

Now, I work as a yacht broker and marketer, connecting people to the magic of being at sea, without having to sacrifice their own cabin. I bring my firsthand experience onboard into every charter or boat I market, every listing I write, and every client I advise. Because I’ve scrubbed the decks. I’ve hauled lines. I’ve lived the long crossings and the starry-night anchor watches.

And that makes all the difference.

These days, I still use spreadsheets, but mostly to manage yacht listings or plan logistics for sea-based adventures. My office is often the deck of a boat. My meetings are sometimes with manta rays or island villagers. And my heart? It’s never been more full.

People often ask if I regret leaving the corporate world after years of study, a master’s degree, and a promising finance career.

The answer is no. I don’t regret it for a second.

Because while that world taught me structure and strategy, the ocean taught me presence. It gave me a second chance, to build a life around wonder, freedom, and joy.

And honestly, what’s more valuable than that?

Why I Started Happily Roaming: Sharing Ocean Adventures

Part Travel Diary, Part Therapy

I launched Happily Roaming to document all facets of this life: my travel stories, yachting mishaps, reef discoveries, and unexpected friendships. It’s not a how-to guide (though you might pick up tips), it’s a logbook, heartfelt, unscripted, and sometimes sea-sick.

Building an SEO-Friendly Sailing Blog

If you’re searching for “yachting industry insights,” “sailing blog stories,” or “adventure at sea,” you’ve come to the right place. My posts are designed to answer real questions from fellow travelers, aspiring yachties, and the ocean‑obsessed, while staying authentic, witty, and a little salty.

Lessons I’ve Learned: From Corporate to Coral Reefs

Lesson 1 - Passion Beats Paychecks

Sure, my finance job paid well, but it didn’t feed my soul. The perfect job isn’t always the one with the highest paycheck. I’d choose coral reefs over cubicles any day.

Lesson 2 - Comfort Zones Are Overrated

My life in corporate was stable, but stable isn’t the same as meaningful. Taking that sabbatical was terrifying, and the best decision I’ve ever made. Embrace discomfort. You never know where it might lead.

Lesson 3 - You Don’t Need Experience to Start

I had zero sailing credentials when I started. What I did have was curiosity, grit, and a willingness to learn. In yachting, enthusiasm is as vital as experience. Show up eager, and doors open.

Lesson 4 - Community Matters

On deck, you rely on your crew. In life, you rely on community. I’ve found support in fellow sailors, yacht industry pros, and readers like you who cheer me on, even when I send emails from the middle of nowhere.

What’s Next for Happily Roaming?

Exploring More Ports of Call

I plan to chronicle more destinations, from secluded anchorages to bustling ports. Expect tales from Indonesia, Vietnam, Mediterranean gems, and beyond.

More Boat Life Diaries

Boat life is unpredictable. I'll share more cruising catastrophes, magical moments, and underwater epiphanies, unfiltered and unedited.

Captain’s Picks and Gear Reviews

I’ll dive into what gear keeps me afloat, which island snacks actually get eaten, and which books (or podcasts) make long passages feel shorter.

Photo Dumps That Don’t Skimp on the Salty

Expect reef-colored sunsets, manta ray whispers, morning coffee on deck, and the occasional seaweed sandwich, moments that don’t need retouching.

How to Connect with Me (and Roam Happily Too)

Join the Conversation

I love hearing from readers, drop a comment, message me on Instagram, or email your questions. Curious about joining the yachting industry? Need tips on sabbaticals or scuba? I’m here to help.

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Want to Guest Post or Collaborate?

I'm open to partnerships that vibe with marine conservation, sustainable travel, or yachting lifestyle brands. Let’s chat!

Thank you for reading—now back to happily roaming!

Ever curious what I looked like in my corporate girlie era, pre-tattoos and all? Here are some throwbacks. Roast away, I can take it.