All great advice. Let me add my two cents. After maybe three sails aboard an Oday 35 and one on a Cal 40 (tillered) I made the plunge to buy my first boat. I'm over 60 and live in the San Francisco Bay Area. Two and a half years ago I shopped rather quickly for a boat. I had retired and was getting bored quickly. I wanted a boat of 30 feet with wheel steering, even though I learned to sail with a tiller on 20 footers in Hawaii a long time ago. I wanted a wheel so I'd have more room for guest in the cockpit and more importantly, so I could turn the helm over to my wife when need be. When I began shopping I quickly came upon an Ericson 32, from 1972. She was in good shape and had 6'2" headroom in the galley. I'm 6'2" and shrinking, so in bare feet I can stand when below. Accomodations are pretty good. I was a bit perplexed by the "skipper's cockpit" behind the wheel with the mainsheet just ahead of the wheel and the traveler where I had to step over it to get in the cockpit. No other boat was like that. It was a good decision. After sailing a lot, and alone, for the past two years, I just love it. When sailing alone I can trim the main with my right hand and steer with my left. It's become automatic. I have all lines lead aft so not only can I do that, I can raise the main, and reef it without leaving the main cockpit. I sail my genoa a lot. I've learned to use my spinnaker winches and their jam cleats which are again at an arms lenght away from the wheel. So, if you have any Ericson 32's in your market, give them a look. Don't let the size dissuade you. You won't be disappointed. They will probably have wheel steering and the extra five feet adds to comfort. Oh, BTW, my marina allows overhang so I pay only for a 30 foot slip: another savings. Hope this helps. I've attached a picture of the cockpit so you can see the winch setup. The dodger was in for repair and the mainsheet is strung from the boom for storage. Oh, and another thing, with the mainsheet right in front of the skipper, jibbing is much easier. Just grab the mainsheet and ease the boom over. If you do find an Ericson, one of the best things you'll get is this great community. Good luck.