"Life Ain't No Dress Rehearsal"

"Those who face that which is actually before them, unburdened by the past, undistracted by the future, these are they who live, who make the best use of their lives; these are those who have found the secret of contentment."         Alban Goodier

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Several years ago a friend and colleague had a lifelong yearning to sail around the world. Not wanting to miss out on his dream, he retired early to fulfill his wanderlust. After sailing from the U.S. Virgin Islands to New Zealand, he decided to take a break from sea life and returned to the USA for the holidays.  On the return to the boat in New Zealand, he stopped in Colorado to snow ski. In an unfortunate turn of events, he suffered a massive heart attack and died on the ski slopes. After the dust settled from this tragic loss, I began to take a good look at my own life and to re-evaluate what was important to me. Since travel is a passion, I vowed not to wait until retirement to start my travels. So, for me, this journey we are about to embark on is in part dedicated to his memory and the way he lived his life.  As Big D liked to quote Mark Twain, "Life ain't no dress rehearsal".

I seem to gravitate toward water, whether it be a small stream close to home or an ocean voyage. There is something about the tranquility of the ocean that appeals to all my senses. Iʼm not sure I fully understand this attraction that lives deep in my soul. Joining a sailing crew that is “taking the slow boat to China” seems to be a perfect fit for me at this stage in my life.