Sons left for college, 1 year closer to retirement

[glennd3]

Both sons just left for their junior and senior years. I am 60 and sailing has to be so much nicer when you are not limited to weekends.  I cannot wait till I am retired and can go whenever the weather is nice/perfect. I think I can retire next year, although the financial planners say that either my wife or I will live to be 93, I have to believe it wont be me. Question for you retired guys, How nice is it just to be able to sail when the weather is nice? I take a week every year on the Chesapeake as a vacation and it is so peaceful when the weekend warriors are not out! Cant wait till I can do the whole month.

[Ron Hill]

Glenn : Wouldn't cheer quite yet until those sons graduate!!                                                                            Had one of my daughters enter college with 60 credits on day one!! Only to find that she decided to graduate 4 years later with 3 majors!!  Tried to convince her that on ANY application they do not ask how many majors you have - degrees Yes but majors No.  Now a PhD and it took awhile but I finally got over it!!  With six I started paying college tuition in Aug 1972 and finished in Dec 1989.  Never even missed a semester!

Great to sail when the WX is OK and take trips and not have to be back on any certain date - WX be damned - must get back!!

We always avoided Annapolis on the weekend - you could step from boat to boat to get from the western Chesapeake shore to the eastern shore!!  The radio traffic was - to turn off the radio and hide in some cove!!

Found that the first limiting factor causing us to dock was - get rid of garbage (dingy full)!! 

A few thoughts

[Stu Jackson]

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Question for you retired guys, How nice is it just to be able to sail when the weather is nice? >>>>>>>>
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Glenn,

It actually takes a lot of effort.  I find it amusing to wander through a week without caring what day it is, and I just had a vacant look when a shopkeeper said, "Have a great weekend!" to me an hour ago! 

One does, however, HAVE to know what day it is so that the tide & current tables make sense.  Here it is critical, especially during springs.

For example, I've been on the boat since Sunday, got underway on Monday, and I think tomorrow is Saturday because I have to vacate this guest slip at Friday Harbor.

I've traveled through some of these waters by ferry, but it sure is superior when you do it on your own boat.

Getting "into" open ended cruising does take work:  provisioning properly is critical.

Then all ya got left is "Where do we go tomorrow?"

That's the FUN part.

Good luck.  If you need any more specific assistance, I'll probably be in an anchorage with "No Service" on my technologically marvelous toys. 

[Ekutney]

My youngest daughter is getting married in Oct but I see retirement a few years away.  I love my job & it gives me flexibility to spend weekends on the boat.

I am doing a bunch of reading because the Chesapeake Bay has lots & lots of places to visit, drop the hook & relax.

[Roc]

Interested to hear what other retirees can say about the added flexibility on sailing!  Enjoyed reading Ron and Stu's comments 

[britinusa]

We're both in our 70's, retired (Navy 25 years, Biz: 25 years, Nurse 45+ years) Kids - long time on their own way.

With our boat in South Florida, the weather is the biggest restrictor: Dorian has probably put the Bahamas off the list for at least a year, possibly several, so our grounds are primarily the East Coast of Florida and down to the Keys & Dry Tortuga's. I would go further, but my wife likes short days. We're planning longer trips, but they are basically day hops.

We have a very active sailing club and that is a big plus, great excuse to take the boat out.

Those of you that can step onto the boat, cast off and get out at any time the weather permits have my envy! We're tide bound 2 hours either side of high tide to get to and from the dock. So trips are always at least one overnight.

Oh! there's one other restrictor! We have a Grand-daughter that lives an hour away - Grandpa and Grandma love having her stay over 

Paul

[Roc]

Wow Paul, you seem to have many restrictions!  Almost as bad as me with work and weather....  Based on your tag "Britinusa" I assume 25 years in Royal Navy?  Very Cool