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Old 03-07-2011, 17:46   #1
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I've been lurking on this forum for almost a year now. I figured I'd "step into the light" and say hi. It all started with a dream...

Every year I vacation in my hometown of Dana Point, CA. My favorite thing to do is walk the harbor, stare at the boats. About last year I started thinking, "Why not?" I'm in law enforcement and have the benefit of a retirement pension that I can take at age 51, after 30 years of service (nine years from now). My plan is to sell the house, buy a boat and start living aboard as I work on my sailing skills.

My wife and two daughters are "cautiously optimistic". The plan will happen as my daughters are 16 and 13. We home school now, so there is no problem with the education. I'm a little leery of the sociological/psychological aspect of yanking them out of their comfort zone.

I have nine years to go. I'm starting with a few sailing lessons in CA next month. Living in New Mexico isn't exactly conducive to sailing, but I'll make it work.

Wish me luck, I really hope to be on here in 10 years with a thread title along the lines of "Casting Off the Lines"...
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Old 03-07-2011, 17:50   #2
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Re: Long time listener, first time caller

It's never too early to start learning and planning. Hanging around here is like a virtual dock and you will learn a LOT from everyone's stories. Welcome to CF!
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Old 03-07-2011, 17:53   #3
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Re: Long time listener, first time caller

I worked for eleven years land locked in Arabia before I took my teenage children on a sailing trip around the world. It turned out much better than I had hoped, and my kids still think it's an awesome adventure. They want to take their own kids cruising someday.

Young people do well on a sailing adventure. Peer pressures evaporate and the family grows together as a unit - the way things used to work, and they way can still work if people give it a try.

My kids are my best friends, and our cruising memories are like glue that holds our family together.

Cruising with my kids is one of the smartest things I ever did.
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Old 03-07-2011, 18:07   #4
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Re: Long time listener, first time caller

Thanks for the encouragement!

Dave- I've been on your site quite a bit for information and inspiration. The preparation begins next week with my first sailing lesson!
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Old 03-07-2011, 18:17   #5
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Re: Long time listener, first time caller

Welcome on board irvus, the nine years will slip by so fast with two young daughters to look after. Stay safe.
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Old 03-07-2011, 20:40   #6
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Re: Long time listener, first time caller

Welcome Aboard Cruisers Forum

Always nice to have new members with a different point of view and ideas.
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Old 03-07-2011, 21:44   #7
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Re: Long time listener, first time caller

Welcome, Irvus, from a New Mexico-based sailor. Carol Anne and I sail Elephant Butte and Heron lakes in NM and elsewhere. There are many great ways to learn to sail and to grow your sailing dream and the best way for you depends on you and your family. Many people will say to start taking some steps now, even if they are small. The NM State Parks offers a "boating basics" safety class that is FREE, and there are sailors in NM to hang around and learn from. Sailing is quite a large world with all sorts of different ways to experience it. Also, I like to say that you can learn the basics of sailing in a day but take a lifetime to master it.
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Old 03-07-2011, 22:13   #8
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Re: Long time listener, first time caller

Pat- thanks for the encouragement! I'm going to work on getting a trailerable boat to practice on in Elephant Butte and other lakes. Been thinking of a HobieCat or some such to practice on. I'll look into the the NM State Parks courses as well as becoming a dock groupie to suck up all the knowledge I can. Hopefully I'll see you and Carol Anne on the water! Thanks for your encouragement!
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Old 03-07-2011, 22:26   #9
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Re: Long time listener, first time caller

Irvus, private message me your preferred contact info and I can put you in touch with some folks. Have you made contact with Turtle Dave and the Hobie fleet 48 folks? I can also share my opinions about sailing in NM and in general.
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Old 04-07-2011, 06:31   #10
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Re: Long time listener, first time caller

Welcome to CF
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Old 15-07-2011, 19:37   #11
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Re: Long time listener, first time caller

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Good to have you here. All in all all I can say is every kid I've met cruising is miles ahead of the landlocked variety.
kind regards,
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