Greetings!

[MidwestCoaster]

After lurking and reading for months, I made an account to say hello!

A bit about me: Last year my wife and I sold our home in Orange County, CA to move to Missouri to help with my aging dad. (yes, my wife is a damn saint)

Since being here, we've missed the ocean more and more, and we are ready to start working toward our old "dream big" moment of getting a boat and sailing our sunset years away. We're both in our 40's now, so those years are getting closer!

I just wanted to thank this entire community for so much amazing content!

[Superseapig]

Hello from another newbie. So sorry about your dad. That’s a big life change. And culture shock from CA to MO. Some beautiful lakes in Missouri, but it isn’t the same.
You didn’t say if you sailed when you were in California or if this is a completely new endeavor?
Ali

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, MidwestCoaster.

[MidwestCoaster]

This is a new endeavor. When we lived there before our focus was on paying off our home. It wasn’t until we made Catalina Island our favorite getaway spot that we started dreaming of our own boat. Waiting around in Dana Point for the Express got old.

There are some fantastic lakes in MO. I have wondered if they’d be enough to work on the basics of handling a boat. I know Stockton Lake has a lot of sailboats from a quick visit last month.

[Superseapig]

Lots of inlanders sail on lakes! I just meant you don’t get the same feeling being at the lake as you do with the ocean.
We are brand new to sailing. As in, last Saturday was our first day, collectively as a family. The youngest had a lesson at the sailing club we joined, and us bigger folks gave it a go on the club sunfish. Going back out tomorrow to get some more practice.