It all started...

There is a point in every good adventure story when the participants are faced with the option of pulling out, backing off, turning around, going back. There have been more than a few times when my wife, family, friends, colleagues have looked at me like you would a poor soul who lost his mind or his winning Lottery ticket, or with pity for my family that Dad's manopause is affecting the family so unfairly.

It's all Mark's fault really.

Had he not disturbed an otherwise sedate and uneventful double date at Olive Garden on that fateful evening in '05 with this crazy talk about "wouldn't it be fun if we ran away from home", then I would be malpracticing today rather than packing scuba gear, GPS units, Speedos, and sunscreen, and writing this blog post. Our original grand scheme, penciled out that night with our wives rolling their eyes and shaking their heads, was for both of our families to take a year off, buy sailboats, and sail from LA to Florida. It all seemed so simple, so straightforward, so pure.

Well, 3 years, 2 more diabetics, multiple official American Sailing Association certifications, a few weeks of San Juan Islands sailing experience, countless hours of research and prep time, a severe financial downturn, and several Mini Mental Status Exams later, we are on the cusp of leaving. Sadly, Mark and Stacy et al are unable to join us, after all. We wish, more than almost anything, that you could be here too. We know you want it also. Oh well, just an excuse for another trip in a few years. I'll see you at Olive Garden.

Lastly, a personal note about motivation. This trip reflects my belief that the two saddest words in the whole world are "If only". We have time, means, health, enthusiasm, and desire. The good Lord has blessed our family in so many ways for which we thank Him.

I thank my colleagues at Medford Medical Clinic, Open 7 days a week, The help you need when you need it, for affording us the opportunity to do this. We will miss all of you at MMC. You are the best!

So, we're off to Panama and sailing the eastern Caribbean till April. Helm's alee.

Keith