Let me share some pages from a yachting magazine from pre and post WWII.

You might even remember some of this!

At some point, we must think of the future. We are the luckiest generation as we enjoy a longer life span than our parents, generally have better health, and hopefully many active years ahead of us.

How do we get there, by plan or by chance?

No matter how much you prepare, there is always something. A young Swedish couple I follow recently sailed from the Big Island in Hawaii to Honolulu. The sail wasn’t pleasant, and in the brisk conditions, they heard a loud bang against their aluminum hull. Turns out they lost their Rocna anchor overboard. The chain had been removed for the trip to keep seawater out of the chain locker, done a million times, but this time, their trusted stainless steel anchor restraint failed.

It’s Always Something.

Like that credit card commercial, “What’s in Your Dinghy?”

What you carry in your dinghy may make a difference if the unexpected happens. Whether it is a handheld radio, sunscreen, or a working flashlight, it can make an unexpected situation just another cruising adventure instead of something less pleasant.

I now savor my first taste of the famed Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain, which last year attracted over 300,000 people from around the world. I purposely did not set any expectations for this walking trip, rather deciding to let it happen and see where it went. I was rewarded with new friends, and an experience that I could never have imagined.

While the last bit of jet lag conspires against me along with a strong allergic reaction to the pollen now covering Annapolis, I am sure this trip will linger on in my daily life as I plan my third act in life.

Technology has made remarkable progress in the past decade, making navigation easier, safer, and more reliable. But we're not at the point of autonomous boating, so it is still the operator's responsibility to maintain situational awareness.

A couple of incidents worth reading about bring up the subject of maritime security. Military branches from many countries are working together to address these issues, but it is a complicated.

And an outstanding effort by the Australian Navy makes a miracle happen.

A nice solution for carrying one's license, credit cards, and cash when a wallet or purse is vulnerable, such as wet dinghy ride going ashore.

It is time to develop a skilled workforce in the marine industry, as many older techs retire. Developing apprenticeship programs is now the focus of industry, federal, and state government who partner to create a talented and quality labor resource for the future.

One of my all-time favorite true stories about a couple, alone in an anchorage, when something terrible happens that neither expected. Proof that great things never happen in comfort zones.

Have a box of Kleenex handy.