Pete served in the US Coast Guard Reserve. (1986-1990) Some of his research for the Great Loop started there. He learned about the United States Power Squadron (USPS) and we joined our local Squadron. Pete attended the local meetings. (Initially my work interfered.) We also joined the America’s Great Loop Cruiser’s Association.
I was able to attend the Squadron Christmas Dinner (my introduction to USPS and the benefits of boating friendships) which opened up an amazing network of new friends and boating enthusiasts. We learned about boating safety classes planned for Spring 2017. We committed to the education and to supporting our squadron activities.
Pete ordered a poster sized map of “America’s Great Loop Cruise Routes,” available on the AGLCA website. I framed this poster for a position near our dining table. Our nightly dinner discussions were nearly always centered on planning for our trip.
It was during these dinner conversations that my “someday” retirement loomed ever closer. If we wanted to start our adventure in spring of 2018, I needed to wrap up my very rewarding nursing career sooner than I thought!