Thanks you for all of the kind words. I am still kicking, and hope that recent stents will give me another 5 or so years.
I have been so blessed, in boating, where I had advice and mentoring from some fantastic individuals, including my very strict father. (Who had enough confidence in his teaching to allow me at age 14 to skipper his 26' sail boat in ocean races, with his adult crew, when he had to travel.).
Later in life I had the skills to undertake two 40,000 mile voyages in motor sailers. Those skills came from those I had sailed with early in life. I knew the founders of Seven Seas Cruising Association, and several early recreational voyagers, including Harry Pigeon, who was the second man to solo circumnavigate.
I also have to thank both Boy and Girl Scouting. My mother kept on me to get that final "Bird Watching" merit badge for Eagle Scout (and give me a passion for that subject later in life), but for also starting me on a path of teaching to younger scouts, and also to Girl Scouts. I was maintenance man at a Girl Scout camp for 5 summers. I had a chance to teach water safety, rowing, sailing, kayaking and canoeing, as well as acting as their transport driver and life guard when at lakes away from Camp. Even as I went about my daily chores there were opportunities to teach the campers.
In Medicine I had wonderful opportunities to teach, first in my residency training and then as an assistant Prof. at UCLA Med School. The Draft and my decision not to pursue a career in research brought me to clinical private practice, with one day a week dedicated to teaching as a clinical professor at UCLA affiliated Hospitals. My last job was for Cal State Long Beach, as "Director of Athletic Medicine"--and involved setting up a fellowship for family practice residents as well as teaching in the undergraduate athletic training program. I probably spent as much time counseling students as I did practicing medicine, but that is very important, especially for athletes, who often don't see beyond the next competition.
After retirement and the advent of the internet, I was blessed to spend a few years both giving lectures on our travels, and Medicine at Sea, as well as Anchoring, Storm tactics, etc at West Marine Trawler Fests.
I saw my first C Dory in 1982, and was so impressed, that I said I would buy one of those when I got too old to sail. That started me on the path of C Dory ownership in the 2003 era.
I need to thank all of you. I learn from every post I read here. We have a number of very skilled and accomplished boaters. We also have a wonderful extended family. Being part of that family is a major reward in itself. If you are a C Dory owner and don't take part in the gatherings, you miss out on a lot of what C Dory's are about.
A special thanks to TyBoo and Da Nag For hosting this internet forum and making it one of the best in all of boating related forums. Please donate to the site and help fund keeping this forum running smoothly.
Thank you!
