TGIF

TGIF ... we haven't had much chance to have that saying relate its true meaning to us in a long time. Shift work, and varying days off all tend to mess up your idea of what a 'normal' working week ought to look like. So far at least the next several weeks, we will be 'out amongst them' as we keep reguilar working days and weekends off while we train. It will be unusual, but we will make the adjustment. Sometimes having weekdays off from work has its advantages, like missing the bulk of a crowd, but it also has its inherent difficulties like having to work weekends and not being able to partake of activities which are invariable scheduled for the masses. Oh well, it's why we have the big office and all.

Yesterday we stopped in and interviewed with a fitmess facility and soon we will be scheduled for classes and training again. It will be good to get back in to a program that will hopefully lead to a better us and I am looking forward to stretching our horizons as we try out some very new things here in the next few weeks.

We also discovered a couple of new (to us) shopping centers with both familiar and new-sounding stores and restaurants. Someday I might stop commenting on this, but traffic still astounds me after only to weeks here. Where are all these people going???

Robin and I will likely spend the weekend being domestic and working around the 'house'; continuing to settle in. We have also looked into a day's worth of exploration as well, perhaps to scope out different campsites/rv parks or look for marinas and beaches. How can you go wrong with that?

On a much-further-in-the-future note; I received an email from a former co-worker (thanks Brad) with suggestions and thoughts on being a full-time sailor and the problem with piracy in unfreindly (or sometimes friendly) areas of the world. While Robin and I still have years ahead before we actually cast off and leave the sight of land for weeks at a time, it still bears serious consideration for us.
Many hundreds of people sail freely around the world and enjoy the awe and wonder of exploration as we hope to do. Planning, preparations and precautions always lead to a safer venture in any category of activity and noother sport exemplifies this principle like long journey sailing. Our goal is to be trained, prepared and careful. Robin and I will be spending the next four years getting ready for this adventure and we will learn as much as we can along the way.
Already it is easy to see that avoiding hot-spots is the easiest way to avoid trouble. I would not invite trouble by walking alone at night on a street populated by gangs, nor would I sail alone, close to shore and within a pirate's radar coverage along the coast of Croatia right now. Our sail planning will necessarilty consider areas that are know the be troublesome and we will avoid them. Another option it so team up with other sailors and form a flotilla of boats to cross worrisome spots. This happens all the time and there is even a radio network where such crossings are organized. A proper amount of concern, and proper planning will minimize risks and push the fun-factor up where it ought to be.
Am I worried about pirates? ... hmmm .. maybe I ~am~ a pirate! :)