As a youngster growing up in a small town on the "Jersey Shore" I longed for a boat. I spent the months from May until September living in not much more than a bathing suit and swam every day for hours on end.

My best friend's Dad owned a small concession stand and boat and boat slip rental place right on the water. As kids we'd swim from the dock and always be conscripted into doing "boat chores" of cleaning, etc.

I loved the environment but wanted desperately, to have my own boat. I asked my Mom and Dad for a boat enough times that I'm sure I tried their patience. We were not a well-to-do family so, I never got a boat. The dream never really faded.

I spent many years of my later life around the water, the Atlantic, Pacific, East China Sea, Sea of Japan, etc., at that time, owning a boat was not practical as I could be called away at a moment's notice....but the dream was still there.

Life being what it is, I recently had an opportunity to buy a boat. I did. Here's some info and some pictures (Yep, that's me at the helm):