Introduction

1997, Bradenton, Florida

I was 41, the Captain 39, and Czar just over a year when we stepped on board our 1971 single-engine trawler.  'Cap' and I were still getting to know one another and were each recovering from severe emotional blows.  We'd independently developed devil-may-care attitudes and were driven by the old, "No guts, no glory" mantra; plus mid-life was kicking in but we didn't realize. Our assets were as limited as our boating experience; yet without any real plan, our intention was to cruise the Caribbean for a year and see if we liked it.  Czar, a sweet-tempered purebred, loathed the water.

Following one month’s preparation and a few practice runs around the Sarasota area, our crossing from Florida to the Bahamas was horrifying.  With each mishap south my trauma increased until, by Puerto Rico I was done.  Our cruise is documented in Chapter-posts, a list is on the right.

Our boat-kitty was pretty much depleted as well.  Finding work would be hard without speaking Spanish; so for 12 years we did what we could to survive:  from grocery store clerk to gallery owners, making good friends and acquaintances along the way.  I transformed from a high-heeled corporate exec to a flip-flopped Artesana de Puerto Rico, and after awhile felt I'd become Boricua.

How did we simply drop anchor out of nowhere and manage all that?  We couldn't have done it nowadays, a recent trip to my old stomping grounds plainly revealed.  Fortunately, I kept journals and took lots of photos to jog my memory; but rather than compose a lengthy chronological account, I am condensing the continuity of people and places through the years, for lack of a better description.

It's been a long time since I've posted new stories here on Ruff Life at Sea, I'll blame Covid.  Therefore, my New Year's Resolution: just go ahead and post the stories, don't worry about publishing.  I've begun with a list of Standalone Stories on the far right.  A number of these  were originally posted on a different blog of mine, Travels with Buttercup, so the format will look different; but it's easy enough to return.  Here are two suggestions to begin:

Cruising:  A Rough Start

Island Life:  Reconnecting with Puerto Rico

My absense from (and ignorance of) societal changes from 1997-2009 resulted in my lack of understanding (and interest in) most things technical.  I have a flip phone, and never intend to scan a QR code unless under duress. 

In any event, please enjoy one Boomer's mid-life adventure, forgive my formatting, and thank you for sharing!