November 29, 2003

• Excerpt from Changing Course: A Woman’s Guide to Choosing the Cruising Life by Debra Ann Cantrell Joan and Jack, both teachers in their early 50s, had just sent their third and youngest child off to university when they decided to take an unpaid, one-year sailing sabbatical. They had originally planned to retire on to a boat in their early 60s, but the sudden death of a close friend at age 49 prompted them to rethink their plans and take advantage of their excellent health and stable resources. They financed their home to purchase a modest vessel and borrowed enough money to sustain themselves for 12 to 18 months. By renting their home, they were able to meet their loan payments and other land expenses while cruising. They planned to sell the boat when they returned to pay off the outstanding loan. When they were 9 months into their sabbatical they found they were enjoying their cruising dream so much that they requested an additional one-year leave. They cruised for 23 months before returning to land and resuming their teaching positions. A few of their friends and colleagues were aghast at Joan and Jack’s decision to forego income during their peak earning years. Jack countered these criticisms by rationalizing that he would rather spend an extra year or two in the classroom at age 60 than forego a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity while in the best of health at age 52. Four years after returning from their cruising sabbatical, Jack died of a massive heart attack at age 59. At Jack’s memorial service, Joan described the time they spent cruising as the best two years of their lives together. She confessed that the idea of sailing off into the sunset had always appealed more to Jack. She also recalled with humor how well-meaning friends and family tried to encourage them to postpone their cruising plans until they had acquired more sailing skills and experience. In her closing remarks, Joan urged well-wishers to live their dreams today and not to be brainwashed into believing that circumstances will somehow be better in the distant future.

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