Well, my friends, I did it. After long consideration and many calculations I put in my request to retire. In 86 days I will give up the day job I have held since 1981. I will be gainfully unemployed as of September 30. I will have a ritual burning of the alarm clock on October 1.

This is a scary decision but one that is fraught with possibilities. Just last night I was talking with a friend who is building a big twin hull power boat. It is built for range, not speed, and he plans to use it to visit the various islands of the South Pacific and carry small cargos and the mail that sometimes takes way to long to get where it is going. I told him I would soon have plenty of time if he wanted a crew member. He said I was welcome aboard.

Ah, what more could I ask for? Life will be good. Sleepng until I wake up, a little exercise in the morning, some work in the afternoon, plans, dreams, and an occasional nap. Someone pinch me, I think I'm dreaming.