Just what is the matter with doing something your spouse wants to do
or
feels more comfortable doing? Not everyone is the same. You are
fortunate, Bob, that Suzanne likes to sail.


I agree and trust me...I'm gratefull since she's in my corner even as
I seek out a larger, faster boat for part time live aboard in a few
years.


So waht are
you going to do, if perchance, Suzanne decides one day that sailing
just
isn't it anymore and that the boys, now teenagers, would really
rather
have a jet boat?


Suzanne believes, along with me, that sailing is part of who I am and
that it makes me happy. Just like I know that having this house and
land makes her happy. Only health will force a change. If Thomas grows
to dislike sailing, that would be a shame, but I'll still sail.


She will impress on you taht they've ahd it with
sailing and that as a father, your responsibility is to the family,
not
to sailing.


I have already arranged things so that I'm home 7 days a week, while
earning good money. She works nights and will drop to two days soon.
There's time for sailing and camping and skiing and I'm open to just
about anything. The sailing will always be in our life.


What's going to happen when your
boys, down the line, find out that fast and noise is more fun and
that
dinking along on something that only goes 7 knots at best is rather a
dull way to spend the afternoon?


Well, they may feel that way. We'll see. Since we live near a dozen
lakes, we may also get a speed boat for skiing and water toys. We have
time for it all.


So then you have
a choice: you let them go off by themselves and suffer the
consequences;
or you make them go with you and sit with a boatful of resentful kids
who whine and pule about having to be there

There's a long list of kids who want to come sailing and we've taken
some. Thomas is in love with his boat. This may change, but we'll see.

...or...maybe you'll get
lucky...once in a while a person does and the kids take to it like
ducks
out of water.


For the most part I'm a pretty lucky fellow, Katy. And I mean that
honestly, knowing that it can change.


Enjoy what you have now. Sail like you want
now.


That's exactly what I'm doing. If Doug is secure and happy with his
situation and powerboating rather than sailing, then my comments will
do little more than make him laugh. So no big deal. On the other hand,
if his wife was selfish, pushing Doug away from what he dreamt of;
well that's another kettle of fish. Though I know very little about
Doug and Kathie, I actually do believe that she got what she wanted
and he didn't, while a compromise was possible. Even a Fisher 37 or
various PH shallow draft boats could have kept Doug under sail. The
poor Sundowner cruises about as fast as we do and burned fuel and
money to do it. Yuck.

And now this is for Jeff....

"Sigh...."



RB
35s5
NY