Setting Sail – our first post

They can can come take it all away
Break your heart in the light of day
Drown your love in a distant bay
So lonely

See the ship heading for the rocks
See the time melting off the clocks
There’s a light shattering all the locks
And saves me
It saves me

That’s why I wander and follow La Vie Dansante
On the night wind that takes me just where I want
That’s all I want
La Vie Dansante
Why don’t you wander and follow La Vie Dansante
On the night wind that takes you just where you want
That’s all you’ll want
La Vie Dansante

Miss the beat if you close your eyes
Every night wears a new disguise
And I live when a new surprise surrenders

Feel it all with a willing heart
Every stop is a place to start
If you know how to play the part with feeling
I play with feeling

That’s why I wander and follow La Vie Dansante
On the night wind that takes me just where I want
That’s all I want
La Vie Dansante
Why don’t you wander and follow La Vie Dansante
On the night wind that takes you just where you want
That’s all you’ll want

La Vie Dansante

Jimmy Buffett, Will Jennings and Michael Utley

About 13 years.

That’s what Barbara and I have spent finding our future together. We’ve been married most of that time – exploring new destinations and far-off continents together between raising kids in our blended family. We’ve discovered places, for sure; but we’ve also discovered a mutual love of salt air; sandy beaches; exotic drinks; adventure and each other.

While our initial retirement plans involved finding a home along a nice stretch of beach somewhere, we struggled with the permanence of a “fixed” home. There was something lacking in that plan – it was too docile. It lacked uncertainty; it lacked adventure; it lacked … a waterline.

Inspired by a couple we know who more-or-less spontaneously bought a 42-foot cat and set sail, we were swept away by the irresistible call of the sea.

Barbara had not previously been enamored with sailing. She had spent some time on the water in powerboats and was pretty settled with that form of aquatic activity. I had learned to sail over 35 years ago, while a Midshipman at the US Naval Academy; and I had planned to live on a sailboat during my time as a junior officer – a plan that was quickly shelved as I took on the responsibility of raising a family. So it was with a great deal of excitement and happiness that I embraced my sweetheart’s conversion to sail power! We began to plan a future on the seas, yoked at last to a common vessel – the cruising catamaran!

This blog documents our journey. Today marked the announcement of my impending retirement from United Way of Tarrant County, so I figure it’s the right time to share more info about our next chapter. We’ll let you in on the peaks and valleys (yes, it’s already a diverse landscape!) on how we got here, then post live as we live the dream!

Oh, the name of this blog is the name of our boat – La Vie Dansante – the dancing life! The phrase perfectly describes our love and our intertwined lives up to this point; and the Jimmy Buffett song it’s taken from paints a pretty good picture of our chosen destiny.

TD & Barbara – La Vie Dansante

Take a quick tour of La Vie Dansante!

She’s a 2013 Fountaine Pajot Helia 44 – 44 feet in length, 25 feet abeam and she draws 4 feet. Her mast is 68 feet high.