Scott, Very well put. Congratulations! As a couple who did our first 4 year cruise at ages 46/37 and fully retired to cruise for another 4 years at ages 56/47, I could not agree more age wise. I will confess that we had medical problems also. Marie had a cardiac pacemaker and I had back surgery for a paralized leg along the way. We have observed the cruising community for a number of years--long before we departed. Both partners have to be fully committed--and it is not always the wife who is not suitable for this lifestyle. I found that taking a trial cruise for my wife was very important. I had already crossed an ocean as watch captain/navigator of a racing sailboat, plus sailed all of my life. She had to experience offshore life herself before making the full committment. We took a 5 month voyage, including offshore passages before selling all and casting off. Out of the 20 boats we were close to as we left California in late 1982, with more than 3 year cruising plans, we were the only one which achieved all of the goals. Three boats were lost, 4 had divorces, the rest gave up the voyage at some stage and sold or shipped the boat home. The biggest mistakes we saw were people who had kept businesses--now satellite communication makes it a bit easier, but the basic problems of running a business from afar are still there. The next was having payments on boats/houses etc. Then too rigid or unrealistic a schedule. Finally not looking realistically at the life style. I am not so sure that a sailboat is that much cheaper than a trawler. The reason is that sails and rigging are expensive and require other systems, plus there is still are diesel engines to maintain. We powered 4000 hours out of 41,000 miles--and averaged 6.5 knots under power (of course there was some docking time etc) on our one trip. The other trip was about the same amount of powering. There is also the wish of the wife to do the trip--but as important, is the learning process for her. My wife had to learn to sail, navigate, work on the engine and asses equiptment failures, as well as provision, keep the "books"(including stores and organization of supplies). Fortunately we are both in the medical field, so that was not a new skill for either of us to learn. The spouse has to be able to handle the boat as well--for emergencies happen and she has to be prepared. I can honestly say that Marie makes at least 50% of the decisions of what is done on a voyage or what boat we buy--it has to be right for her--as well as for me. So next for Scott is the preparation of the boat and their selves for the voyage and I am sure that he will keep us informed all of the way! Good going!! We wish you all of the luck in the purchase and the excecution! Bob Austin