Our sons were leaving the nest, the economy was in free fall, our jobs were stagnant, and it seemed my husband and I had come to the edge of something: We could live safe, small lives or try something totally new by launching into the unknown. And so, the year before our second son left for college, we bought a gently worn sailboat that we named Heron.
The boat that turned out to be the best deal at the time was an enormous, 54-foot, cutter-rigged sailboat – a ridiculous amount of boat for two people with no prior sailing experience together to learn how to sail. Our friends all thought we were nuts.
But our plan didn't seem all that far-fetched to me. Until then, my husband and I had spent the majority of our lives together as many couples do: trying to be decent parents and engaged and informed citizens, all while making a living. Now, with our
