Charlie -- OK, so I haven't really missed a major stride forward in technology after all! Like you, I'm just glad Airmail exists!

John - Interesting, great minds seem to think alike!

We've never had "internet" while cruising, with the exception of a few months in Guatemala/Bay Islands before TIGO figured out how to charge for GPRS and the San Blas Islands. So I really don't care if we're super-connected. Besides, we like to anchor in out of the way spots with as few boats ... to no boats -- probably less likely to have wifi anyway.

On the other hand, I am in the final months of co-authoring a book that International Marine is publishing in June. So we're trying to figure out how to LEAVE & go cruising and yet be enough in contact if need be. We are leaning toward the less expensive Alfa system and will acknowledge we'll "leave some potential access on the table". And I may have to spend some time in an internet cafe in Georgetown or wherever.

But maybe David will get out his Hawaiian Sling and learn how to use it & I'll get to spend hours in the water snorkeling and ID'ing new (to me) species of fish!

Cheers! Jan