Gene,

We were running toward the cruising life. Not away from the normal US bombardment.

We cut most things down to what was required to stay gone and still live. We found that the longer out we were the more we had to have some connection back to the US, if still wanted some things from there. Late in our 2ed year, we started to have problems with ordering things from US stores. NOT getting them to us, but placing the order. What happened was our old phone number was gone and every time we tried to order an item, they could just not deal with some one without a number! Little things like that.....

When we were at anchor in remote places all was great! But when ever we were in a foreign marina, (or get together) and cruisers got together, the fun began. People almost always started talking about politics!!!! Drove me crazy. One guy even said to me, in the middle of asking me what party political I belonged to, that he went cruising to get away from all the political arguing! So I told him that was in our list also, and then asked him if that was why he departed, why did he bring it with him??? I then turned and walked away.

We had a family thing that brought us back MUCH earlier than planned, and when we did get back it took weeks to months to get over the onslaught of all the US crap! We still long for the simpler stuff and are heading back out part time soon. As was said, if you have ANY family back here, you are always tied.

One thing that was fun, after being out of the US for years, then anchoring out for a month or more, then watching a DVD video of a TV show that a friend sent us. Seeing the commercials was almost as much fun as the show! Seeing how ridiculous they are without the background of living in the US is something to behold!!

Greg