My LTR of around 5 years was giving me shit about wanting to fly to the Philippines for a 2-week scuba trip, without her. She knows that I had a plate over there some years ago, and was distraught that I might be seeing her.

I'm not pleased with the idea of having 7,000 islands on this planet as off-limits to me, so I initiated the Captain program.

I lived on large sailboats in San Diego for around 8 years and hitchhiked across the Pacific to Australia on sailboats. I am a very qualified skipper.

I started talking with LTR about buying a boat in Mexico sometime in 2017, probably around Aug/Sep. Then she and I would do the easy, lazy cruise in the Sea of Cortez for a few months before heading west to the Marquesas and Tahiti, then on to the islands further west.

I began showing her potential boats that were big enough, properly equipped, and in a price range I can pay with cash to buy.

She forgot all about the Philippines and became immersed in the project of selecting and discussing our new home, the Boat.

This week I booked my flights for the scuba trip in October. LTR is still focused on being my actual 1st Mate.

Before I go diving, I will give her a stack of books to read about sailboat terminology, sailing, cruising, and safety. Her orders will be to learn as much as she can, if she wants to go sailing with me.

I already told her that if, after a few weeks on the boat, she doesn't like it, can't get comfortable, or for any reason decides she cannot sail; that I will continue on without her and go sailing for 3-4 years, without her. I told her she does not get a veto on my dream.

Since then she has been the happiest 1st Mate on the planet.