Since returning from Belize, we have become engrossed with the notion of sailing. We still keep active, but find ourselves riding our bikes to locations like Falls Lake or Jordan Lake, just to see what local sailing has to offer.

We are dissappointed with Jordan Lake, only one marina and it appears to be a "high security" affair, with locked gates at the end of each dock. We do like a little marina we discovered on Falls Lake. In fact, one gentleman invited us to board his Hunter 22 to look around. He was, in fact, willing to sell it for a reasonable price, but we just weren't ready yet. He did, however, plant a powerful seed relative to our sailing options.

Sheryl and I had always considered the long-term approach to owning a sailboat (toward the end of the five-year plan). In the interim, we would charter boats with our vacation time. The idea of buying a small boat was a new concept. Perhaps we could get some sailing practice on a more regular basis. If we did, though, do we really want to sail on a lake?

Bruno's voice echoed in my ears (British accent and all), "You have some of the best sailing right there in North Carolina's Outer Banks." Thus began our very casual careers as coastal dock walkers.

We continued to respect the almost hallowed tradition of Saturday volleyball, but stole away on Sundays to explore the coast. We weren't really shopping, but found the proximity to boats and marinas to be comforting to our yearning souls.