Ah, the call of the sea... In my late teens I took a course in French in the city of Royan, on France's Atlantic coast. A couple of my classmates were from the

Ah, the call of the sea... In my late teens I took a course in French in the city of Royan, on France's Atlantic coast. A couple of my classmates were from the US, and they invited me over to where they were living. It was a small sailboat moored in the harbor. The couple had essentially spent a decade working and saving, buying this boat, and having it shipped over to Europe. They'd spent some month sailing around, coastal seas and canals, and decided to learn French in Royan. This was the first inkling that life could be more than a 9-5 grind, saving for retirement, before "life" began. This couple showed that you could alter that balance, that there are options, and your dreams are within reach if you are flexible. I wish I had been more diligent in keeping in touch with these people.