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David:
Like a lot of men who've made it to their 50's, David has had a broad range of experiences: Air Force Intelligence Officer, cab driver, high school teacher, policeman, Forest Service Naturalist, admin clerk, ColdFusion programmer for the Alaska Department of Education and now Retired Man of Leisure!.

Christine:
Christine also brings a diverse pallet of experience with her to the sailing/cruising lifestyle. She's been a waitress, shoe salesperson, delivery driver, retail sales clerk, bus driver, mother, grandmother (her favorite occupation), Accounting Technician and, most recently, Education Program Assistant for the Alaska Department of Education.

Together:
We've have been married since February of 1969. While in the Air Force, we've traveled with our family across the United States from Southern California to homes in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, and the Alaska Interior. We have three children and three grandchildren. In our 40's we rode motorcycles north of the Arctic Circle. In our 50's, we plan on cruising Raven "someplace warm".

We bought our first boat, a 29' Ericson sloop named Spray, in 1992. Spray was located in Bellingham, WA, and we moved aboard as full time liveaboards in the Summer of 1993. While living aboard, we spent the next 2 ½ years exploring the San Juan and Gulf Islands and Desolation Sound. Mostly what we were doing is learning how to sail! Neither of us had operated a sailing vessel before! Obviously, the learning curve was mighty steep! Oh, the stories we could tell! Maybe we will!

In April of 1995 (100-years after Joshua Slocum and Spray started his voyage), our own little boat Spray departed Fairhaven (South Bellingham) to start our voyage. Rather than head south though, we opted to head north - back to Alaska; and explore the Inside Passage.

As we were cruising, we had plenty of time, and no schedules. Because of this, we were able to spend more than 4 months sailing (mostly motoring) up the Inside Passage and exploring Southeast Alaska. In fact; we spent so much time exploring, that the summer had passed, and the next thing we knew, it was September and the weather had closed down on us making it ill-advised to head south without a radar (fog, snow, etc.).

We ended up taking jobs here in Juneau and settling in for the long term. Be careful if you come to Southeast Alaska! The place and the people are so wonderful that you'll fall in love and never want to leave! Its hard to believe we've been here so long! 12 years later, we've finally retired and will be leaving Juneau to head south on June 15, 2007 It'll be hard to go, but...

"A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for".
Grace Murray Hopper (1906 - 1992)