So often, we're asked how we got into this unusual lifestyle and Points Unknown pops into my head – that little, utilitarian boat that will always fondly be remembered as our first.

When we decided to ardently go after our dream of a life spent sailing over warm tropical waters, we wanted to take action right away – even while still living in our landlocked area of Ohio. After some brainstorming, we devised a list of things that would help us prepare with little investment and without an actual vessel. And it's important to note that every one of these preparation activities included interaction with others who shared cruising dreams and desires similar to ours, and fanned that flame of reaching our final goal.

One undertaking was obtaining our Amateur Radio Licenses, giving us access to the only technology that provided free long distance communications, email, and weather fax without internet access or satellites. To be honest, though we understood the value, neither one of us was very motivated to become a HAM radio geek. Heck, we didn't even much like talking on the phone with close friends let alone having staticky conversations with distant strangers! Nonetheless, in the winter of 2004 we buckled down to the task.

Our first attempted to simply read a book in preparation for the test failed miserably. Anything would distract us from the dry, technical material. And without actually having a radio, it all seemed incomprehensible. So I decided we should sign up for a class given by a local club, and thus be forced to commit one night a week to the task. Perhaps we'd actually get to see the equipment in action and become a bit more motivated.

Apparently, there weren't many who thought it'd be fun to spend a dreary month sitting in an old school room, learning about radio theory, FCC regulations, and operating practices. Because our group's number could be counted on one hand. Besides ourselves, and the peculiar instructor whose endless droning and awkward manner threatened to sink the whole endeavor, there was but one other couple. Amazingly enough, however, the other couple who'd braved the bitter boredom of learning about antiquated technology from a bona fide misfit was there for the same reason as Don and I!

Like us, Norman and Sandy were Midwestern novice mariners who'd caught the bug and leapt into their dream life. They'd retired from their jobs, sold their house, had already bought their cruising boat, and were just finishing up the loose ends. The most important information we acquired that day was that everything they knew about sailing, they'd learned on their 'trainer' boat, a 1967 24’ Morgan. And it was up for sale.

Don and I hadn't thought about getting a starter boat before, but after brief consideration, concluded it would be wise to make the investment. After all, Don's sailing experience was nil, and mine had almost always been on someone else's vessel, with a knowledgeable captain to handle any concerns and all responsibilities. We felt we really needed to get a taste of what our future life might be like before we purged our present into the past.

I understood Morgans to be stout production boats with a great reputation. This model had a full keel and a rudder controlled by a tiller; aspects that mirrored the Westsail 32s Don and I were considering for our cruising boat. Ultimately we determined that, for the expense of a summer vacation, we could get some real, hands-on experience in sailing and living together on a small sailboat, and have a lot of fun in the process.

Don prepared a wonderful survey to guide us on our inspection of the vessel and gear, then we took the 90 minute drive over to Sandusky Harbor Marina where Points Unknown sat waiting in her cradle. She wasn't what I'd call pretty, but her hull was sound, her engine was new, and she came with a nice complement of sails. On May 1st, 2004, she became ours.

We spent all the spare time we had that summer doing boat projects, living onboard, and sailing to many of Lake Erie's best ports of call; Kelly's Island, Put-In-Bay, Catawba Island, and Marblehead. By the end of the season, we felt like full fledged sailors. Most importantly, we discovered in those short, six months that all the crazy, lazy, amazing, amusing, terrifying, intimidating, gratifying, relaxing, taxing, pleasurable, and memorable adventures we had were experiences we wanted to attain again and again.