[Nereus32]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for your reply. You didn''t really offer an answer to my question, so let me clarify things a little.

You are right, I am not planning on retiring for another 30 years. However, we are preparing to relocate from the Las Vegas area back east, so we can live closer to our families. Currently, our closest relative is 2000 miles away and we feel it is important for our daughter to have access to simple things like grandparents, family holidays, and family summer vacations.

Since we are moving anyway, have a boat that is capable, and can afford it, we (my wife and I) decided that cruising from my home in Michigan to her home in Florida would be an excellent way to spend time together as a young family, see part of our beautiful country that neither one of us has seen, and get to travel in a fashion we have always dreamed of. Being that we fostered our engagement under the stars on our previous boat, what better way to get to spend time and raise our child together, even if it is only for a few months. I currently work six days a week and am missing out on a lot of important development in my daughter''s life because of it. I 100% agree with you that raising my child is job #1. So, I don''t think I am neglecting my duties as a father, but exhalting them by playing a more direct role in my daughters development than just working every day to provide food, clothing, and shelter. I''d rather not wait for thirty years for something that might happen, when I have the opportunity with my wife and daughter today that I will never have again.

So, after this long diatribe, I return to my original question regarding my parents and in-laws. I interpret their attitudes as follows:

My wife''s mother: "Do it! I have traveled all my life and can tell you it will be the best thing you''ll ever do together as a family. Plus, when you are done, you''ll be living closer to me."

My wife''s father and step mother: "It''s too dangerous. You can''t go with our grand daughter. It is too much of a risk. Just make your move and forget about the sailing thing."

My parents: "We would love to have you live closer but, if I were you, I''d keep your job and sell your boat. You might make some money on it with all the restoration work you''ve done."

Never mind that we love our boat, don''t really like my job, none of our parents are sailors or know anything about sailing, or that the sailing we are planning is pretty tame compared to driving on the streets of Las Vegas. In reality, if we were planning to do the same thing in an RV, they''d probably think it was a great idea. Mind you, no one is yelling or making any demands, but as concerned grandparents, they have expressed concerns. I completely understand. As a result, I want to put their worries at ease - also part of a family man''s responsibilities, wouldn''t you say?

With all the above discussion on this thread geared toward grandparents, I thought some one might offer me words of wisdom to help me ease our parents conserns toward something we are prepared for and very excited about.