It doesn't seem possible, but it's true: it's been more than 20 years since we said goodbye to our careers in San Francisco and leaped off the cliff, better known as RETIREMENT!

 

As we look back and see ourselves hurtling into a new life – a new country, new culture, new language – we'd love to tell anyone coming up on this momentous change that the "cliff" is nothing to fear! As the song says, just "spread your wings and hold your breath, and always trust your cape."

 

In January 2000, we moved to France and bought a 72-ft converted Dutch barge intending to cruise for 2 or 3 years on France's canals and rivers. We'd never owned a boat before, and we didn't speak French, so not just a few of our friends thought we were nuts! But it turned into an adventure that lasted 12 years, was better than we ever could have imagined, and isn't truly over.

 

Even though we no longer live in France – we have friends worldwide; our dog Parigi speaks French; we feel at home in the French section of any wine store; we are still jumping off new cliffs!

 

Over the years, we've shared our adventures via this web page, and we are choosing to refresh it and keep it alive in hopes we can inspire others on the brink of retirement to follow their dreams! 

 

Take a chance! And always trust your cape!