We got that a lot when we started talking about what we were going to do.

I’m 43 and was born in Oregon, although I have ‘lived’ most of my life in South Dakota.  I graduated from Madison High School and The University of South Dakota with a degree in Business Administration.  After college I purchased a small business (from my parents) and began working in that world. My last job was as a project manager/salesman for Empire Building Construction I learned to love traveling, running, hiking, camping, climbing, and lots of other kinds of outdoorsy things.  (I’m quick to say that I kept moving on because I wasn’t any good at any of them!)

Nancy’s 35, was born and grew up in Sheldon, Iowa and also graduated from USD.  She ended up in the Education department and has a degree in English and Master’s Degree in Curriculum.  She taught high school English at MOC-Floyd Valley in Orange City, Iowa and also at Harrisburg High in Harrisburg, SD.  Her last job before casting off was as the Director of the Kirby Science Center at the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls, SD.  Nancy is an avid runner and has completed several Ultramarathons, including The Leadville Trail 100, Western States 100, Leanhorse, and lots of 50 milers and marathons.

Nancy and I met running and have been married since 2004.  We have no kids and one little doggie-Conrad Messner

In 2003 my brother in law gave me a copy of A Voyage for Madmen, which I read and re-read.  I then moved on to Tania Aebi’s Maiden Voyage and eventually was reading Captain Cook’s journals, Joshua Slocum, and tales of Magellan’s voyage.

Looking back, I think it was inevitable that I’d end up on a sailboat.  From there I enrolled in sailing school with Ralph and Tim and shortly after that was out shopping for little sailboats.  We ended up buying a J80 and renting a slip at Lewis and Clark Marina on the Missouri River, near Yankton, South Dakota.  We sailed there a bunch for two years…and finally started becoming frustrated that we couldn’t travel further than 15-20 miles upriver.  Didn’t make much sense…sailing boats were meant to go places.

Then Nancy and I started to get restless.  Something told us it was time for a change.  Time to take a sanity break from the real world.  We went into partnership on a Hans Christian 38 with the Paulsen’s and the Losch’s.   The plan was that both couples would spend portions of every year aboard Oblivion with us as we continued to sail in and around the world.  We had considered other options for our break from society: traveling the world, buying a camper, just renting a house somewhere else and taking a long vacation.  But in the end we chose sailing: it offered the right combination of high adventure, relaxation, and cost effectiveness.

We took possession of Oblivion at Oyster Point Marina in S. San Francisco, CA.  I was terrified. I’d never handled a boat that size…not even close.  Thane had occasionally let me have the helm on his Catalina 387-when we were well away from the dock.  But it all worked out and we set sail south in November of 2009. We’re now 4000 nautical miles into our journey and are anxiously looking forward to the next 10,000.

Nancy and I aren’t going to sit here and tell you that sailing’s for everyone.  It’s not.  There are risks associated with it, albeit minor ones if you choose a seaworthy boat and don’t take risks with the weather and sail in the wrong seasons.  It’s occasionally uncomfortable (read some of our blogs!).  We would, however, strongly encourage you to take a chance with your one life…live a little before the lights die down.  Travel.  See the world.  Do what your heart and gut are telling you to do.  Do something that makes people say “you’re going to do WHAT?”  You won’t regret it.