One day we received a brochure from Windjammer Barefoot Cruises. We were looking for some kind of different vacation and this seemed to fit the bill. Sailing the Caribbean on an old wooden tall ship sounded pretty cool. Then we noticed that you could get married while on vacation. That was really cool so we made the decision and booked the cruise – the Flying Cloud in the British Virgin Islands.

In order to be married in the BVI we had to establish residency which required us to be in the BVI three days before the ceremony could take place. The plan was to board the ship on Sunday, go into Roadtown, Tortola, BVI on Monday to complete the paperwork and start the process.

A couple of weeks before the trip we received a phone call from Windjammer advising us that since our trip was scheduled for Easter week, the BVI government offices would all be closed on Monday. They asked if we could get there earlier to start the paperwork. If we did that, they would arrange for us to board the Flying Cloud on Saturday, a day ahead of the other passengers. It took us about 30 seconds to decide that extra time in the Caribbean would be a great idea and booked the trip to arrive on a Thursday, do the paperwork on Friday, and board the ship Saturday afternoon while the crew was reprovisioning. Now we will get to the dream part.

While sitting in the outdoor restaurant at Village Cay Marina having breakfast, we noticed all the sailboats and just how beautiful everything was. The one thing that really struck us was how happy everyone seemed. We watched people on the boats and the people walking around – everyone was smiling. No stress, no problems – just dealing with life as it came at them. Not at all like our life in Rochester, Michigan, working in the auto industry. “Wouldn’t it be nice to live like this?” we both thought. As the week went on and we continued to observe the cruisers in different locations around the BVI, the question turned to “I wonder if we could live like this?” By the end of the week it became a statement, “We could live like this” and the question became “Why couldn’t we live like this?”

We had a fantastic experience on Windjammer’s Flying Cloud and the wedding was wonderful. All we had to do was show up. The crew decorated the ship and the captain walked Paula down the deck to “give her away.” Thank you Windjammer – April 20, 1990 is a day we will never forget.

Of course, the answer to the question of living aboard a sailboat in the Caribbean was made apparent once we returned home. The answer was real life and responsibilities. We still booked a Windjammer cruise for the following year as soon as we got back – we were determined to return!

We brought 2 children to our new family - Jim's daughter, Shannon, and Paula's son, Don. Their well being had to be a priority. Shannon was 16 years old, and Don 11, at this time. We cancelled our cruise and Don went to Howe Military School the following summer instead.

The years ticked by, the children grew up, and all we could do was dream of the islands.

Shannon graduated high school and entered Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. Don finished his high school years and took some time off before entering Ball State University in Indiana. We continued to have dry feet.

Shannon graduated from Kutztown and tried her hand at several jobs before settled in to wonderful opportunity in her field of marketing at Sun East Federal Credit Union outside of Philadelphia. While in college she met a young man, Jim Boyda. After dating through the college years and a couple more beyond they decided to get married. What a wedding that was! We attended the wedding in Bucks County PA. where I, of course, had the honor of walking my beautiful daughter, Shannon, down the aisle and giving her hand in marriage to Jim Boyda. The reception was held in a local hotel’s reception hall and it was a blast. The food was great and the music was better. I do not remember ever being at a wedding reception where the dance floor was packed all night. Nobody wanted the night to end. I (Jim) even danced, it was a wonderful time!

Don left Ball State and after a year in Los Angles trying to break into the movie business as a director, he returned to pursue a career in computer programming and website design. This comes very naturally to him and he has proven his ability through several positions in various locations and is currently running things for a company in Chicago. He loves the excitement of city living. He is also taking advantage of big city contacts to revisit his true passion -- film making.

In the winter of 1998 we made a decision. We had a ten-year wedding anniversary in 2000, the Flying Cloud had a honeymoon cabin that was very popular and we had to have it. So two years in advance the cruise was booked. Come hell or high water we were going to find a way to get back! Luckily for us the cabin was available for our anniversary week.

Returning to the BVI was like going home after a long trip. It felt like home and we were greeted by the people we met as if it was home. We returned to Village Cay Marina and were given the same room we stayed in ten years earlier. It could not have worked out any better. We were back in the BVI and sailing again on the Flying Cloud!