Wow! I am LOVING this thread - as it's so interesting to learn more about the people you've been chatting with for so long!
Mark - my hub - and I have been married almost 30 years (Yes - I was 11 when we got married ;) )...live in a suburb of Philadelphia where I work as the creative director of an ad agency. Mark (who's now on permanent disability with Parkinson's) was in radio and TV News (working for all the major stations in town) - but he was the behind-the-scenes management type. We have two daughters (age 25 (married) and 23 - who has just moved back in after college while she looks for a full time teaching position. (You don't expect them to move back in, do you?)
As everyone who sees my avatar can guess, we are very much a basset hound family. We have two (Morgan and Chloe)...and our married daughter has two - which she brings over to visit quite a lot. When they are all in our backyard, it looks like a herd of short cows! (And I am trying to talk Mark into how much we need a 3rd basset in the house!) Anyway...our first cruise was on HAL, for our first anniversary. We enjoyed it a lot. Then we switched to RCCL - and travelled with friends...with family...on our own...for at least 6 cruises. In fact our last RCCL cruise was about 4 years ago. My inlaws took all their kids and grandkids on a cruise to celebrate their 50th. Even my parents came along - making it about 24 in our group!
Last year, when I had been working for my company for 20 years, my boss wanted to send Mark and me on a cruise. Since we had been on so many "regular" cruises, I asked if I could take his contribution and contribute some on our own to "bump up" to a luxury line. After much internet research - and the discovery of the cc board - we chose Mariner's New Year's cruise 2003. As much as we enjoyed that cruise - I think our 2/7 Navigator cruise was even better. It's hard to believe that I have only met ONE person on this board in person. I feel like I know so many of you so well already!