OK, Ralph,
I'm standing up to introduce myself - feels a little like an AA meeting or a revival meeting where the preacher asks, "Who wants to be saved?" (or what I imagine, anyway). I have come to these cruise boards in an effort to learn more about Oceania, which we're booked on for 6/8/06, and anticipate getting so much more out of it! God, I love the internet!!
You folks on this board are by far the most fun & positive! I love that!
I am from Louisiana, have 5 kids who travel extensively with us, have been married 30 yrs., have been a licensed interior designer and antique dealer for 23 years, licensed floral designer for 10 yrs, former travel agent (sort of thinking of doing outside sales again if I find a good group to associate with - I like to put small fun groups together),am working on my Master Gemologist degree with the GIA, and am a damn good cook! I'm one of those people who functions better with too much to do!
I only do select design jobs these days(must have good taste & money to back it up); I travel at least once a month (makes life more interesting - & it helps that I have children in California, Austin, & D.C.); do the floral thing only for myself & close friends; & gemology?: maybe design is in the future.
Travel has always been an important component of our family life. We had a Hatteras that we traveled to Fla, the Bahamas, & Mexico on when the kids were little - our lives centered around scuba diving until my husband got the "Bends" for the 2nd time after 35 yrs of diving. But, alas, the happiest day of boat ownership is truly the day you sell it - and life enters a new chapter! We've chartered (a lot of work for 50+ yr olds)& cruised on large ships (don't care for the large crowds) & look forward to cruising on smaller, more casual ships. We've taken the kids to Japan, all over the U.S. & Canada, Central America, Mex., the Caribbean, Europe - so they're all seasoned travelers. My husband & I feel very strongly that travel is such a wonderful education, opening one's mind up so much! And cruising is so much easier with 7!
And I, like many of you, really enjoy the interesting friendships we've formed in our travels over the years.
I look forward to participating more. I can't wait to see how long it takes someone to hook Ralph up with someone!!!
Please keep Louisiana & Mississippi in your thoughts and prayers - and also my daughter Lindsay (she is in Israel - her masters program is in Intern'l Peace & Conflict Resolution).
Sincerest Regards, & Make it a Great Year!!!
Peggy (aka Isabella)