Fred, I love your philosophical musings, and I'm glad you didn't go back and edit them out!
On a similar note, when we kids were young, my Mom and Dad used to always talk about someday going to Rome. They married young and had kids right away, and we struggled financially for all of my growing-up years. My parents had never traveled anywhere (except Niagra Falls for their honeymoon), and our family vacations usually entailed driving to the Grandparents' house, or doing a little local camping. But they were eternal optimists, and were dead serious that they were going to eventually make it to Rome...they had a specific savings account, and filled up a scrap book with brochures, pictures, articles and other stuff about Rome. They eventually saved up enough money, but then they kept putting off the trip to do things for us kids -- take us to Disneyworld, or send us to Girl Scout Camp.
Then, in the late 60's, my Dad lost his Aerospace job when the industry crashed, and it took him over a year to find another one. They had to use up most of that savings account just for groceries during that year of poverty. Once he finally found another job, they immediately began building it up again, and cutting out more pictures for the scrap book. Sadly, only six months later, my Dad died in a car accident. My Mom used to always say how much she regretted that they didn't take the trip when they could have.
This is the reason that, the moment I was old enough and had enough money, *I* took my Mom on her first trip out of the country -- to Rome. It was magical, and very meaningful. And now, here we are again, about to take another magical trip to Europe. This is why I love traveling with my mother. I don't want her to ever again regret NOT going somewhere when she had the chance.
Well shoot, I went way off-topic, didn't I? Oh well...I do love hearing about all the luxury cruise lines, and their differences and features. I'm sure you'll have a splendid time on your Silversea cruise, Fred, and MAJOR kudos to you for spending your time and resources LIVING life, rather than waiting for it!! :)
