My son has always been more of a thrill seeker than me — even when I wasn’t an “old man.” Though not depicted in the carefree photo above, he enjoys tweaking his sails and “pushing the envelope” in challenging conditions.

Me? I’m more of a “fair winds and following seas” kind of guy.

But I take credit for instilling his love of sailing. Had I not made the reach out of my comfort zone and (then) financial zone, all those years back — purchasing and winter-residing on Florida sailboat — he would probably be wasting his time golfing today.

Recently, he launched his formerly Midwest-based sloop into Chesapeake Bay. New home, new mariner-orientated job, new CSN sailing t-shirt, and now, new water — with unlimited global potential for his family and his boat.

Needless to say, my Skipper-son now finds himself in the sailor’s equivalent of “hog heaven” — going further with sailing than Marlene and I would have ever dreamed.