It's still early, but, we aren't doing much on Red Ranger this season. We're parked on the hard in Deltaville.

Working life is interesting. That was the point, more-or-less.

What's very important is the "I don't have any career aspirations" part of working. If it's fun, that's cool. Otherwise… No thanks.

In my previous incarnation (pre-cruising,) I would listen to managers spin yarns of advancement and riches and glory. It could all be mine if I would just put in lots more hours and lots of travel and do things that I found difficult and unpleasant.

And it never worked out well. It was stressful, and unpleasant, and there were neither riches nor glory. For me. The managers didn't do too badly. I didn't do as well.

After many years of thrift and economy — and more than our fair share of luck — we're able to make choices in where and how we work. Floating Leaf makes her Tiny Quilts. They're hanging in the Urban Farmhouse coffee shop in Scott's Addition at 3031 Norfolk St. She also works part-time at VCU; she does what she like — helping people solve technology problems. Since it's part time, stuff just won't get done. She's no longer salaried; there's no casual overtime.

I'm working; but taking it easy. I feel the need to excel. Deadlines loom. Stuff isn't getting done. But.

But.

It's not like we've got a hole in a fuel line that's spraying diesel down the side of the engine block. It's not like we've got a leaking stern tube and water's spraying in around the prop shaft. It's not like we're pounding into 5' seas in the Cape Fear river. It's not like we've wrapped a crab pot line around the prop shaft. Nothing like that. We're not low on fresh water. There's no crud in our fuel. Our heat exchanges aren't dripping. Our chart plotter isn't blanking out.

Nope. This second career isn't quite like the first. Our two-year cruise helped put life into perspective.

Merry Christmas.