While Gary worked at IBM, Margi went back to school at nights and weekends to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Florida Atlantic University.  She then passed the exams to become a CPA.  Margi worked for various accounting firms and a private company before deciding to strike out on her own.  She now runs her own accounting business from a home-office. In 1998, Gary was released from IBM as a part of a general down-sizing.  In looking for a future direction, he went to a boat show and wandered aboard a 30+ foot catamaran.  This was NOTHING like the Hobie cats he had sailed previously and he knew he had to show Margi these boats.  After attending the "Strictly Sail" portion of the Miami Boat Show and going on several catamarans, both Margi & Gary were hooked on these boats.  They ended up taking a "Coastal & Blue Water Cruising" catamaran sailing class and then chartering catamarans two or three times a year - looking for features they liked or didn't like and evaluating various boats. Then, in the spring of 2003, Gary found an advertisement for what Margi had decided was her favorite boat - a PDQ 36.  The boat was also the enhanced version (LRC - Long Range Cruiser) with diesel engines instead of the tiny gas outboards in the standard version.  While the boat was in Charleston, SC, Gary took a quick trip to check out the boat and less than two months later was sailing it back to West Palm Beach. Many changes have taken place sine this site was last updated.  We sailed (& motored) Spirit (as she is now known) from Key West to Miami and have a mooring ball off Miami Beach.  Biscayne Bay offers a wide-ranging cruising area and the Bahamas are just off to the east still.  Then, at the beginning of July, we moved Spirit to Ft Pierce (Harbortown Marina).  We moved her onto land for what was supposed to be a nasty hurricane season.  We got lucky with no storms, but slept better knowing she was safe regardless. The next phase of Spirit's new life already begun.  While at Harbortown, her mast was removed and all the standing rigging (the stainless steel cables & connectors) were replaced.  Then all the running rigging (lines) were replaced.   Then all the wiring inside the mast was replaced and a new LED combination tri-color / anchor light replaced the old incandescent bulb one.  After the mast was reinstalled, we had a new set of sails made.  With the mainsail is a fixed bag the hold the sail and protects it from the sun.  Much easier to use than the old sailcover.  And for Thanksgiving, she is getting a new bottom paint job.  Also, the saildrives will be sanded and painted and various little things around the boat will be fixed. In the area of personal preparations for our journey, Gary has passed the US Coast Guard exam to get his license (after a LOT more paperwork).  And Margi just finished an introductory Power Squadron course and got 100% on the test.  Now we are Power Squadron members.  The group here conducts numerous classes and we plan to take advantage of the opportunity to sharpen our skills. Also, new photos have been added showing milestones along the journey. (to be continued...)