It is a beautiful starlit night deep in the Bahamas’ Exuma Cays, warm and soft in the light caress of the easterly trades. I am sitting on a white-sand beach moodily lit by the flicker of a driftwood bonfire, sipping a dram of aged rum, and taking an occasional pull on an aromatic cigar. Piper is dozing at my feet, and along with Dawn and my brother-in-law Paul, a number of new and old cruising friends are softly chatting around the fire. All are adventurous kindred souls who have sailed here on their own boats.
Taking Wing: Senior Airline Pilot Moments
Key Takeaways:
- The author spent nearly five years living and cruising aboard his boat, *Windbird*, in the Caribbean, a lifestyle he facilitated by strategically choosing a Boeing 757/767 first officer position that allowed for extensive off-season time.
- His decision to end this chapter was influenced by his wife's readiness to return to land, his personal desire to command as a captain, and a recurring pattern of seeking new challenges in his life and career every few years.
- He has since upgraded to a 737 captain, accepting less schedule flexibility and more work, and is preparing to sell *Windbird* and move to a new homestead in Washington State to focus on general aviation and a land-based life.
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