Our own surge to the sea had taken root during World War II when Ken wondered what branch of the service to enter. At the suggestion of my dad, who spent some boyhood years in Brooklyn, NY, Ken entered the United States Merchant Marine Academy at King’s Point, Long Island, emerging with commissions in the US Maritime Service and in the US Naval Reserve. He sailed as 3rd mate on ships in both theaters of war until 1946. By then we both realized that life ashore together with our ‘hoped for’ family would be far more desirable than one which would find us meeting between trips.
With marvelous timing, Dad decided he needed help in his business. While Ken’s education was not meant to prepare him for a mid-America career, his artistic talents had long been in evidence. It was on these that Dad depended as Ken joined the firm of “Haltenhoff Florists” located in Dubuque, IA,, since 1926. In just a few short years Dad was convinced that Ken was one of the best things that had ever happened to the business. So, Ken became a partner, and we settled down to the ‘normal type’ of living that is characterized by PTA memberships, study clubs, civic activities, and most importantly, raising our family.
With Dubuque located on the Mississippi River, and with Ken’s educational background, it was only logical that we consider buying a boat. But with three active children of varying ages, we all put our heads together and decided that more people, large and small, could be packed into our backyard than onto a boat. Ken and and I noted we could provide better home supervision, as well, whenever the children had outside activities. In 1961, we mentally filed the boat and built a swimming pool. It was a move never regretted. Togetherness had always been a part of our family relationships, and this new backyard life added yet another dimension in which it would flourish.
It was probably in 1969 that Ken began urging me to pay heed to all the magazine articles about people seeing the world from their own sailing crafts. He had used this approach in the ’50s persuading us to go travel camping with tent and Coleman stove so the children and we might see the US on a low budget. Thus, we traveled from shore to shining shore: real togetherness! So, with his employing the same strategy for the two of us to go beyond those shores, he had mentally already weighed anchor. I paid heed, and began following right behind.
Even when life is quietest, man is faced with decisions. So, having made the decision to uproot our whole lifestyle, we were suddenly faced with a multitude of them. The first alternatives were whether to build or to buy our future home. Typically, Ken launched an all out study. Between visits to magazine stands and to the library, he gathered information on catamarans, trimarans, ferro-cement boats, power plants, rigging maintenance, disposal, documentation, and many more subjects for his in-depth study. When we finally ventured out in search of our boat, Ken was ready!