The type of characters, and friendships, one might make in the world of personal pleasure boating is similar to what you might expect to find in any neighborhood. People from every walk of life enjoy the excitement of spending leisure time on or near the water. Some are sail boaters, others are motorboat enthusiasts. They may enjoy deep sea cruising, or just spending their time sailing along the coastline, or upon rivers and lakes. They may never have the opportunity to venture into an ocean. The professions these yachters make their living in vary from white-collar executives to blue-collar mechanics. A Captain could be male or female. Once on board a boat, pecking order is virtually non-existent. Many boat owners are well versed in navigational skills, and some may just be learning the ropes. Besides the pleasures of owning and cruising on a boat, it is the people that you have an opportunity to connect with that make it not only a sport, but a lifestyle. From the very beginning of our boating experience, starting as complete novices, and unfortunately with an unbelievable ignorance, to the time we were able to sail into open waters with some dignity, my wife and I experienced many years of adventure, meeting with, and making friends with some of the nicest people imaginable.