I noted with interest Jim Alexander's post from Georgetown Bahamas (I think), when he told of all the support he received from other boaters in fixing various issues aboard. Community to me that has always been one of the major attractions of the boating life, full time or part time. Even though one might be transient, the community is a small one relatively speaking, the same people keep popping up and the shared relationship with boats and the water and all its vicissitudes gives us a sense of community. This sense is really lacking in most shore bound life because of job mobility, the growth of cities, suburban sprawl and the consequent loss of good meeting places - like the Italian town squares, the village greens, British pubs, French bistros etc. The old soda fountain has been consumed by the impersonal shopping malls. Anyway that's how it looks from here Ron Barr Lady Brookhaven Hatteras LRC 42 Presently lying New Bern, NC - the boat, not me unfortunately. KB1LFX