My friends just sailed away

[Jeff Fuchs]

I'll be sure to tell my wife you called her young. She's 44, but doesn't look it. We never had kids.

My cruising friends also have no insurance, and they've managed, but there's always that fear that something will happen. I'm not willing to give that up. My insurance paid out over $30K on me this last year, though I'm as healthy as I've ever been. When you're handicapped, you just gotta have it.

BTW: Laura's work can be seen at www.griffithart.com and Charlie's boatbuilding site is at www.harmonyboatworks.com

Boatbuiding is only part of what Charlie does.

See ya later. Gotta get back to work

Jeff

[Patricia Joyce]

Laura's work on gourds is really beautiful! Why did I think you just had a baby a couple years back? See you have been gone so long I am probably getting your life story mixed up with someone else's. But I do remember your drawings, i.e. the from life drawings, and the studies of the masters which you did. And I remember the drawings of your wife (now that I turned fifty, forty-anything is young!!)

[Anthony Emmolo]

Good luck with your choice Jeff,

Just be ready for some lean years financially. However, if by waiting 2 1/2 years before retiring, you'll keep your benefits, it may be a good time to try the life of a full-time, or almost full-time artist. Only you would know your situation. From one point of view, it is a choice you can probably take back if it doesn't work the way you want it to. Obviously I cannot know if you'll be able to return to your present job, but you'll be able to work somewhere in order to sustain yourself while you paint. The fact that you'll have your benefits is good. I am forty-two years old, and I don't have benefits. I've chosen the "artist life", and at times I get nervous about the future.

Good luck, you sound smart. You've already protected yourself in ways that I'm learning to do now.

Yours,
Anthony