Retire-VA 2021 - 46

able to move around minimally. They
found "a huge range of people [on boats]
with goals similar to ours," says Tim.
"It's a tight community," says Gail.
They also discovered that the way their
marriage has worked all along-playing
to each other's strengths-was especially
beneficial on a long sailing trip.
ABOVE:
The Wemmers' boat is
40-feet long and has two
bedrooms.

"We rely on each other," says Gail. "Our
lives depend it and the team effort that
the boat from the store was a challenge.
They quickly discovered that the
network of sailors was big, friendly and
accommodating.
"There's a subculture of people who

is necessary. A lot of times, it takes two
people to get out of a bad situation."
Once, says Tim, "I got really seasick and
she took over the boat."
"I won't say we didn't have our moments

live on boats in the Atlantic and the

[of dispute]," says Gail, "but generally, I

Pacific, the Bahamas and some who

navigate, and he is at the helm."

circumnavigate," says Tim. "We listen to

They agree that he's more easy-going

VHS radio to find out what they're up to."

and she is "obsessive-compulsive," traits

"It's all very social," says Gail, who is 61
to Tim's 65.
In March of this year, the lockdowns

that complement each other on a boat.
When the virus pandemic finally reaches
its end, the Wemmers still have the boat

began in earnest and what had been

and they retain their goals. It's a matter

planned as a two-week stay in Key West

of clearing up the harbors so they have

faced a problem: "We had nowhere to go,"

places to visit.

says Gail.
"We were reluctant to leave our borders"
and so they settled in, eventually being

46 / Retire-VA.com / RETIRE-VA 2021

The Wemmers celebrated their first
anniversary of living on their boat,
"Whoodogi," on July 14, 2020. 
Retire-VA 2021

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