Here's my "little" decision that changed my life, though it probably doesn't sound like such a little decision to most of you. When I was 21, and tired of trying to work full time and go to school full time, all at the SAME time, I decided to join the navy--just for three years--to get some money for college. Sounds like a huge decision, right? But honestly, I didn't think of it as any big deal--figured "OK, I'll just do this for a little while then afterwards I'll resume my old life but without having to kill myself to pay the bills AND my tuition." FAMOUS LAST WORDS!

20 years later, I retired from the navy--nowhere near the person I'd been when I signed up, then went to grad school (my taxes and yours at work ), and now I'm able to teach for 9 months a year and have every summer off for travel, writing, cycling, etc.

Hey, I like that get-together idea--who suggested New Zealand?