I'm a divorced male, and the proud dad of 2 grown children. I was born in California in 1956, but did most of my growing up in Florida and Texas. My interests include music, travel, sailing, ham radio, and reading.

U.S. Coast Guard veteran (1974-1995); retired as a "mustang" Lieutenant.

First joined Free Republic under the screen name "Zoe" during the early days of the Clintoon-Lewinsky scandal. My new screen name is actually a song title by Jimmy Buffett. I'm a parrothead and an avid fan of author John D. MacDonald's fictional character Travis McGee.

I kinda like McGee's credo from A TAN AND SANDY SILENCE (1972):

"'UP WITH LIFE. STAMP OUT ALL SMALL AND LARGE INDIGNITIES. LEAVE EVERYONE ALONE TO MAKE IT WITHOUT PRESSURE. DOWN WITH HURTING. LOWER THE STANDARD OF LIVING. DO WITHOUT PLASTICS. SMASH THE SERVO-MECHANISMS. STOP GRABBING. SNUFF THE BREEZE AND HUG THE KIDS. LOVE ALL LOVE. HATE ALL HATE.'"

And as Mr. Buffett would say: Don't forget to floss every day - mentally!