Tom thanks for your insight on Baja. Got me convinced...I'll stay state-side, especially since it's already a day's drive from Sacramento just to get to the border. I think if I do go someday it will be my volunteering as crew for another boat. I haven't had my M15 all that long and started out with day excursions this summer. Hope to do an abbreviated version of the San Juan islands within a year or two, but using Rosario as a hub so as to bed down in comfort. I could rough it the v-berth by my wife will have no part of that except for maybe 1 overnight max. I get up to Seattle about 4 times a year on business and someone told me also that there is a decent hotel near the marina in Kirkland so that one can stay there and sail around Lake Washington or even Lake Union. That sounds attractive also. I can remember a month or so just driving across the "floating bridge" and being blown away with just how scenic Mt. Rainier was in the background on that clear and only partially cloudy day. best, Neil