After 34 years in public service, I retired in 2013 as the Information Security Officer for a large research university. After retirement, I've focused on work as a board member of a non-profit organization, cybersecurity consulting engagements, personal travel with my wife and family activities with our daughters. I've also become enrolled to serve as a cruise ship enrichment lecturer/contractor for security and privacy technology topics. In 2019, the City Council appointed me to a four-year term on the City Recreation and Parks Commission. I served as commission chairperson in 2022. The City Council renewed my commission appointment in 2023, and my current term now ends in 2027.
In 2024, I became a member of the local Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a national and world-wide group that focuses on serving the community and charitable giving. This lodge has over 400 members and is the largest lodge in California.
In 2014, I tried my hand at travel writing and my first article was published in December 2014 in a print and online magazine focusing on international travel (see above 'articles' link to view published content).
This blog was created in 2012 to update family and friends about our travels and lessons learned along the way. The blog also saves everyone from viewing endless travel photos.
With just about every available travel vaccination, we have made our way to Algeria, Antarctica, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Ecuador, Falklands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Peru, Panama, Portugal, Russia, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Scotland, South Africa, South Georgia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe and through much of the US and Canada. In 2015, we had traveled to all seven continents.
Planned and Past Cruises
In 2014, I tried my hand at travel writing and my first article was published in December 2014 in a print and online magazine focusing on international travel (see above 'articles' link to view published content).
This blog was created in 2012 to update family and friends about our travels and lessons learned along the way. The blog also saves everyone from viewing endless travel photos.
With just about every available travel vaccination, we have made our way to Algeria, Antarctica, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Ecuador, Falklands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Peru, Panama, Portugal, Russia, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Scotland, South Africa, South Georgia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe and through much of the US and Canada. In 2015, we had traveled to all seven continents.
Planned and Past Cruises
2026: Elbe River Cruise, Viking River
Morocco, Malta, France and Spain, Viking Ocean
2025: Circumnavigation of Australia, Viking Ocean
Circumnavigation of Japan, Seabourn
Galapagos, Celebrity Cruises
2024: Christmas Markets, Amadeus River Cruises
Pacific Coast, Princess
2023: Antarctica, Quark Expeditions
Iceland-UK-Portugal-Spain, Viking Ocean
2022: Egypt and Jordan, AMAWaterways
Greece-Croatia-Italy, Viking Ocean
2020-2021: All International Travel Cancelled or Postponed
2019: Japan and South Korea, Princess
East Greenland and Iceland, Quark Expeditions
2018: Transatlantic-Iceland-Norway-UK, Princess
2017: Rhine River, AMA Waterways
Falklands and South Georgia, Poseidon Expeditions
2016: Myanmar, AMA Waterways
Svalbard Circumnavigation, Quark Expeditions
New York to Canada, Princess
2015: Antarctica, Quark Expeditions
Transatlantic Eastbound, Princess
Transatlantic Westbound, Cunard
Pacific Coastal, Princess
West Coast Getaway, Princess
2014: Pacific Coastal, Princess
West Coast Getaway, Princess
Hawaii, Princess
2013: Eastern Mediterranean, Celebrity
Australia and New Zealand, Princess
2012: Quebec to New York, Princess
2011: Viet Nam and Cambodia, Viking River
Danube River, Viking River
2010: Panama Canal, Princess
China, Viking River
2009: Baltics, Princess
2008: Pacific Coastal, Princess
Pacific Coastal, Princess
2007: Pacific Coastal, Princess
Mexico, Princess
2005: Alaska, RCCL
2000: Mediterranean, Princess
1999: Caribbean, RCCL
Planned and Past International Land Trips
2026: Barcelona
2020-2021: All International Travel Cancelled or Postponed
2019: Japan and South Korea, Princess
East Greenland and Iceland, Quark Expeditions
2018: Transatlantic-Iceland-Norway-UK, Princess
2017: Rhine River, AMA Waterways
Falklands and South Georgia, Poseidon Expeditions
2016: Myanmar, AMA Waterways
Svalbard Circumnavigation, Quark Expeditions
New York to Canada, Princess
2015: Antarctica, Quark Expeditions
Transatlantic Eastbound, Princess
Transatlantic Westbound, Cunard
Pacific Coastal, Princess
West Coast Getaway, Princess
2014: Pacific Coastal, Princess
West Coast Getaway, Princess
Hawaii, Princess
2013: Eastern Mediterranean, Celebrity
Australia and New Zealand, Princess
2012: Quebec to New York, Princess
2011: Viet Nam and Cambodia, Viking River
Danube River, Viking River
2010: Panama Canal, Princess
China, Viking River
2009: Baltics, Princess
2008: Pacific Coastal, Princess
Pacific Coastal, Princess
2007: Pacific Coastal, Princess
Mexico, Princess
2005: Alaska, RCCL
2000: Mediterranean, Princess
1999: Caribbean, RCCL
Planned and Past International Land Trips
2026: Barcelona
2025: Sydney, Japan and Machu Picchu, Peru
2024: Kenya, Africa
2023: Barcelona, Spain
2022: Rome and Florence, Italy
2019: Japan and Iceland
2018: United Kingdom
2017: The Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Argentina, Brazil
2016: Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue/Viet Nam and Yangon/Myanmar
2015: Chile and UK - Bath, Cotswolds, London and Oxford
2014: Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe
2013: Rome and Sydney/NSW
2012: Quebec
2011: Budapest, Prague, Hanoi and Saigon/HCM City
2009: Copenhagen, Denmark
2006: Scotland
2005: Paris
2002: London
2000: Istanbul
1996: New Zealand
Photography Equipment
Canon R5
2018: United Kingdom
2017: The Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Argentina, Brazil
2016: Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue/Viet Nam and Yangon/Myanmar
2015: Chile and UK - Bath, Cotswolds, London and Oxford
2014: Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe
2013: Rome and Sydney/NSW
2012: Quebec
2011: Budapest, Prague, Hanoi and Saigon/HCM City
2009: Copenhagen, Denmark
2006: Scotland
2005: Paris
2002: London
2000: Istanbul
1996: New Zealand
Photography Equipment
Canon R5
Canon RF 16mm. f/2.8
Canon RF 24mm. f/1.8
Canon EF 35mm, f/1.4 L
Canon RF 24-105mm, f/4 L
Canon EF 70-300mm, f/4-5.6 L
Canon EOS-M6, Mark 2
Canon EF-M, 22mm STM, f/2.0
Canon EF-M, 18-150mm STM, f/3.5-6.3
Canon EOS-M6, Mark 2
Canon EF-M, 22mm STM, f/2.0
Canon EF-M, 18-150mm STM, f/3.5-6.3
What is your favorite cruise line so far?
ReplyDeleteWe found the smaller Viking Ocean ships and fewer number of passengers (930) more enjoyable than ships with a passenger capacity of 3,500-5,000. We realize that smaller ships mean less entertainment options, but we're ok with that.
ReplyDelete