Thanks to all, keep those cards and letters coming.
Yes, affordable boating is an oxymoron, but it is an addiction I've had for years, and not likely to break the habit anytime soon.
We go though phases, from the small trailerable ones, to the larger cruising variety. And some mix of them. We've been anywere from 10 minutes from a small fishing river to 1.5 hrs to good open sailing water. The wear and tear of having the boat 1.5 hrs away is not something I want in retirement.
Virginia (south of the Rapp) and Carolinas are all within the strike zone, but since neither of us were born into wealth, finding something that is not a Mcmansion has been an issue.
The old plantation system really messed up waterfronts in VA, there aren't many towns, let alone cities, on any reasonable water. A lot of the small villages are really hurting financially, businesses drying up, etc.