Study Group ... Wanna Join?

Being retired and all, one would think how is it that you would not have enough time to research and prepare for this upcoming cruise? Well, even retirees have busy and full lives these days, there just doesn’t seem to be enough time to respond to email or check out the details of your a #%*&@ cruise blog and …you now want me to do what?

At our Meet & Greet Brunch, I heard over and over with our cruisers that they needed to get off their touche and start researching the excursions and ports. But who’s got time, well I found out a couple of things that simply warmed my heart and made me smile. Yes, there she goes that enthusiasm and optimism again and we have a solution for you.

Pat Fierro (also known as Tricia by Diana) shared a fantastic idea after our Meet & Greet Brunch on June 1st, a “Study Group”! What a fantastic idea! Okay folks we're not talking serious intellectual, educational, studious type study groups here, but an informative and perhaps even a more social recreation environment with fun, laughter and shared business to accomplish a common goal. Tricia came up with the perfect plan…a study group which she extended to her friends and associates (Marlene, Sheila, Karen V, Pamela, Linda M, Pat C, Jo Mary, Stella, Cindy) many living or working near her. The format she designed for the group beyond the invitation was to split up the countries/ports and research the following:

· History of area
· Key sights
· Local specialties (crafts, produce, dishes, drinks etc)
· Markets
· Best Shopping areas
· Analysis of the Off Shore Excursions
· Tips and additional information

This idea was so good, I had to grab the concept and began to contact individuals about it and this is what I found out:

· Kay Tindel who is my co-editor has been coordinating with her girlfriends Carole, Lesley & Judy through their own personal cruise blog and a recent get together the weekend of our brunch.

· Jan Noce and Patty Flanagan created a group with other cruiser Diane M, Jim, Perry, Ross, Pam, Russell and still open for more. This group I believe has the social-recreation element in focus, Jim began with creating the group’s name: “21st Century Northern Mediterranean Port Study Group with an Emphasis on the Impact of Temporary North American Migration Patterns While Observing Really Old Stuff While under the Influence of Fermented, Distilled, Brewed and Aged Beverages”. Personally after I caught my breath from laughing, I simply thought, they have their cruise mission statement, what do you think?

· Kelly Feldman shared that her gal pals Wendy, Kim and Diane W got together for dinner and began their journey and stated to share their finding about the ports and countries. But they needed to meet again.

· Carole Ghertner (and I’m sure her husband Elliott) initiated a study chapter for the LA/Burbank and Glendale area. Her invitation list included fellow cruisers Wendy & Norm, Sally & Dennis, Linda & Duane, Russell, Randy & Karen A.

This may perhaps be just the beginning, as I have not touched bases with all of our cruisers. I can only imagine the unknown number of cabin mates and their cruisers spending time at Barnes & Nobles/Amazon.com, on the internet or watching the travel channel. I know that Roger and I will be heading to Northern California this summer so we hope to “touch bases” with our Nor Cal cruisers and have made plans to meet up with an informal "Study Group" at Sonoma County Fair where Diana and her classmates Laura, Sean, Vicki and Yvonne plus their significant other will be celebrating their 35th High School Class reunion. What do we do to simply have a get together.... Hmmm??? If I missed anyone else, send us a comment reply and update us.

Photo provided by Flickr Digital Alan