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What happens when a 60-year-old retired teacher decides to sail solo from New England to the Bahamas? Deborah Hammett's remarkable journey proves that our boldest chapters can begin exactly when society expects us to slow down.

After three decades teaching on Martha's Vineyard, Deborah traded lesson plans for navigation charts and sailed her 36-foot Jeanneau "Mavia" over 1,500 miles - mostly alone. Her transition wasn't without challenges. From anchoring alone near Harlem at night to fixing mechanical failures with no prior experience, Deborah faced countless moments where panic and fear threatened to overwhelm her. Yet each obstacle became a lesson in resilience and self-reliance.

Throughout our conversation, Deborah reveals how sailing transformed both her mindset and capabilities. She describes mastering diesel engines and electrical systems through YouTube videos, learning the rhythms of docking and navigation, and discovering a generous sailing community that defied her expectations. Perhaps most powerfully, she confronted long-held beliefs about herself and others, finding that her preconceptions often limited her more than any external challenge.

Beyond the practical aspects of her journey, we dive into the profound emotional growth that comes from pursuing a dream that others might consider impossible or impractical. Deborah argues passionately that retirement should be viewed as an opportunity for bold new beginnings rather than a winding down. Her experience suggests that actively learning complex skills might even help stave off cognitive decline, while the physical demands of sailing have motivated her to maintain strength and fitness well into her 60s.

Whether you're contemplating your own sailing adventure or simply wondering what might be possible in your next chapter, Deborah's story will inspire you to reconsider the boundaries you've set for yourself. After all, as she reminds us, "People do what they want to do." The only question is: what adventure are you putting off?

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