[Paddlewise] who am I?

Wow,
I hadn't read all the bios till tonight....quite a list.
I'm Tom and live in Rhode Island.  I'm not an old fart (37) but I noticed a
lot of my hobbies are populated by OF's.  for fun, besides kayaking, I restore
"stuff".. mostly cars (1940's Jeeps or 60's Chevrolets and tractors)  also old
radios (mostly old ham radios) and, for the last 5 years, my (old) house.  I
work as a GPS navigation applications engineer  to support my passions.

I grew up on Long Island (lonk eye-lan) and was always on the water in some
sort of wooden rowboat.  In those days a cement block was the anchor so any
wind usually caused you to loose your boat.  It created an endless shuffeling
of boat ownership on the Creek.  I ended up becoming an officer aboard
Merchant ships...usually larger than 800ft.  After seeing nothing but water
and most of the world for a few years, I decided I never wanted to do "water
stuff" again.  *Sigh* I got a real job and rejected all invitations to sail,
boat, ship, swim etc.

I started kayaking while on a date in Monteray, CA. in '93  (the things you do
for love).  We spent the weekend taking intro 1 and 2 and it was pretty fun.
My date is long gone but somehow I broke my vow of being a landlubber and I am
back on the water.  Since I have enough stuff to maintain in my life, I opt
for maintenance free (yeah right) plastic boats.  My daily ride is a Current
Designs Squall.  The guest boat is a Wilderness Systems Secret and the surf
boat is a Neckey Rip.  I have a roll...both sides.  I usually paddle solo and
I have never gone out in a group.  Since I am only 2 blocks from the water, I
paddle all year.  Winter is quite nice since you are usually assured of
complete solitude.  Racing has kept me in tune.

Latest dreams?  I want to take a vacation....its been years.  I think a time
in Colorado learning WW kayaking would be cool.  
The thread on garages was gutwrenching.  I just finished building my 2 story
24x24 garage.  Cars MUST be garaged....especially the old ones!  put the boats
on the second floor... or in the living room.

Have fun    
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