Hello from Rio Rancho, NM !

[jlstanch]

Hello Cruisers Forum!
My name is Jesse and I'm an aspiring sailor. I learned the basics back in college in a lake here in northern NM. Motoring out of the little channel in Lake Heron we spent the morning swimming being there was no wind and glassy water. Around mid-morning a ripple appeared on the water to the south which gently pushed our sail to starboard and we silently began to move. In the space of a few seconds my life changed and a dream was born.
Since then I've been researching all things sailing and got a chance to spend seven weeks in the South Pacific on a 39' NZ built Hartley (sp?). More than anything that trip was to test my dream to sail. I'd lived in southern CA until I was seven and spent summers there with Dad on charter fishing boats. I knew what seasickness felt like and wanted to know if the dream would survive a long sailing trip. It passed with flying colors.
Now I'm in the process of fixing up my house here in NM. The plan is to sell it then look for employment near an ocean, boat shop, buy, spend a year or so getting the boat and myself ready then casting off for some extended cruising.
Any tips, tricks, suggestions, good reads, resources, etc by anyone are all welcome. Thanks for having me,
-jesse

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Jesse.

You're in the right place (CF) for tips, tricks, suggestions, good reads, resources, et.

[Unicorn Dreams]

Welcome Aboard Cruisers Forum

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Good to have you here.
kind regards,

[rgscpat]

Welcome, Jesse,

By the way, I'll be up at Heron Lake this weekend; my son and his friends will be camping and sailing on our Santana 20. Despite the drought, Heron got pretty good water and reached 75% of full capacity earlier this summer.

Pat in Albuquerque
The Desert Sea
Desert Sea - New Mexico and Southwestern Sailing

[jlstanch]

Thanks all and wow another from NM!