David Oates

I spend most of my time working on my boat. I have been boating since the mid 50s with a break for mountaineering late 70s. About 1986 my father lured me back to boating and Helen and I have been boating every since. We sold the sailboat that my father and I built (launched in 1969) in 2006 and bought a 42' powerboat. Sold the powerboat in 2015.
Spent most of my working career in the medical instruments business. Assembly, testing, chemical manufacturing. Earn an Associate of Science degree at West Valley CC, Saratoga CA. I was a chemist and then a Documentation Specialist and Regulatory Affairs Officer until I left that employer in 1994. Did some consulting in documentation of Good Manufacturing Practices and database management. One day I noticed that I was not working and I was not looking for work. I realized that I was finally retired.

There was a teacher that thought is was wrong for boys to wear plain, white T-shirts to school. One day near the end of 1960, a senior friend of mine and I went home at lunch (we lived close to Carlmont), changed into white T-shirts and went back to school.
When the notorious teacher spotted us he sent us to the Dean. Dean did not share the teachers objection to our attire and told us to avoid the teacher and hangout on Senior Lawn. Of course, the teacher saw us and after we told him the story, he went off to have it out with the Dean. Ha Ha! Great fun.

There was a time when someone was planning some kind of show or skit. I was called because it was believed that I could play the bongo drums. I was so excited to be asked to participate that I said I would do it. But as thing progressed and a rehearsal was being planned, I realized I was dreaming – I wasn’t a bongo drum player, I just wanted to be one. I wanted to do the gig, but I really couldn’t play. As much as I wanted to be involved, I had to back out. I was very embarrassed and I probably caused a real problem by leading the group on. If anyone remembers the incident they probably have a different view of what happened. I assume I really left a bad impression on someone. Eventually I forgot about the incident – until now. I know this wasn’t a fun thing that happened at school, but it just came to me and I decided to share it here.

We have sailed in the Windward Islands: St. Vincent, Bequia, Mustique, Mayreau, Canouan, etc. We have sailed in Mexico and Canada including the San Juans Islands and the Canadian Gulf Islands.

We like to go to Hawaii. Our son has a rental home on the big island, Hawaii.

We like to travel in Mexico. In the winter of 2006 - 2007 we rented a house in San Carlos, Sonora, Mex and were resident for four months. It was great and we frequently think of going back.

Having toured the southwest, we now talk our road trips to the northwest -- Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. We now live on Whidbey Island, WA and our road trips continue, only now many are south to Ashland, the bay area, Grass Valley, our boat and one all the way to Albuquerque, NM.

Helen and I enjoy cruising our boat in the California/San Joaquin and Sacramento river deltas. Our delta club has become a cruising club (we now longer have a clubhouse) and increased the number of cruise event. I was going to bring the boat up to Washington (leaving Sept. 12, 2016 - crew is ready), but that has been canceled. First we could not find a berth for her and that made us realize that it is too expensive for us to boat in Washington. So the boat was sold. If we need to continue boating we will charter or purchase a smaller boat -- one that can be trailed and kept on our property.