P1: What's in a name? Operation NEPTUNE

Giving things a 'name' helps you anchor them mentally.

You can refer to it 'it' and then help shape the concept.

So let's start with the whole of 'Part 1'  IE: - getting going.

From confirming the intention that we were actually going to buy a boat and live on it on the Med' and exist as part sea-gypsy and part resident in another country while so doing, needed planning, managing and executing. The key part is 'executing'. The difference between a dream and reality is execution. (see 'Notes on Reactions' - another post)

My pre-retirement life was just that - executing complex projects / programmes - with the multiple threads therein. (Projects and Programmes are another post entirely).

I have been looking to spend the first part of my retirement sailing, for a good 20 years. the whole 'run-up' - again - is another post - so watch this space. But, but, from Retiring at 57 - to owning a boat, packing up our home in York, sorting out the admin required to getting retirement visas and then 'actually being able' to needed planning - coordinating and sharing of effort - plus delegation - in order to make it real.

So - after a day of consideration - Mrs D and I spent a few hours brainstorming out what we thought we need to do. We didn't get everything swept up. There were brickbats and other curveballs thrown at us - but unless we had a plan and an objective  we were doomed to a world of slippage, pain and disappointment.

The Sage of The Mediterranean (Rod Heikel esq.) also confirmed that the biggest part of going is setting a date. To turn one's back on the land and GO is the hardest part. Once you are committed, you will 'dive for the line' and make things happen. 

Manage expectations.

Sharpen your packing list.

Commit to a date.

Buy Tickets.

As a former 'delivery' professional - this is innate. You have to have a date and a commitment - otherwise there will always be something else needing sorting  - and tomorrow never comes.

So - plan out the phase lines, update it as certainties are known, and 'dive for the line'.

Give it a name.

Those who know me, will confirm I'm a WW2 buff. This plan involved admin, legals, differing embassies, The Authorities, logistics, securing shipping, foreign travel, and travelling to a foreign clime for a 'D-day', from which we shall be amphibious. No Brainer really.  

Operation NEPTUNE was born.

Operation NEPTUNE, first draft, November 2025.

In short - buy a boat, organise visas, rent our house out, clear everything for rental, export our car, move to Spain. Job's a good 'un.

Subsequent posts will explain how it all went and what probs happened. No plan survives contact with the enemy etc.

However - NEPTUNE set a tone. 

There will be forthcoming posts about Operation OLYMPIC*, PEDASTAL* and QUADRANGLE*.

* I really read too much military history.