I asked what she did for a living. She said she was a software engineer working with SOA. I did not think about my plane ride much until I arrived in San Francisco to attend the SOA World Conference & Expo this past Monday and Tuesday. The first day of the conference as I walked into the hotel, guess who I saw? My friend who I met on the Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul. What a small world, isn't it? Her company was one of the sponsors of the event.

A drive-it-yourself canal barge includes all the luxury amenities you'd expect on a yacht, but costs less than staying in hotels and eating all your meals out. What's more, it's an adventure that lets you experience the 'real' countryside.

Choosing a destination for your bareboat charter can often be the trickiest part of your adventure, because so many variables come into play. You'll need to review your preferences, your skills, and your budget to make an educated decision that you'll be happy with.

A low-key, low-cost chartering option for a family who wanted to check out how they would fare spending time on the water together proves positive and leaves them planning an upgrade.