Are you strong enough to survive 13 hours in the water? That's exactly what this writer did when he chaperoned an ocean survival course.

Modern life is complicated. I needed a car, a bus, a train and a taxi to get to my square-rigger. When no cabs could be had, a young police officer offered me a lift. Musing on my last conveyance in such a vehicle, I thought, My, how a touch of gray can change your circumstances.