They Had Been Caught
In shock and disbelief, they just stood there. They could succeed with their plan. Their true intentions were supposed to remain a secret.
Nevertheless, there she stood. They had been caught in the act by the cruise ship cleaner. Her evidence was enough to bring their plans to an abrupt halt.
Presenting Evidence
They were shown the evidence as she waved it before them. As a matter of fact, she had much more than she needed. The laundry was given in the night before, and the stains were visible.
“Can you explain this? “ she asked, her bright blue eyes glinting with mischief. Those were the first signs that things were about to get worse.
Embarrassed
It was highly embarrassing for the couple. Before sending in their laundry, they ensured it was as clean as possible.
There must have been an oversight when it came to cleaning this shirt. Since the incident happened the day before, they must have been so busy getting help that they forgot to clean up.
Far From Over
Despite the couple's best efforts, it appeared to be just an accident. Most of the time, they prewash their clothes. This didn't sit well with the cleaner.
The cleaner didn't get upset because of the mess but because of something else. A sinister plot was afoot, and they were at the center of it.
Kept Getting Worse
The cleaner then revealed the proper intentions. Neither the clothing nor the mess associated with it bothered her. That was just something she was trying to take advantage of.
Then, after discovering what the couple was really up to, she squeezed them dry. “This little mess will cost $5,000 to clean,” she said, waving a hand at the soiled shirt.
Over A Decade Ago
A total of thirteen years have passed since the start of this entire situation. As the couple approached retirement age, they began to plan what they would do with their time.
Initially, they didn't think about it. However, once they tasted what it was like, their perception of it changed. Since then, they have continued to do so.
The Old Couple
This moment they have had been years in the making for Diana and Roger Jones. Their retirement dream was to fulfill their dreams after they had worked hard and saved every penny.
That day was just around the corner. In preparation for their retirement, the companies where they worked had already begun making preparations.
Almost Time
The couple would finally retire in less than a month. As soon as they received their checks, they could do whatever they wanted with their money and time.
Then came the big question. What would they do now that they had been waiting for this opportunity for so long?
The Next Step
They had talked about this day their entire marriage, and so much had been on their minds. However, there were some serious considerations to be made.
The money they needed for their last days on earth had to be set aside before they went off gallivanting. They knew their time was limited and required to make the best use of it.
Leave Them Be
It was contemplated by the couple to move into the house of one of their children. They had three children together. Certain things hindered them, however.
Their three children were all grown up and had their own families. Furthermore, the grandparents weren't interested in interfering with their lives. That was not an option.
Alone Forever?
The couple also didn’t want to spend the rest of their lives alone. Even though they owned a house and had everything they could ever need, they knew one would pass before the other.
And they didn’t want to be stuck in a position where the other was left with a big, empty house and no one to take care of them.
A Care Facility?
The next option was to go to a care facility, but neither of them wanted that, especially not at the age they were then. They still had a lot to experience, and they didn’t want to give that up for something they would only use later in their lives.
So what was left? Would they keep the house as an investment for their future? Would they go to their children? Would they follow their plan?
A Touchy Subject
It was a touchy subject for the old couple. They couldn’t believe that the years had flown by in the blink of an eye. There was so much they still wanted to do and see, but now, it felt like they were just too old.
Despite still having a few good years ahead of her, Diana felt like her life was coming to an end. But in an attempt to keep her life fun and interesting, she found herself in a risky situation.
Caring For Everyone Else
For all her life, Diana dreamed of visiting Europe and traveling the world, but she never got that opportunity. She got married straight out of high school, and her first child was born less than a year later.
From then on, her life was dedicated to being a mother and a stay-at-home wife. She was so busy caring for everyone else that she never got to care for herself.
Depression
With their retirement hanging over their heads like a dark cloud, Roger could see the impact it had on his wife. Diana had always told herself that there would be an opportunity to see the world, but now, she realized that she was running out of time.
Roger loved his wife more than anything or anyone else in the world, and he was determined to make things right. It was up to him to find a solution to the problem.
A Conversation
He decided to sit down and discuss the situation with his wife. “I just feel like all we ever did was raise the kids and work. We never got to do anything for ourselves,” Diana cried to her husband.
“I never got to drink wine in Italy, and I never got to sit on Table Mountain. Now I’m starting to think I never will,” she sobbed. Roger’s heart was shattering in his chest. He had to do something about this.
What About Their Plans?
It became clear to Roger that the most important thing for Diana was that she didn’t want to give up all the plans she had built over the years.
They had given up all luxury for their family, and they didn’t want it all to come crashing down because they didn’t plan things properly. But what could they do? They only had so many options.
Having Fun
It was clear that the couple wanted to have fun. They wanted to experience new things and see places they couldn’t while they were young.
They wanted to make the best of their retirement and get the most out of the money they had. But now, they realized that they should’ve started the process a whole lot earlier.
Seeing It All
Diana, for one, loved to travel and see all the sights the world had to offer. And Roger wasn’t averse to that. But what he wanted most was to relax.
He had spent his life in a high-level position, which meant that he had a lot of stress, and he wanted all the years of tension to be washed away.
Thinking About It
Roger thought about it for hours on end. What could he do that would give his wife the opportunity to see the world while he got to relax?
That night, while Diana was fast asleep in their bedroom, Roger found himself in front of the computer, looking for more options. It took a few hours, but eventually, he found the perfect solution.
The Advertisement
Roger couldn’t believe his eyes when he stumbled across an advertisement for a new, affordable cruise ship in Miami. Curious, the old man opened the link.
He couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the prices. Staying onboard the cruise ship would be cheaper than living in an old age home. He had to do more research.
One Problem
That night, Roger spent hours looking up all kinds of cruise ships, but he discovered one problem. These ships did not sail the seas year-round. They would sail for a few months, then stop for a few months.
This would leave the couple in a bit of a predicament. But would that be enough to deter them from the idea of sailing the seas for the rest of their lives?
Could They?
Roger didn’t know if they could handle something like that at their age. The cruising part would be fine, but it was the stopping that would lead to problems.
Where would they stay while the ship was docked? And would they really be able to keep coming and going for the rest of their lives? This was something he had to discuss with his wife because it could make or break the entire plan.
First Things First
But before Roger could speak, he needed to think things through. He didn’t want to ruin all of his wife’s plans by mentioning something on a whim. He had to get his facts straight. Only then would they be able to come up with a logical plan.
So Roger spent a few more hours smoothing things out. But in the end, he sat with more questions than answers. What would he do now?
Was It Possible?
He wondered if it was even possible to live on a cruise ship for an extended period of time. He wasn’t looking to go on one or two trips; he was looking to live on these ships.
And the more he thought about it, the more it seemed like his plan wouldn’t be feasible. But Roger wasn’t going to give up just yet. He’d do whatever it took.
All Those Figures
Roger spent the rest of that night setting up a budget and calculating what it would cost the couple. He was crunching numbers until his fingers ached, but in the end, he came up with a conclusion.
Roger didn’t even know if it was legal, but his plan seemed perfect, especially after he looked at what the numbers had to say.
All Night
The following morning, Diana awoke to find her husband passed out on the couch. He had spent the entire evening in front of the computer, trying desperately to plan their future.
She awoke him with a gentle pat on the shoulder, and when he opened his eyes, his heart filled with excitement. He had to tell his wife about what he had discovered the night before.
Child-Like
A broad smile spread across Roger’s face as he patted the seat next to him. He could see that his wife hesitated in her confusion, but after a second tap, she took a seat.
Diana was clearly confused by what was happening, but when her eyes fell on the laptop, she gasped. Could it really be true? Had he found a way?
Showing Her Everything
Diana sat beside her husband in front of the computer as he showed her picture after picture of the magnificent ships he had found the night before. When he looked back at his wife, she had a sad smile on her face.
“What’s the matter, honey?” he asked, concerned by the sudden shift in her mood. She didn’t seem excited at all.
Eerie Silence
An eerie silence fell upon the room after Roger asked his question. But the old man couldn’t understand why that was. He thought his wife would be happy about this.
It was everything they had ever spoken about, and they could afford it. So what was wrong? Why were there tears forming in her eyes? Had he misunderstood the situation?
They Couldn’t
“This all seems lovely, but we could never go through with this,” she sighed sadly. Roger frowned, confused by her words.
“We can’t just live on international waters. When these cruise ship owners realize that we are literally living on their ships, they’ll kick us out,” she explained, “Then we’ll have nowhere to live. It’s all just too risky. We’re too old to risk these kinds of things.”
Was It The End?
Upon hearing those words, Roger’s heart sank. He had been looking forward to convincing his wife that they could pull it off.
But after hearing her side, he couldn’t help but wonder if she was right. Was it really too much of a risk for someone their age? Was that really enough of a reason for them to just give up on their dreams?
A Sad Conclusion
Roger sighed as he closed the tab on his computer. He pulled his wife into a tight hug as she sighed sadly into his shoulder. “I was envisioning us moving from cruise ship to cruise ship and seeing the entire world,” he said sadly.
Diana had to blink back tears. “That sounds perfect, but we are just too old to be that irresponsible,” she told her husband.
She Was Right
Roger knew that his wife was right, but for just a moment, he considered what life would be like if they actually went through with it.
They had never done anything risky before. They always played it safe. Roger studied for a degree that would make them a lot of money, and he ensured that they would always have food on the table. They played life by the books, but maybe it was time to stop.
Thinking Out Loud
The more he thought about it, the more Roger wanted to take the risk. He couldn’t believe that their lives were so stagnant. And even though it got them where they wanted to be, he didn’t want things to be that way anymore.
What Roger didn’t know was that he wasn’t just thinking these thoughts. He was actually saying them out loud.
What Would She Say?
When Roger realized what he had done, he looked down at his wife. A blush had spread across his cheeks, but there was a flutter of hope in his heart. Would Diana agree to take the risk? He really hoped so.
But his wife’s response caught Roger completely off guard. What did she think of the idea? And how did she respond to it?
Back To Business
Diana pulled away from her husband and rubbed the tears from her eyes. She had to get back to business. They had a lot of planning to do.
“Sally spoke about a lovely retirement village in Minnesota,” she told her husband. They were back to discussing their safer options, but Roger was secretly still thinking about that cruise ship in the back of his mind.
Behind The Scenes
What Roger didn’t know was that he wasn’t the only one who was playing around with the idea. Even though Diana acted like she didn’t even want to consider the option, she was thinking about it more and more often.
She actually liked the idea of spending the rest of their lives traveling the world. She just didn’t want to take such a big risk at her age.
Too Much
Days passed, and Diana couldn’t find the strength to stop thinking about Roger’s proposal. It was just too intriguing for her to let go of it.
So, one night, she decided to sit her husband down and hear what he had to say. Was there a way for them to do this without having to take such a massive risk?
Thinking It Over
They spoke for hours, and after considering all these options, the couple decided to take some time to think about their plan. They didn’t want to make any rash decisions based on emotions.
They wanted to make 100% sure that the decision they made was not only the right one but also the best one for their final years on this planet. But Roger couldn’t stop thinking about what he had found a few nights prior.
New Task
Roger now had a new task ahead of him. He needed to find a way to ensure his wife that the risk wouldn’t be as big as she thought it would be.
So he started doing some research into short-term investments, which could help their money grow while they had the life they wanted. But he also wanted something that would allow them to withdraw money whenever they needed to. And that was when he came up with a brilliant idea.
A Last-Minute Trip
While doing his research, Roger saw an ad, and he decided to do something drastic. While his wife was preparing lunch, he had booked a cruise for the two of them that would allow them to see three of the countries that were on her bucket list.
He thought it would be the perfect way to show her what their life could be like. And he hoped it would be enough to help convince her.
Was It Enough?
As they sat around their dining room table, eating the lunch Diana had prepared, Roger mentioned his sudden plans to his wife, and Diana was shocked.
This time, her eyes were filled with excitement, and she couldn’t wait to experience what the cruise had to offer. But would that be enough to convince her to make this decision?
A Plan
Roger claimed that it would just be a short holiday break before they settled on a retirement home. “It will only be a few weeks. Once we get back, we can look at that retirement home in Minnesota,” he said, hoping she’d agree.
Diana was delighted with the proposal. She had always wanted to go on a cruise, and she thought that it would be the perfect way to start their retirement. She had no idea what her husband was planning.
The Journey Begins
Two weeks later, Roger and Diana were at the harbor. Their bags were packed, and they were ready to depart. But Diana still had no idea what she was in for.
Roger had it all planned out. He would wait until she was having fun, and then he would ask the question again. Maybe then she would forget about the risk and focus on the excitement.
Departure
That night, when the ship departed, the couple was already having a blast. It was like they were having a lifetime’s worth of dates in one day.
Things they had long abandoned because they became mundane were exciting once more. And Roger could feel his bond with his wife strengthening by the minute. It was everything they could’ve imagined and more.
Days Pass By
Days turned to weeks, and things just became more exciting. The couple explored new countries and met new people. They were falling into a routine, and it was far better than the one they had at home.
That was when Roger decided that this was the kind of life he wanted. He didn’t want to spend his days in a nursing home. He wanted to spend it having fun.
It Started As A Joke
While on the cruise, Roger made a joke, stating that he was still willing to live on cruise ships. Since Diana loved traveling, and he loved boats, they could just sail around the globe for the rest of their years.
That night, as they stared over the pitch-black ocean, Diana thought about going back home and living in a retirement village. She hated the idea. In a split second, she made the biggest decision of her life. “Let’s do it,” Diana delightfully agreed, not knowing what it would ultimately mean for them. She had forgotten about the risks involved.
Began To Settle
But the more time passed, the more the idea began to take root. Diana loved the idea of sailing the seas until the end of her days, and so did Roger.
They started being more serious about it when the topic was raised, and when they started considering finances, they realized that it would actually end up being a cheaper option.
Another Trip
Before making a final choice, they decided to go on another cruise to see if the idea was feasible. Sure, the idea was fantastic, but would it be a sustainable lifestyle for them?
The answer to that question was yes. There was always a doctor on board, and it turned out to be cheaper than a care facility. Plus, they could tick things off their bucket list.
Years Pass
Years passed, and the couple was having the time of their lives. They moved from one cruise ship to another, saw countries they never thought they would visit, and experienced things they never thought existed.
It was the best decision they had ever made. Or so they thought. But that would change on their next cruise.
Having A Ball
The couple was having a ball. They had met tons of people and made many new friends from across the globe. Many of the youngsters they met even started considering doing the same thing when they reached that age.
But there was one thing that always bothered them. What would happen if the company found out what it was that they were doing?
Caribbean Cruise
The next trip the couple had planned was a Caribbean cruise, and that was where the incident happened. The couple had always ensured that none of the staff members would find out what they were really up to.
But on this fateful night, everything would change, and it was all because of a greedy cleaner.
One Evening
That evening, the couple decided to have some dinner and dance the night away. They stayed up later than usual, but the experience was well worth it.
That was until they decided to call it a night. When they got closer to their room, they saw someone leaning against their door. And the woman had a mischievous look on her face.
A Total Stranger
Neither of them recognized the stranger, but her uniform did indicate that she worked on the ship. And the trolley in front of her let them know that she was one of the cleaners.
But why was she standing outside their room? The cleaners would usually just go in and do whatever it was that needed to be done.
The Big Question
The cleaner insisted on entering with the couple, and that was when she did something that made their hearts drop.
The cleaner pulled one of Roger’s shirts out of her cart and asked the couple if they would care to explain the stain that was on it. Was this it? Was their cover about to be blown?
Explanation
Diana explained that Roger was wearing the shirt the night before. It was hot, which clouded his mind a little, and he walked into a counter.
At his age, his skin was thin and fragile, so when the incident happened, he ended up cutting himself. Diana was overwhelmed with fear for her husband and forgot to wash the shirt before the cleaning crew came.
Blackmail
The cleaner then stated that she knew what they were up to. She had seen them on other ships she had been working on.
She claimed that the company would give them a lifetime ban if they found out about this and demanded $5,000 for her silence. But she had no idea who it was that she was dealing with.
Not A Chance
Diana tried to keep her emotions under wrap when she told the cleaner to go ahead and tell the company. She would never let anyone get away with blackmailing her.
And she knew that the cleaner would be in just as much trouble if her attempts to extort paying customers were brought to her manager’s attention.
Going Public
But that was nowhere near the end. Diana had another trick up her sleeve. When they docked at their next destination, she called the local news station and told them what happened with the cleaner.
The company was ashamed to hear what their staff were getting up to and made a formal apology. But that wasn’t all they did. The company fired the cleaner on the spot and banned her from ever working on a cruise ship again. And they promoted the couple to VIP members, giving them free cruises for life.