Yes, Mena is land locked, but the highway leads right down to Galveston. I do feel some are over thinking my question, and making more of it than it is but y'all gotta' live and do what ya' gotta' do. If I ever do get my boat and somebody innocently asks a similar question just tell them something like "Well, there is this retired soldier/cattle rancher down in Galveston that if you go introduce yourself to him and aren't a complete jackass or moron there is a pretty good chance he might take you out on the ICW. Oh, and bring a bucket of chicken! He likes extra crispy!"
Actually, you're the one taking offense that no one is offering and then claiming you're a better person because you would or something of the sort. We simply responded by trying to explain why you weren't getting offers. You asked and no one responded then you asked why no one was responding. You're finding us to be inhospitable because we don't invite a total stranger aboard our boat for a day.
Do you pick up hitchhikers? I'm being serious as there was a time people did, but I don't know of anyone who will today. You may be the nicest, safest person around but I don't know that you aren't armed or have marijuana or other drugs in your possession. You pick up a rider in a car who has drugs with them and you may get thrown in jail. Same and worse on a boat where the USCG is involved and zero tolerance.
Now, I'll suggest again, slightly differently, spend some time around boaters either here or at the docks near Galveston. Get to know some. Let them get to know you where there is mutual trust then built. Then you'll likely get invitations with nothing required on your part, not even requiring you to ask or pay. There are other retirees with similar backgrounds to yours who would make great friends. Make friends first. Visit marinas and talk to people there. Tell those you meet that you're thinking about buying a boat and ask them for advice.
Now, to learn whether it's right for you or not, you need to immerse yourself in it. Spend time around boats and boaters. Read online. Even books and blogs and see how it sounds. Go to boat shows. You will learn something in a day on a boat, but if you base a buying decision on that one day, then it may be the worst decision you've ever made, a $50,000 mistake.
And if you get a boat and someone asks the same question and I know as little about them as I do today about you, I wouldn't dare send them to you, because I don't know. Their intent could be to take advantage of the cattle rancher.
Now, I've been around TF for a long time. As a result there are dozens, maybe hundreds of boaters here I would trust. I know they've met others here so have some verification of their character from those who have met them in person. We've maintained our privacy. Therefore, I wouldn't expect them to necessarily trust us. Even those we have met, for the most part, don't know they were meeting us and would likely be very surprised they have. Perhaps you live in an area where everyone knows everyone else and all the gossip is common knowledge, but the internet isn't like that.
Good luck in your quest. I'd just suggest a bit different approach simply because your first effort isn't working for you.
