Welcome! Lots of good advice from the TF group (most of the time

). We just completed exactly what you are now beginning. We bought our boat in Sept. 2013. We actually bought her up river from you in Oakley CA. I retired in December. We are heading to Alaska this summer, actually in about 12 weeks! We are very very excited.
I would start looking at boats now.
www.yachtworld.com will become your best friend and I must caution you addictive. Go look at boats, walk docks, go to all the boat shows you can. Draw up a plan on what is considered a go-no-go for your next boat. This process took us 3 years before we bought our boat.
Once you settle on what you want, buy with your brain and not your heart!! Always always, have the boat you want to buy, have a survey and engine survey done, ALWAYS!!!
Buy at least a few years BEFORE you retire so you can do all the upgrading, lean how to handle her etc. Buy as early as you can.
Any questions just ask here.
Good luck and again welcome.
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