When Nancy and Robert Houchens retired, they downsized, selling their house and most of their belongings. Now the Virginia couple spends as much time as they can on their preferred means of transportation: cruise ships. They sailed for about nine months during the first year of their retirement. Nancy, 71, also reached a milestone in early July, sailing 1,000 days with Carnival Cruise Line since the 1980s. Robert, 64, hit the 1,000-day mark later in the month. Tap the link in bio to learn how the avid cruisers plan their voyages, pack for an extra-long trip, and the ways a vacation is different from living at sea.