Although this book, written for his grandchildren, is one man's chronicle of his life and his 38 - year career in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Cold War, it is also a compelling story about pride in one's cultural roots, the pursuit of adventure, the role of curiosity in life's travels, and an abiding passion for leadership. The story starts in a pastoral setting in Nova Scotia and winds its way to British Columbia, where the author is immersed in the hectic life of a Naval Cadet. Upon graduation from the Royal Military College Chiasson goes to sea and attains a Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate before joining the engineering branch. He spends the next few years as the Engineering Officer of two Naval destroyers prior to attending Staff College to broaden his horizons. The remainder of his Engineering career is devoted to overseeing and managing refits and new construction in Canadian shipyards and in National Defence Headquarters. Following attendance at the National Defence College, hIs crowning Engineering achievement is as the Commanding Officer ( and religious change-management fanatic) of Canada's East Coast Naval Dockyard. In a remarkable quirk of fate he ends his career as Canada's Defence Attaché in Japan.