Jim writes about his childhood during World War II, his time in the British Navy, his work on oil refineries and pipelines around the world, and facing the results of political upheaval in Africa and the Middle East. Judy concentrates on her memories of building and maintaining a home in diverse places, such as the American Virgin Islands, Brazil, Iran, Clinton, Iowa, Saudi Arabia, and Newburgh, Scotland. Together, they dealt with everything, from an attack of sea urchins in Aruba to being caught in one of the world's most unexpected revolutions in Iran.