Meet the retiree cruising the world as a ballroom dancer
<p>In 1993, Jim Longino found a newspaper column advertising an unbeatable deal on luxury cruises – low fares in exchange for work as a “dance host”, available to dance with women who didn’t have a partner. It was the perfect job for the ex-soldier, who had been trained in ballroom dancing as a young man. There was just one problem – he had forgotten many of the dance moves he was expected to perform!</p>
<p>“I just faked it,” the now-88-year-old told the <a href="http://www.clarionledger.com/story/magnolia/2016/07/28/cruise-ship-dancer-learns-new-steps-retirement/87563560/" target="_blank"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Clarion Ledger</span></em></strong></a>. “The ladies didn’t know the difference.”</p>
<p>But that was just his first cruise. Upon returning to shore, Longino began taking dance classes, improving his skills before setting off to sea again and again. His “work” took him to Australia and New Zealand, as well as all over Europe and America.</p>
<p>There were no days off for the retiree, who had mornings off and a two-hour break in the evening for dinner. In the afternoons he gave lessons to passengers, and at 6.30pm it was his time to shine. “You had to be careful to zero in on the single women,” Longino said. “Some of the husbands would allow you to dance with their wives.” However, he was under strict instructions never to start a relationship with the passengers or risk being asked to leave the ship.</p>
<p>During his spare time, Longino was free to do whatever he wanted, just like a regular passenger. He spent his free hours at the gym, the pool, even taking shore excursions.</p>
<p>Longino’s all-dancing, all-cruising adventure lasted around ten years before he was sadly forced to leave due to the Recession. These days, he’s still as fancy-footed as ever, dancing his way around studios in Jackson, Mississippi, and credits his time at sea with keeping him young and even preventing Alzheimer’s. “It has kept me alive.”</p>
<p>What a lucky man! Tell us in the comment section below, what would you love to accomplish in retirement?</p>
<p><strong>Related links:</strong></p>
<p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/07/5-juicy-confessions-from-cruise-crewmembers/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 juicy confessions from cruise crewmembers</strong></em></span></a></p>
<p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/07/why-more-and-more-people-are-retiring-on-a-cruise/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em>Why more and more people are retiring on a cruise</em></strong></span></a></p>
<p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/07/8-of-the-strangest-things-witnessed-by-cruise-goers/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>8 of the strangest things witnessed by cruise-goers</strong></em></span></a></p>
