It sounds like a relaxing retirement plan: you polish off a happy, fulfilling career in Winnipeg and decide to live year-round in Manitoba's cottage country. So you pack your things and move to the lake.

That's real life for sailing friends Cindy Blicq and Lori Hiscock, but they're not exactly kicking back and taking it easy. They'll have a unique view of the lake as the newly appointed harbour masters for the Gimli Harbour Authority in the Interlake community of Gimli, Man.

"Lori and I decided to apply for the position on my 60th birthday," says Blicq. "I came out of retirement to take this job."

The job of harbour master is typically filled by one person — Blicq and Hiscock, who started a few weeks ago, are taking over from Gordon Gowie, who announced his retirement late last year after 15 years in the job.

ut the two women decided to apply as a team. They combined their resumes, which boast a wealth of experience in public administration, faculty management, human resources, tourism and education, and said they would only accept the position as a job share.

"We felt that our combined skills, training and work experiences would bring more to the job than what one person alone could provide," says Blicq.

"We bring different, but complementary, skills to the position."

They also both know their way around boats, and the harbour. Blicq and Hiscock have been friends for years through the Gimli Yacht Club and are active users of the harbour as avid sailboat racers.