Like any addiction, it began innocently enough. My partner and I watched every season of Downton Abbey, connecting weekly with our inner aristocrats. Before every episode, we endured a brief advertisement where a warm, erudite voice extolled the wonders of a Viking River Cruise. Sailing through the heart of historic Europe with Viking, you’ll see things differently, it said. It’s a feeling only a river can give you.
The video featured silver-haired retirees gawking at freshly baked rolls, clinking wine glasses, and living life to the absolute half-fullest. The first season, we scoffed. The second season, we scoffed but also gave it some thought. By the end of the series, we wondered aloud, “Are we doing this?”
