Living The Dream

Most of them dream... We LIVE IT.

Vessel Name: Santorini
Vessel Make/Model: Mariner/Mayflower 48'
Hailing Port: Punta Gorda, Florida
Crew: Tom, Dawn, Chico & Kamala
Social:
13 August 2016 | Isla Mujeres, Mexico
28 July 2013 | Punta Gorda, FL
28 July 2013 | Punta Gorda, FL
22 April 2011 | St. Andrews Bay, Panama City, FL
21 March 2011 | Panama City, Florida
16 March 2011 | Port St. Joe, Florida
14 March 2011 | Tampa Bay, FL
12 March 2011 | Ft. Myers, Florida
11 March 2011 | Ft. Myers Beach, FL
03 March 2011 | Isla Mujeres, MX
25 February 2011 | Isla Mujeres, MX
17 February 2011 | Colon, Panama
14 February 2011 | Panama City, Panama
07 February 2011 | Panama City, Panama
05 February 2011 | Isla Toboga
02 February 2011 | Golfo de Panama
01 February 2011 | Panama
31 January 2011 | Bahia Honda to Ensenada Benao
30 January 2011 | Bahia Honda, Panama
Recent Blog Posts
13 August 2016 | Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Back in Isla Mujeres!

It's been a fast 3 years since moving to Punta Gorda, FL. Although we haven't done much sailing, we have made some very nice improvements and upgrades to Santorini. We had her hauled out for bottom paint - this time applying Petit Trinidad 75. It had been 5 years since her last paint job with Trinidad [...]

28 July 2013 | Punta Gorda, FL

Home At Last

We moved into our new house end of May 2013. Tom towed the SeaRay down and put it in storage. We made several trips down to move, but sadly left Santorini behind in Panama City, Fl until we could prepare her slip in Punta Gorda.

28 July 2013 | Punta Gorda, FL

Getting Our Freedom Back

After swallowing the anchor in Panama City, FL for 2 years we are looking forward to getting back into cruising mode. We were certainly grateful for Tom landing a job when he did - it saved us when our businesses went bust. It was tough working 8-5 M-F with 1 week of vacation after having been self-employed [...]

22 April 2011 | St. Andrews Bay, Panama City, FL

Settling In on the Gulf Coast

We had a great trip back to OC. It was wonderful to see everyone and a relief to finally move the rest of our stuff. We stopped and stayed with family and friends along the way during our trip home. We missed the kitties, and they missed us even more. Our neighbors, Don & Kelly live on a houseboat [...]

21 March 2011 | Panama City, Florida

Back to the OC

Well it's only been 4 days since we sailed into port here in Panama City, FL but we're already heading back to Orange County, CA. My friend Beth is engaged to a great guy named Alan. He happens to own a private jet. They flew in this afternoon from Key West for a short overnight visit and are returning [...]

18 March 2011 | Panama City, Florida

Mission Accomplished: Over 5000 miles in less than 5 months!

We finally made it! We sailed into St. Andrews Bay at 2 pm on St. Patrick's Day, it was a very moving experience! There's nothing like achieving a many years long goal. The people here are wonderful - everyone is SO NICE! Southern hospitality is alive and well.

Getting Our Freedom Back

28 July 2013 | Punta Gorda, FL
After swallowing the anchor in Panama City, FL for 2 years we are looking forward to getting back into cruising mode. We were certainly grateful for Tom landing a job when he did - it saved us when our businesses went bust. It was tough working 8-5 M-F with 1 week of vacation after having been self-employed for over 25 years. It truly cramped our style when in came to boating. We are ECSTATIC that he is now a RETIRED Engineer as of 5/17/13! His income allowed me to build a business that not only has returned our former lifestyle of FREEDOM - but will provide us with a Lifestyle beyond our wildest DREAMS. (see www.dawnfleming.com for more info).

When we were in Isla Mujeres we met some cruisers from Punta Gorda, FL - and they raved about the place. We took a road trip to sniff around during New Years Weekend at the end of 2011. It was love at first sight. We started watching the Real Estate market and thinking about relocating there. We returned over Thanksgiving Weekend 2012 and that was it - we were sold.

In May 2013, we came down to find a place to live - sadly the properties we'd been eyeing were gone. We'd already given a 30 day notice, so had to ask about a 30 day extension to stay - which was fine. 3 days later the PERFECT house came on the market. I left a message for the realtor, pulled up the listing info and stuck it on our Dream Board. Linda, the Property Manager called me back at 11 am and said she'd just shown it to a couple and they took it. I said "That's impossible - that's OUR house!"

I said a prayer in front of our Dream Board "Please God, that's our house - make the deal fall through." Linda called back to say the couple had changed their mind - they were in a lease they thought they could get out of - they couldn't. Linda said "Would you like to see it?" I said "No, we want to RENT IT!) So we did - it is FABULOUS! We may need to dredge and add a piling to get the Santorini in, but we''ll get it done!
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