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!