Friday, May 01, 2015

A Reunion and a Birthday: The Beauty of Plans and Non-Plans Alike

About a year ago we received an email from some blog followers, Sarah and Mark. They had hatched a plan to take a sabbatical and cruise for six months with their youngest son, Jimmy, and wondered if we would be willing to consult with them about when and where to do it (Bahamas or Caribbean?) and what sort of boat to do it on (rented or owned?) Being recently inducted into multiple baby madness, we didn't feel comfortable charging them for our limited and biased "expertise" but we definitely wanted to help them out if we could. Over multiple emails, we decided a dinner would do - and they drove down from Wisconsin to meet us for a meal over which we would answer any questions they had, and guide them as best we could.

A friendship was born.

You know those people you meet and you instantly start talking like you've known each other for years? Those people where there is never an awkward lull in conversation and there is a general excitement and energy in the air when together? The kind of people who, after hanging out with them, leave you smiling and feeling better about yourself and life in general? The McGuire's are those people.

The connection was so immediate and natural that we discussed everything but boats and cruising for the bulk of our three hour meal. The conversation just flowed. They didn't really need specifics, anyway. They just needed reaffirmation that, yes, they could do this and, yes, they absolutely should do this. We gave them the little boost they were looking for. Everything else was just logistics. Before we knew it, the lights were dimming and busboys were turning up chairs. It was time to end our awesome evening. We parted ways that night as friends, and vowed to keep in touch via email to help them hash out the details of their plan.

Fast forward a few months..."We are renting a boat in Grenada and will be finishing up our trip in the British Virgin Islands in April" they wrote to tell us, "Will you be there?" they asked. We told them that we should be (at that point we had no idea how things would go with 'three under three' aboard and we were playing it by ear) and that if we were here, we'd be waiting with tropical slushy rum drinks in hand to toast their trip.

And last week, that is exactly what we did.

I love it when a plan comes together.

We were able to buddy boat with the McGuire's for almost a week and it was fantastic. I seriously cannot sing enough praise about this family, and particularly their thirteen year old son who is by far the coolest and sweetest young man I have ever met. I will be turning to Mark and Sarah for parenting advice in the years to come (they have two older daughters in college), because these folks are doing it right.

As if the company could get any better, we were then surprised by my cruising bestie, Genevieve, and the rest of the adorable crew of s/v Necesse over in Jost Van Dyke. Our three crews hit up Foxy's at Great Harbor and the bubbly pools at Diamond Cay and - after some discussion - decided to buddy boat over to Cane Garden Bay, one of my all-time favorite anchorages, to celebrate my twenty-ninth birthday in true BVI style (coughcough*I turned thirty-six*coughcough).

This was very fortuitous as I had all but forgotten about my birthday until a couple of days before (I sometimes have to be reminded what month it is, let alone date #cruiserproblems). Due to this little oversight, we had no plans whatsoever to celebrate my birthday in any special way let alone with awesome friends in one of my favorite bays. For the stars to align and create such a perfect last minute "plan"? Well, that's just serendipity at it's best.

I love it when a non-plan comes together.

Scott let me sleep in, made a delicious home-made Belgian waffle breakfast and then baked cupcakes to share with everyone for our afternoon beach gathering. The sun was shining, the kids were running amok, Painkiller's were flowing (as was a delicious lava cake baked by Sarah!) - and I was surrounded by some truly wonderful people. Really couldn't ask for more.

Since I don't get out much (ever) these days, for my (spontaneous last-minute) 'party', I had decided on a ladies' night outing to Quitos beach bar. It was a blast. My girl Genevieve, her wonderful mother in law Diane-Marie, and the lovely Sarah were my partners in crime and what a great group it was. We talked over drinks, danced our butts off and even belted out an old favorite, "Red Red Wine" (a Caribbean standard, imo) with the one man band. So. Much. Fun. Earlier in the evening I had experimented with wearing some essential oils - it was, admittedly, an "interesting" blend- and, evidently it was a hit with the local men. So much so that they wanted me to bring them some so they could wear my scent. Hmmmm (Insert emoticon face with the squiggly line mouth). I guess I should've left the patchouli back in 1997 where I left it. Either way, we had no shortage of dance partners and before we knew it, it was midnight. Not "cruisers midnight" (which is 9pm) but actual midnight. Our Cinderella posse needed to get home, stat. We were turning into pumpkins, fast.

I was a little fuzzy the following day (note: I have not slept a solid seven hours in over a year!) but it was so worth it to welcome the upper half of thirty with a bang and in the company of some incredible people.
Plans are nothing; planning is everything.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
Family photo at the beautiful bubbly pool
Jimmy, delivering me the sweetest home-made birthday card ever and my birthday bottle of sauvignon blanc!

Isla made me a card too, I love the little people she made! My favorite gift ;)
Some pics from our girls night out - so much fun with these fabulous women!
I mean, look at these goofballs. What's not to love?

7 comments:

Josh said...

Congratulations on your advancing years! My wife and I got married in St Thomas and honeymooned for a few days on Tortola. We stayed at a pink, cinder block shack of a place in Cane Garden Bay and loved it... Much more than the couple of days at one of the schwanky places we stayed at a few days later on St. John. Dream of going back by boat in a couple of years.

Mark McGuire said...

What a wonderful post Brittany and what a joy it was to wrap up our adventure with you guys. You and Scott were a big inspiration for us to take this trip, so it was only fitting that we concluded it with you. You guys are great parents and people and we are very happy to now call you great friends as well. Until next time! Mark, Sarah and Jimmy

krishna said...


flipkart mobiles bonanza sale,
flipkart mobile bonanza sale 2019,
flipkart mobile bonanza 2018,
flipkart mobiles bonanza sale december 2018,
flipkart mobile bonanza offer,
flipkart mobile bonanza sale date,
flipkart mobile bonanza offer details,
flipkart mobile bonanza 2019,
flipkart mobile bonanza sale start time



flipkart sbi debit card emi,
flipkart sbi,
flipkart sbi offer,
flipkart sbi offers,
flipkart sbi card offer,
flipkart offer with sbi card,
flipkart sbi debit card offer,
flipkart sbi credit card offers,
flipkart sbi debit card emi eligibility sms,
sbi flipkart eligibility,
flipkart sbi debit card emi eligibility check,
flipkart sbi offer big billion day,
flipkart sbi emi debit card,
flipkart debit card emi sbi sms,
sbi woohoo flipkart gift card,
flipkart sbi offer 2017,
flipkart sbi offer 2018,
flipkart sbi offer terms and conditions,
flipkart debit card emi sbi mobile,
flipkart offer for sbi debit card,
flipkart emi with sbi debit card,
flipkart coupons for sbi credit card,
flipkart sbi debit card emi 2018,
flipkart emi through sbi debit card,
flipkart sbi debit card emi eligibility check sms,
flipkart sbi emi offer,
flipkart sbi terms and conditions,
flipkart sbi offer september 2017,
flipkart diwali sale sbi offer,
flipkart sbi offer t&c,
flipkart diwali sale sbi,
sbi flipkart voucher offer,
flipkart and sbi,
flipkart and sbi card offer,
flipkart and sbi debit card offer,
flipkart mobile sbi card offer,
flipkart sbi 10 cashback offer,
flipkart sbi 10 offer,
flipkart sbi card offer today,
flipkart sbi discount,
flipkart sbi offer big billion sale,
flipkart sbi offer december 2017,
flipkart sbi offer july 2018,
flipkart sbi offer today,
sbi flipkart big billion offer,
sbi po flipkart



flipkart sbi card offers,
sbi card offers on flipkart,
flipkart sbi credit card offers,
flipkart sbi debit card emi offer,
flipkart sbi card offer 2019,
flipkart mobile sbi card offer,
flipkart sbi card offer big billion day,
flipkart sbi card discount,
flipkart sbi card offer terms and conditions,
sbi credit card offers on flipkart mobiles,
flipkart sbi card offer 2017




flipkart sbi offers,
flipkart sbi card offers,
flipkart offers for sbi credit card,
flipkart offers on sbi credit cards,
flipkart sbi offer big billion day,
flipkart sbi offer terms and conditions,
flipkart sbi emi offer,
flipkart sbi offer september 2017,
sbi offers in flipkart,
flipkart offer sbi debit card,
flipkart sbi offer t&c,
sbi flipkart voucher offer,
flipkart sbi card offer 2017,
flipkart sbi card offer big billion ,
flipkart sbi card offer terms and conditions,
flipkart sbi offer big billion sale,
flipkart sbi offer december 2017,
flipkart sbi offer july 2018

krishna said...




flipkart dhanteras sale 2018,
flipkart dhanteras sale 2017
flipkart cardless credit,
flipkart cash on delivery
flipkart cashback,
cashkaro flipkart,
flipkart return policy for cash on delivery,
flipkart carding,
flipkart cash on delivery not available,
flipkart online shopping cash on delivery,
flipkart cash on delivery policy,
flipkart cashback offers today,
flipkart cash on delivery pincode
flipkart cashback offer 2018,
flipkart cash on delivery in kerala,
flipkart cash on delivery unavailable,
flipkart cash on delivery not applicable,
flipkart cash on delivery limit,
flipkart cash on delivery cities list,
flipkart cash on delivery card swipe
flipkart cash on delivery kaise kare
flipkart cashless payday sale,
flipkart shoes cash on delivery,
flipkart cash,
flipkart flash sale cash on delivery,
flipkart cash on delivery available areas bihar,
flipkart citibank cash back,
flipkart cash on delivery return, policy
flipkart cashback offer paytm,
flipkart mobile cash on delivery,
flipkart cash coupons,
earn flipkart cash,
flipkart cashback promo code,
flipkart cash on delivery problem,
flipkart stopped cash on delivery,
flipkart sbi cashback,
flipkart cashback not received,
flipkart cash on delivery not available 2018,
flipkart return policy cash on delivery,
flipkart cash on delivery areas,
flipkart cashback on phonepe,
flipkart citibank cashback offer,
flipkart watches cash on delivery,
short on cash flipkart means

krishna said...


flipkart diwali sale,
flipkart diwali sale 2018,
flipkart biggest diwali sale,
flipkart big diwali sale,
flipkart diwali offers for mobiles,
flipkart diwali offers mobiles,
flipkart diwali sale 2017,
flipkart diwali sale date,
flipkart diwali offers on smartphones,
flipkart diwali sale offer,
flipkart diwali sale 2016,
flipkart big diwali sale 2017,
flipkart diwali offers on laptops,
flipkart diwali dhamaka offers,
flipkart amazon diwali sale,
flipkart diwali sale 2017 october,
flipkart diwali offers on led tv,
flipkart diwali offers sarees,
flipkart diwali offers on dresses,
flipkart diwali offers on mobile phones,
flipkart next diwali sale,
flipkart upcoming diwali sale,
flipkart diwali offers on shoes,
flipkart diwali offers for sarees,
flipkart diwali offers in mobiles,
flipkart diwali offers on tv,
flipkart diwali sale on mobile phones,
flipkart diwali offers on electronics,
when flipkart diwali sale,
flipkart pre diwali sale,
flipkart diwali sale refrigerator
flipkart diwali dhamaka sale,
flipkart diwali sale starts from,
when will flipkart diwali sale start
big diwali sale in flipkart,
flipkart big diwali sale 2016,
flipkart big diwali sale date,
flipkart big diwali sale slogan,
flipkart diwali bumper sale,
flipkart diwali mega sale,
flipkart diwali mobile offers 2017,
flipkart diwali offers on watches,
flipkart diwali sale 2015,
flipkart diwali sale 2016 dates,
flipkart diwali sale 2017 offers,
flipkart diwali sale ad,
flipkart diwali sale kurtis,
flipkart diwali sale mobiles,
flipkart diwali sale news,
flipkart diwali sale october 2017,
flipkart diwali sale offer 2017,
flipkart diwali sale slogan,
flipkart diwali sale starting date,
flipkart diwali sale today offer,
flipkart diwali special offers,
flipkart happy diwali sale,
flipkart vs amazon diwali sale

krishna said...




flipkart sbi card,
flipkart sbi debit card emi,
flipkart sbi card offer,
flipkart offer with sbi card,
flipkart sbi credit card offer,
flipkart sbi debit card emi offer,
sbi woohoo flipkart gift card,
flipkart sbi debit card emi eligibility check,
flipkart sbi card offer 2019,
sbi card flipkart voucher offer,
flipkart sbi debit card emi link,
flipkart sbi card offer big billion day
flipkart debit card emi sbi in hindi,
flipkart sbi debit card emi eligibility check sms,
flipkart sbi card offer terms and conditions,
flipkart coupons for sbi credit card,
sbi credit card flipkart voucher offer,
flipkart big billion day sbi card,
flipkart sbi card offer 2017,
flipkart sbi card offer today




flipkart sbi debit card emi,
flipkart emi on sbi debit card,
flipkart sbi debit card offer,
flipkart sbi debit card emi eligibility sms,
flipkart sbi debit card emi offer,
flipkart sbi debit card emi eligibility check,
flipkart debit card emi sbi sms,
flipkart sbi debit card emi link,
flipkart debit card emi sbi in hindi,
flipkart sbi debit card emi eligibility check sms,
flipkart offer for sbi debit card,
10 off on flipkart sbi debit card,
flipkart sbi debit card emi option,
flipkart offer with sbi debit card,
flipkart and sbi debit card offer




flipkart sbi emi,
flipkart emi on sbi debit card,
flipkart sbi debit card emi eligibility,
flipkart sbi debit card emi eligibility sms,
flipkart sbi debit card emi offer,
flipkart sbi debit card emi eligibility check,
flipkart sbi emi debit card,
flipkart debit card emi sbi mobile,
flipkart sbi debit card emi link,
flipkart sbi debit card emi 2018,
flipkart debit card emi sbi in hindi,
flipkart sbi debit card emi eligibility check sms,
flipkart sbi emi offer



flipkart yes bank offer,
flipkart yesterday offer,
flipkart yes bank offer,
flipkart debit card emi yes bank





flipkart citi offer,
flipkart citibank offer,
flipkart citi credit card offers,
flipkart citibank offer 2018,
flipkart citibank,
flipkart citibank offer august 2018,
flipkart offers for citi credit card,
flipkart citibank rewards points,
flipkart citibank offer 2019,
flipkart citi cash back offer,
flipkart citibank 10 cashback offer,
flipkart citibank card offer,
flipkart citibank cashback offer,
flipkart citibank offer 2017,
flipkart citibank offer jan 2018,
flipkart citibank offer freedom sale




flipkart citibank offer,
flipkart citibank offer 2018,
flipkart citibank,
flipkart citi credit card offers,
flipkart citibank credit card offer,
flipkart offers for citi credit card,
flipkart citibank card offer

krishna said...




Flipkart SBI Offer 2019: 10% Instant Cashback,
Flipkart HDFC Offer 2019: 10% Instant Offer,
Flipkart Cashback offer 2019: 10% Cashback,
Flipkart SBI Offer May 2019,
Flipkart SBI Card Offers May
Flipkart SBI Credit Card Offers,
Flipkart SBI Debit Card Offers,
Flipkart SBI Debit Card EMI,
Flipkart SBI Offer Terms and Conditions,
Flipkart SBI Offer

SBI Credit Card /Debit Card Offers 10% Instant Cashback
Get Cashback

HDFC Credit Ca rd /Debit Card Offers 10% Instant Cashback
Get Cashback

Citi Bank Credit Card /Debit Card Offers:10% Instant Cashback
Get Cashback

Axis Bank Credit Card /Debit Card Offers:10% Instant Cashback (Extra 5% on Axis Buzz Cards)
Get Cashback

ICICI Bank Credit Card /Debit Card Offers:10% Instant Cashback
Get Cashback

YES Bank Credit Card /Debit Card Offers:10% Instant Cashback
Get Cashback

IDBI Bank Credit Card /Debit Card Offers:10% Instant Cashback
Get Cashback

Kotak Bank Credit Card /Debit Card Offers:10% Instant Cashback
Get Cashback

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...