THE CREW Ken and Cindy Miller, or "Cin & Kendy", as called by friends having had one too many toddies, are very lucky escapees from "Corporate America"!
A little of their life stories:
"Admiral" Cindy Roberts Miller spent her early years with brother Bruce, around a lake in Delavan, Wisconsin. Their Dad's work also took them to Rossville, Georgia and subsequently Sarasota, Florida. When Cindy graduated from Riverview High, she headed to Tampa, Florida & earned a Business Administration degree from the University of South Florida. She worked awhile in Tampa, after graduating in 1974. Cindy moved to Greenville, South Carolina in 1976. Subsequently, she met and married Ken Miller and gained a stepdaughter, Jessica. Cindy climbed the corporate ladder - as a clerk in a bank, an auditor for a construction company (Fluor), Director of Administration for a manufacturer (Ryobi) and Vice President for an insurance broker (Marsh McLennan). In 2003, she joined Ken in their architectural sign company "Garfield Signs & Graphics". Ken's business partner, Mike Garfield, had recently passed away and left a very large void in the company which no one would ever be able to fill.
"Captain" Ken was a Navy brat.... his father (Ken, Sr) was a Navy pilot. Ken was born in Coronado, California. He and his three sisters (Gayle, Karen & Kim) moved a great deal. When Ken graduated from Brunswick High in Brunswick, Georgia, off he went to Tallahassee, Florida to earn a business degree in Accounting from Florida State University (GO NOLES!). He graduated in 1976 and moved to Greenville, South Carolina with his first wife. They had a daughter, Jessica. Ken worked for one of the "Big 8" accounting firms - KPMG Peat Marwick. After his first marriage ended, Ken met and married Cindy. He stayed with KPMG for 23 years, becoming a Partner in the firm. In 1998, Ken took early retirement & became the business partner of Mike Garfield at "Garfield Signs & Graphics". Ken and Mike had great fun working together until Mike's sudden death in 2001. The loss of Mike as a friend, business partner, Harley riding buddy, and father figure was difficult and made a real impression. Although Cindy joined Ken in the business, it was never the same without Mike.
Both Captain Ken and Admiral Cindy became very aware that life can be too short and everyone should remember to "plan for tomorrow......but live for TODAY!"
For Ken's 50th birthday in 2004 - Ken, Cindy and friends Billy/Cleo, Charlie/Martha, Laura/Kevin chartered a sailing catamaran to celebrate. A week was spent aboard "Braveheart" in the BVI, with Captain Jerry Blair and Gerda Dehrmann. It was a wonderful trip that started a dream about cruising on a catamaran. That fall, K&C attended their first of many fact finding boat shows in Annapolis (2004, 2005) and were able to catch up with Captain Jerry each time. They also went to the Miami shows in 2005 and 2006. Hours were spent doing research on the internet and learning more about the "cruising lifestyle".
Unexpectedly in August, 2005 - their dream came closer to reality when a nice couple made an offer to buy their home (not on the market) and another nice couple made an offer to buy their business (which was not for sale). Both offers were received on the same day - 08-18-05! What do you think? Do you believe, as Ken and Cindy do, that this adventure truly is:
"MEANT TO BE" ?
(And, now you know the "rest of the story".......)
***********************
These are a few of our favorite things!
The nice folks on Crooked Island, Bahamas and their wonderful welcome... and, Willie's wonderful Wahoo for lunch, yummy.
The nice folks on Manjack Cay, fellow Vixen owners, Bill & Leslie.
Fishing (especially catching) Mahi and Little Tunny.
Nice folks at St. John's Boat works....thanks Bronson.
Sea turtles who stick their heads up to see us.
Dolphins that swim along and drive Miko nuts.
Cinnamon rolls at Treasure Cay.
Coconut ice cream at Man O War Cay, Abacos.
Flamingos in the wild on Long Cay, S. Bahamas
Great, helpful guys at the fuel dock in Salt Pond, Long Island and at Cape E, Eleuthera
Rum punch at McDuff's on Normans Cay - thanks Steffan
Coconut bread from Lorraine's mom (makes great French toast) - Black Point, Great Guana.
Learning to marinate fresh Mahi in beer - Elbow Cay, bartender at "Da Beach Bar & Grill" shared the secret.
Catching fresh Mahi.
Fresh Bahamian lobster on the grill and in cream sauce.
Great meals from our little galley.
Sea glass finds at San Salvador
Shelling on every beach
Sitting in the Key West anchorage watching the tourist schooners out for sunset cruises
"Fisherman's Wife" - ltiny Carabelle street side restaurant booth with wonderful hush puppies, fish.
Cinnamon rolls and sticky buns - Troyers, Sarasota, FL
Boca Grande, FL anchorage - peaceful
Ancolote Island anchorages and barrier Islands, Fl
Experiencing 56.8 knot winds at Anclote/Tarpon Springs, FL well with increased appreciation of our vessel
Calm Gulf Waters that allowed anchoring more than 9 miles offshore (weird)
Beautiful scenery around Cedar Key, Fl
Uncrowded and beautiful anchorages all around Panama City, FL with "fly boyz" overhead practicing for upcoming airshow.
Alligator Point, FL - nice people and beautiful island, beach, nice marina folks with water side bar
Carabelle, FL - great folks
Spotting sea turtles in the wild as we sail along, great
Swimming pigs at Staniel Cay
J.R. ,the carver, on Little Farmer Cay, Exumas
Pure, crystal aqua water in the Exumas
Long beach and island walks with our sweet pups, Dempsey and Mac, both loving being with us 24/7
Family Regatta, Georgetown, Great Exuma
Homemade coconut bread at Black Point, Great Guana in the Exumas
Zhivago's bar at Black Point, Great Guana
Sand Dollar Beach and nice people at Great Harbor, Berry Islands, Bahamas
Watching Terry catch big, tasty Dolphin fish (and clean them!)
Cinnamon rolls at Treasure Cay
Stone Crabs at Green Turtle Club restaurant...oh my god
Pot luck Christmas day luncheon at Brendl's Dive Shop - Green Turtle Cay
The agressive Sting Ray at Manjack...ah.. natives have been feeding him
Ladies (Thursday) night with Brendl in New Plymouth, at Sundowners
Amazing waitstaff, marina and office staffs at Green Turtle Club
Nice folks at Spanish Cay Marina/- clearing Customs & Immigration
Comanche Cove Marina - nice and helpful folks and parts in stock
Friends meeting us at Brunsiwick Landing Marina on arrival
Key Lime Pie - Harry's St. Augustine, FL
Good nights of sleep when anchorages are calm or we are tied up at a Marina
Sea gulls who fly along - will wait for peanuts
Chambers of Commerce everywhere sending their dolphins / manatees to greet us
The two black Shar Pei puppies at the Marina in Grand Bahama Yacht Club, Lucaya
The pool at Grand Bahama Yacht Club (and bar!)
The little birds that fly into our salon and ride along (look out for Annie, the cat)
Meeting Corstiaan aboard Lily Pad
3/08/07 Ken's beautiful stern in to new dock 14, Brunswick Landing Marina
12/14/06 "Dog overboard" - Mac trying to make the jump to the dock at St. Augustine Marine
6/16-24, 2006 Key West to Brunswick - having Ken, Sr. aboard; flying fish
A little of their life stories:
"Admiral" Cindy Roberts Miller spent her early years with brother Bruce, around a lake in Delavan, Wisconsin. Their Dad's work also took them to Rossville, Georgia and subsequently Sarasota, Florida. When Cindy graduated from Riverview High, she headed to Tampa, Florida & earned a Business Administration degree from the University of South Florida. She worked awhile in Tampa, after graduating in 1974. Cindy moved to Greenville, South Carolina in 1976. Subsequently, she met and married Ken Miller and gained a stepdaughter, Jessica. Cindy climbed the corporate ladder - as a clerk in a bank, an auditor for a construction company (Fluor), Director of Administration for a manufacturer (Ryobi) and Vice President for an insurance broker (Marsh McLennan). In 2003, she joined Ken in their architectural sign company "Garfield Signs & Graphics". Ken's business partner, Mike Garfield, had recently passed away and left a very large void in the company which no one would ever be able to fill.
"Captain" Ken was a Navy brat.... his father (Ken, Sr) was a Navy pilot. Ken was born in Coronado, California. He and his three sisters (Gayle, Karen & Kim) moved a great deal. When Ken graduated from Brunswick High in Brunswick, Georgia, off he went to Tallahassee, Florida to earn a business degree in Accounting from Florida State University (GO NOLES!). He graduated in 1976 and moved to Greenville, South Carolina with his first wife. They had a daughter, Jessica. Ken worked for one of the "Big 8" accounting firms - KPMG Peat Marwick. After his first marriage ended, Ken met and married Cindy. He stayed with KPMG for 23 years, becoming a Partner in the firm. In 1998, Ken took early retirement & became the business partner of Mike Garfield at "Garfield Signs & Graphics". Ken and Mike had great fun working together until Mike's sudden death in 2001. The loss of Mike as a friend, business partner, Harley riding buddy, and father figure was difficult and made a real impression. Although Cindy joined Ken in the business, it was never the same without Mike.
Both Captain Ken and Admiral Cindy became very aware that life can be too short and everyone should remember to "plan for tomorrow......but live for TODAY!"
For Ken's 50th birthday in 2004 - Ken, Cindy and friends Billy/Cleo, Charlie/Martha, Laura/Kevin chartered a sailing catamaran to celebrate. A week was spent aboard "Braveheart" in the BVI, with Captain Jerry Blair and Gerda Dehrmann. It was a wonderful trip that started a dream about cruising on a catamaran. That fall, K&C attended their first of many fact finding boat shows in Annapolis (2004, 2005) and were able to catch up with Captain Jerry each time. They also went to the Miami shows in 2005 and 2006. Hours were spent doing research on the internet and learning more about the "cruising lifestyle".
Unexpectedly in August, 2005 - their dream came closer to reality when a nice couple made an offer to buy their home (not on the market) and another nice couple made an offer to buy their business (which was not for sale). Both offers were received on the same day - 08-18-05! What do you think? Do you believe, as Ken and Cindy do, that this adventure truly is:
"MEANT TO BE" ?
(And, now you know the "rest of the story".......)
***********************
These are a few of our favorite things!
The nice folks on Crooked Island, Bahamas and their wonderful welcome... and, Willie's wonderful Wahoo for lunch, yummy.
The nice folks on Manjack Cay, fellow Vixen owners, Bill & Leslie.
Fishing (especially catching) Mahi and Little Tunny.
Nice folks at St. John's Boat works....thanks Bronson.
Sea turtles who stick their heads up to see us.
Dolphins that swim along and drive Miko nuts.
Cinnamon rolls at Treasure Cay.
Coconut ice cream at Man O War Cay, Abacos.
Flamingos in the wild on Long Cay, S. Bahamas
Great, helpful guys at the fuel dock in Salt Pond, Long Island and at Cape E, Eleuthera
Rum punch at McDuff's on Normans Cay - thanks Steffan
Coconut bread from Lorraine's mom (makes great French toast) - Black Point, Great Guana.
Learning to marinate fresh Mahi in beer - Elbow Cay, bartender at "Da Beach Bar & Grill" shared the secret.
Catching fresh Mahi.
Fresh Bahamian lobster on the grill and in cream sauce.
Great meals from our little galley.
Sea glass finds at San Salvador
Shelling on every beach
Sitting in the Key West anchorage watching the tourist schooners out for sunset cruises
"Fisherman's Wife" - ltiny Carabelle street side restaurant booth with wonderful hush puppies, fish.
Cinnamon rolls and sticky buns - Troyers, Sarasota, FL
Boca Grande, FL anchorage - peaceful
Ancolote Island anchorages and barrier Islands, Fl
Experiencing 56.8 knot winds at Anclote/Tarpon Springs, FL well with increased appreciation of our vessel
Calm Gulf Waters that allowed anchoring more than 9 miles offshore (weird)
Beautiful scenery around Cedar Key, Fl
Uncrowded and beautiful anchorages all around Panama City, FL with "fly boyz" overhead practicing for upcoming airshow.
Alligator Point, FL - nice people and beautiful island, beach, nice marina folks with water side bar
Carabelle, FL - great folks
Spotting sea turtles in the wild as we sail along, great
Swimming pigs at Staniel Cay
J.R. ,the carver, on Little Farmer Cay, Exumas
Pure, crystal aqua water in the Exumas
Long beach and island walks with our sweet pups, Dempsey and Mac, both loving being with us 24/7
Family Regatta, Georgetown, Great Exuma
Homemade coconut bread at Black Point, Great Guana in the Exumas
Zhivago's bar at Black Point, Great Guana
Sand Dollar Beach and nice people at Great Harbor, Berry Islands, Bahamas
Watching Terry catch big, tasty Dolphin fish (and clean them!)
Cinnamon rolls at Treasure Cay
Stone Crabs at Green Turtle Club restaurant...oh my god
Pot luck Christmas day luncheon at Brendl's Dive Shop - Green Turtle Cay
The agressive Sting Ray at Manjack...ah.. natives have been feeding him
Ladies (Thursday) night with Brendl in New Plymouth, at Sundowners
Amazing waitstaff, marina and office staffs at Green Turtle Club
Nice folks at Spanish Cay Marina/- clearing Customs & Immigration
Comanche Cove Marina - nice and helpful folks and parts in stock
Friends meeting us at Brunsiwick Landing Marina on arrival
Key Lime Pie - Harry's St. Augustine, FL
Good nights of sleep when anchorages are calm or we are tied up at a Marina
Sea gulls who fly along - will wait for peanuts
Chambers of Commerce everywhere sending their dolphins / manatees to greet us
The two black Shar Pei puppies at the Marina in Grand Bahama Yacht Club, Lucaya
The pool at Grand Bahama Yacht Club (and bar!)
The little birds that fly into our salon and ride along (look out for Annie, the cat)
Meeting Corstiaan aboard Lily Pad
3/08/07 Ken's beautiful stern in to new dock 14, Brunswick Landing Marina
12/14/06 "Dog overboard" - Mac trying to make the jump to the dock at St. Augustine Marine
6/16-24, 2006 Key West to Brunswick - having Ken, Sr. aboard; flying fish
Contact us snail mail : 139 Altama Connector, # 414, Brunswick, Georgia 31525
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