Life, as we saw it, was practically perfect – a house on the brink of mortgage extinction, kids radiating happiness and health, and careers doing their victory dance in the success spotlight. Financially secure, we basked in the glory of almost having it all. But, oh, a tiny void hovered, an elusive something that eluded our pinpointing skills. Cue the inspirational tales of the Satterlee’s and other audacious adventurers, and suddenly, the Gardner family powwows began on how to spice up our perfect-ish existence.
Hey there! I’m Britteny, joined by the ever-amazing Kasey and our mini-mes – Ashton (19), Krew (11), Miles (8), and the pint-sized Lillian (4). Together, we’re The Gardners, the product of Meridian, Idaho. Mine and Kasey’s friendship blossoming at tender age of 12. Picture Kasey helping me with farm chores just so we could hit up Boise Town Square, aka “The Mall,” for some top-notch shopping escapades.
Fast forward to our sweet sixteen when our parents, unleashed us on Europe for a school trip. Mr. Gates, our Global Perspective teacher, led us on a whirlwind European affair. But, wait, rewind a bit – my parents had already dragged me across continents, from New Zealand to Africa, South America to the South Pacific, and every nook of the US. Clearly, globe-trotting runs in the Gardner bloodstream.
As Kasey and I ventured into adulthood, we stumbled upon an island near Cancun. The discovery? A comedy of errors. Picture 2005 – budget travel experts sleeping upright against questionable beds, guarded by suitcase barricades. Say hello to Cancun, the city of bars on windows and beds harboring potential bed bug conspiracies. After a night that felt like a survival reality show, we hunted for greener (or less bed-buggy) pastures and stumbled upon our hidden gem – Isla Mujeres. Once our secret, now shared with the world.
Isla became our escape pod from the chaos of growing families, weekends filled with sporting events, and school days dominated by practice and homework. And then, Covid crashed the party. Kasey, sensing the need for an intermission, begged me to hit pause and embark on a family exploration. My response? “Nope.” Fear and the unknown held me hostage, so Kasey soldiered on in the corporate trenches while I dived into the whirlpool of insurance. Little did I know, life was about to become a Category 5 hurricane of chaos.
Starting a business – a challenge of epic proportions. My commitment meter, stuck on 100000%, led to family neglect and a personal health crisis. Amidst the madness, Star, Idaho, embraced me, and my superhero team – Jena, Alisha, and Riley – became my allies. I told Kasey to give me two years, and come August 2023, I closed the office, wrapping up an AMAZING business adventure.
Meanwhile, Kasey, in his relentless pursuit of the next abode, set his sights on a catamaran, the Lagoon 450. Easy, right? Wrong. Buying a boat is a masterclass in nautical jargon and maritime mysteries. Kasey, undeterred, joined forums, sought counsel from Captain Steve and friends, and then met Luis, our boat-whisperer extraordinaire. The ensuing four months were a rollercoaster of ups and downs with our feline vessel, Serse.
Serse, a challenging purchase with a French Charter Company saga. Survey discrepancies, insurance mysteries – our boat drama had more twists than the road to Hana. In the end, we cut through the chaos, worked directly with the owners, Joe and Brian, and sealed the deal with a private party purchase. Kasey and Ashton jetted off to Martinique on October 22nd to claim our boat – or so we thought. The charter company had other plans, sprucing up Serse with major repairs before she could set sail. The silver lining? Adventure awaited!
Finding Our Isla 
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