For those of you wondering about us, I’m Donna Martinez and along with my husband, Jorge Martinez, we are owners of Sea Ranch vacation rental Abalone Bay Vacation Home. It is my greatest pleasure to host you and others to our home. We have offered our second home to guests as a vacation rental since 2013.
Our Love Affair With Mendonoma
We have always had a love affair with the “Mendonoma Coast”, otherwise known as the coastline from Sonoma County to Mendocino County. It is here we would come to dive for abalone or fish for cod and salmon to later enjoy feasting on our catch with family and friends.
In fact, it was in the waters just outside our home that we found the 10” abalone that became the inspiration for the naming of our home: “Abalone Bay.”
Assuring Your Visit Is Wonderful
I love not only Sea Ranch but also all of Sonoma and the Mendocino coast. So to be better equipped to share that love with you, in 2018 I became a Sonoma County Certified Tourism Ambassador. More recently in 2020 I became an Accredited Hospitality Professional. The classes covered key areas of Sonoma County and its hospitality economy. I gained a greater understanding of the power of tourism; customer service and visitor safety; wineries and AVAs; natural environment and sustainability; and art, history and culture. My goal in turn is to assure every visitor encounter is a positive experience.
As a Founding Board Member of Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts, I am proud of being a part of a community that stands together to promote and protect the interests of short-term rental owners. By participating I’m assured our collective voice can continue to offer unique and memorable experiences to visitors while supporting the local economy.
I look forward to helping you, our visitors, to learn more about our wonderful location. More importantly, it is our hope you love it as much as my family and I do.
On the Road Again…
One constant fact about us is we love to travel far and wide. We’ve done so mostly for work as USA ex-pats but we also enjoy exploring new places on holiday. In fact, when people ask where am I from, my first inclination is to respond, “Which time?
Always on the the road
Ever since my first spark of life I’ve been on the road. Conceived in Panama, born in Virginia, and raised on the road as my military dad moved us on to the next base, my concept of community has always been fluid and self-created. It was a skill Mom imparted to all of us.
Though an Army nurse by training, in reality she was more the lead officer of our familial CBs (Construction Battalion). No matter where we landed, she immediately transformed any house into our old familiar home and built connections into the community. Then when it was time to leave, she was able to break it all down and do it again.
It’s a pattern I have replicated over the last 40+ years of married life with my international construction engineer husband.
Sea Ranch Becomes our Anchor Point
We purchased Abalone Bay originally to become our retirement residence while living in Santiago, Chile where Jorge was working. It was our intention to leave Chile and live happily ever after there. We did actually stay there for 3 joyful months when we returned to the USA. But then we moved again to stay in Fairfax County, Virginia for two years, after which we returned to Sonoma County. But this time, not to reside in Sea Ranch. Rather, I now call Windsor our home, and Sea Ranch, my shared little jewel box.
Return to Home No Matter Where We Roam
Other places we have been to include Spain, our family’s homeland; Colombia, the birthplace of my son; Peru to visit Machu Picchu; Budapest, Hungary; Paris, and the Bahamas.
However, no matter where we roam, one constant about us is we always return home to Sea Ranch. Settling back in the Adirondack chairs, wine glasses in hand. We love relaxing and recalling the good times. Naturally, that includes debating who among us caught the biggest fish over the years. And of course, it includes recalling the nuances of our abalone and paella recipes that make it uniquely our own.
Meet Our Dog(s)
When we purchased Abalone Bay, we had two dogs, a Maltese, Samson (Sammy), and a Vizsla, Ana Kissed by Rose Can d’Ijuma (or just Ana).
Sammy, who crossed the rainbow bridge in 2022, was the king of the house.
Ana has always been our beauty queen having won Junior Champion of Chile. When Ana is not in dog shows she’s hunting with Jorge, or giving full-face licks of love to our son, Andy. So, of course, our home is pet-friendly.
A Bit More about Donna and Jorge
Donna- An Advocate for Short Term Rentals and Tourism
As a member of the Sonoma County Hospitality Association (SCHA), I look forward to represent the interests of the hospitality and tourism industries through advocacy, education, and partnerships within our community. SCHA focuses on initiatives that make it easier to thrive in the hospitality and tourism industry and initiate a vibrant exchange of ideas to ensure tourism’s positive impact within Sonoma County.
I am also a member of two advocacy organizations that represent Short Term Rentals in Sonoma County and The Sea Ranch. The first is Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts where I serve as a founding Board Member. The second is The Sea Ranch Hosting Coalition, a coalition of property owners on The Sea Ranch who welcome renters from all walks of life to our homes on a short-term basis.
Donna- Educator
Prior to becoming a host to guests staying at Abalone Bay, I was a special education teacher. I received my doctorate in education from The George Washington University, during which I served as Director of The HEATH Resource Center. While living in Chile I served as a consultant for various disability support foundations in Santiago, Chile.
Jorge- Project Manager
Jorge is currently employed by Bechtel a senior project manager for projects in California. He has been with the company over 25 years. Jorge is currently working on the expansion of Bart into Santa Clara/San Jose area.
See Jorge’s LinkedIn Profile, which is sadly in need of updating.
Even More About Us
My First Visit to Sea Ranch and How It Had Me at Hello
Concern for the Safety of Our Guests
We at Abalone Bay take seriously the safety of our guests and others. For that reason, in honor and recognition of January as “National Human Trafficking Prevention Month,” and due to the need for lodging owners and business to be vigilant to this horrible situation, I completed the course, “Recognizing and Preventing Human Trafficking, 2023.”
We give back to our community
Thinking Globally
We have always believed in the importance of family, friends, and giving back to our community. No matter where we have lived over the years we have always been active in the community we call home. That connection shows that we are all linked no matter where on the globe we or our guests may be at any moment.
In these times of climate change with its global warming, it becomes even more important that Abalone Bay recommits itself to the original covenant of The Sea Ranch. Further, we also declare a climate emergency. Based on the science before us, we promise actionable steps to stop the climate emergency we now face. For that reason, we have joined Tourism Declares. This initiative supports tourism businesses, organizations, and individuals that declare a climate emergency and take purposeful action to reduce their carbon emissions.
One Tree Planted
Part of that purposeful action is being a Small Business Partner of the One Tree Planted. We at Sea Ranch Abalone Bay recognize the critical need to raise awareness and garner support for the One Tree Planted campaign. We hope that we inspire you and invite you to join us in this important cause!
Acting Locally
We are so pleased to be a member of the Sea Ranch/Mendonoma Community. It’s our honor to be able to share our home with guests. As a result, we’ve made wonderful friends. Our past success has been in no small part to you, our guests at Abalone Bay. We donate a portion of our proceeds of your guest rental directly back to the people of Mendonoma.
We contribute to the following foundations and encourage you to join us in this endeavor.
Coastal Seniors
Providing a variety of services and supports, Coastal Seniors, is an essential component for seniors along the Mendonoma coast.
Projects include:
- Food Services. Meals on Wheels for seniors, Commodity Distribution, Food Bank, Calfresh (food stamps)Registration, and senior lunches
- Transportation Services. Bus services to community events and to senior lunches
- Decreasing isolation and increasing socialization. Besides lunches, social events and activities such as bingo and casino night are planned for our community seniors
We invite you to donate to Coastal Seniors by clicking here.
CommUNITY Collaborative, Family Resource Centers & Lead Agency for Across Ages and Cultures Prevention Coalition. Their mission is to build a healthy, peaceful, drug-free community. Accordingly, they accomplish this by strengthening families, promoting collaboration, and implementing individual and environmental prevention strategies.
They provide many services for young families and their children in the Mendonoma area.
We invite you to donate to Action Network by clicking here.
Redwood Coast Humane Society
Redwood Coast Humane Society advocates for the welfare, rights, respect, and protection of all animals through care, intervention, and education. In 2000, several residents of Gualala and The Sea Ranch filed as a non-profit organization (501-C3). It operates separate from the Mendocino Coast Humane Society. Thus the Redwood Coast Humane Society came into being. Today the RCHS includes the coastal area from Elk at the north end to Timber Cove in the south.
We invite you to donate to Redwood Coast Humane Society by clicking here.
Redwood Empire Food Bank
Since 1987, the Redwood Empire Food Bank has been feeding our neighbors in need and leading the community to end hunger.
They distribute food through their own programs and partner organizations in Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties. Redwood Empire Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization in our area. We work on the front lines of emergency food assistance in our region. We play a crucial role in helping individuals, families, seniors, and children.
Your $10 donation to Redwood Empire Food Bank will help provide 20 meals to in-need individuals.
We invite you to donate to Redwood Empire Food Bank by clicking here.
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