Our family reunion caused a racket recently.
A racket raised, you ask, at Sea Ranch?! With all the noise rules that makes Sea Ranch a quiet location, perfect to experience nature at your doorstep how could that be you must be wondering?
Well, it all started when my husband and partner in Abalone Bay, wanted to reconnect with his brothers.
Read on to discover how we managed to gather at Abalone Bay with family to enjoy family time plus all about that racket and more.
Taking Time for Family
“The memories we make with our family is everything. ”
What’s your favorite family memory?
Family Reunions
Family reunions celebrate our connection of love among those related to us and those we consider close friends. Its great joy is recalling memories of the past with the promise of making more in the future.
It’s been a struggle lately to find time for our family to gather together with all of us pulled so many directions. Jorge, my husband and partner in Abalone Bay was transferred by his employer to Southern California while I remain in Sonoma County. The distance is not fun but the blessing is he’s able to assist our daughter’s family while there.
Meanwhile, I remain in Sonoma County to assist our son and support him in his programs. Plus, I’m available to address any issues that come up with our Sea Ranch home, Abalone Bay and guests who may be staying there.
Relatives Widely Separated
Equally challenging, if not more so, is coordinating a visit with our own siblings. Given our various work schedules, and family obligations, meeting up is usually a result of a significant celebration.
However, this year, Jorge had a strong desire to meet up with his family separated by many miles and a couple of states “just because.”
Planning Ahead of Time Essential for Family Reunions
Like branches on a tree, we all grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one
How do you get your family together for reunions?
We knew it would be a challenge with everyone’s busy schedules.
In fact, deciding on the date for your reunion, is one of the most difficult things to accomplish. Just as challenging is the task of nailing down a location that all can agree on.
The one thing in our favor was our annual block of time that we set aside for our own use of Abalone Bay. This made locking in the ideal time period and location easy.
Allow Plenty of Planning Time
However, under any other circumstance, be sure to allow yourself plenty of time for planning. You’ll need to locate a suitable location and assure all can get away. Once you have your agreed upon dates the next challenge is to provide yourself with enough planning time to assure everything is booked and well organized.
We sent out the invites with fingers crossed that all would work out.
With some rescheduling in lives and schedules we soon had the good news. Jorge’s brothers would join us in October. Of their wives, Candace (Candy), Sal’s wife, was able to join us.
Guess that means we’ll have to meet up again for the others in our family who could not make it.
What to Do on a Foggy Day
What’s your favorite Sea Ranch activity?
And if the weather is bad, what do you do then?
The whole time we were at Sea Ranch the weather was gray from sea to sky.
Low cloud cover and wispy fog would creep in and out all the days. The early chill in the air signaled fall had actually arrived.
That didn’t stop the us!
The guys went fishing.
Candy and I enjoyed girl-time together at Mendonoma’s newest manicurist, Victoria’s Nails, located in Point Arena. We then took our twinkly toes for wonderful walks where we would share tales of our kids and grandkids.
Rub-a-dub-dubs, Three Brothers and a Friend in their Tubs
What’s your idea of a great time at Sea Ranch?
Do you have backup plans when needed?
Celebrate your heritage and incorporate your family history
Ever since the men were boys, fishing was the glue that kept them together. Day trips with their parents meant rising up early, preparing the boat, and traveling far to launch. Frequently Jorge’s boyhood friend would join them.
That tradition held true this time too. Though this time they were able to stay at Sea Ranch for the week.
The water conditions were great with calm seas and plenty of hungry fish.
Respect the Ocean
Jorge, his family, and his friends know all too well: If the weather or the ocean’s conditions change, the day’s fishing trip must be canceled. This held true despite the distance they traveled to arrive at the ocean’s edge.
Respect is due the ocean at all times. The family knew better to avoid the urge, known locally as the “Sacrament Syndrome” to give it a go anyway when faced with white caps and surging seas. If not their fishing or diving trip could prove deadly.
Avoid the Sacramento Syndrome
Sadly it was proved once again only a day after our family’s reunion and fishing holiday. Surging waves, white caps, and high tides made fishing in any boat dangerous.
Whether tide pooling or fishing, always go by conditions, not tides.
If the water is white it ain’t right!
Have Backup Plans Ready
Conditions can change, venues may close, or other challenges to your family reunion may occur. Because of that, we recommend to have backup plans at hand to assure your family gathering is still fun and memorable.
When enjoying your reunion at Sea Ranch there are plenty of things to do when your first choice is not available.
We suggest enjoy the trails, visit the town, enjoy dining at any of our recommended cafes.
Circumstances Have Changed, But the Joy Remains
Their days always started leisurely with freshly ground coffee. Sal using the French press, Candy the espresso pot, and the rest of us the drip pot.
Morning menus included eggs, bacon and fluffy waffles made with our recently added Belgian waffle maker.
After their hearty meal, they took off to Shell Beach Boat Launch with their inflatable boats.
Then off they went…Four old men 👨🌾 and the sea 🌊
But What About all That Racket?
Funny you should ask. Yes there was quite a racket even with The Sea Ranch noise ordinance!
For it was during this time that we finally received our latest amenity and the cheers went up from the guys. And it was a good thing that they were there to offer up a hand in putting it together….
If you haven’t already guessed by now, it was the rackets that came with our new Joola Nova Table Tennis table!
You say Ping Pong- I Say Table Tennis
Ready for our relatives and now for yours too is our Joola ping pong table. It’s already getting rave reviews and guests can’t wait to visit us to use in the garage.
As for that other type of racket, we do require the garage door to be closed in the evening to minimize the cheering of players and garage light from disturbing our neighbors.
Make Sea Ranch Your Next Reunion Location
We invite you to make Sea Ranch Abalone Bay your next reunion location. We’re always happy to help with your planning and offer guidance to assure your gathering is great.
Contact us now to book your gathering. And don’t forget to share your photos with us on social media: Facebook and Instagram.
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