Loosening the Ties that Bind: Leaving Danger Charters

Three years – three years! For Key West and the charter boat business that is a very long time to be at one job. When I started with Danger Charters I wanted to work there because it was the only trip that combined kayaking, sailing and snorkeling all wrapped in an ecologically informative tour. The condition and decline of our environment is so important to me and the trips provided a perfect venue to teach people about the fragility and importance of nature.

Something amazing happened in these past 3 years at Danger Charters; we all built something that was greater than any one of us. All of the crew took the ecology and service a step further, we tried harder to make a trip that no one could compete with. It worked, we found that we created an atmosphere of education & fun that no other company came to close to. I am so proud to have been a part of it.

In recognition of my part in this family, the crew at Danger gave me a “going away” party. It was an opportunity for us all to share what we will miss most in each other and come together one last time as a group. The crew presented me with an amazing gift: a scrimshawed knife and rope working fid. The knife handle is made from 10,000 year old fossilized walrus tusk and hand engraved. It is something that I will cherish and use – and it will always remind me the wonderful time I spent with all the crew during the past 3 years.

That was not all, Bethany presented Caroline and I with a packaged (wrapped in a remnant of an old schooner sail) that carried a myriad of things that only a fellow boat owner would know to get. Mike Mongo presented us with T-Shirts from Waterfront Market and Save The Pines, projects that he worked hard on. Megan and Wade hosted, made sure everyone went home on time and cleaned up. Wayne & Lara were away, but provided the food. Everyone made it there and I made them wait, I didn't mean to be so late, but I hadn't finished the cards I wanted to give to everyone (sorry for making you wait everyone).

My time as captain at Danger was the best job I have ever had. I will miss everyone and all of the adventures. My hope is that we will all stay connected in some way or reconnect again in the future. Until then, thanks for the memories: Haig, Don, Megan, Ben, Christy, Brian, Bethany, Wade, Wendy, Tony, Ben, Lynn, Dennis.