Cathy and I were colleagues at Ernst and Young in the 90’s. With her guidance and mentorship, I learned skills that prepared me well for launching my own consulting firm in the early aughts. Cathy, too, moved on to her next professional role at about the same time. And although we’ve stayed in touch over the years, neither of us could remember the last time we got together live – we suspect that was also in the early aughts.
We both retired in 2016 and have since been quite busy sculpting the next chapters of our lives.
Cathy and her husband Craig have had a 2nd home in Chatham on Cape Cod for 35 years. Its use evolved to fit their lifestyle and work situations, and in retirement they split their time between the Cape and their home in Boston. Cathy is a master gardener, creating and maintaining around their home a landscape centered on native plants that appears totally natural and unmanicured, yet is obviously well managed and meticulously thought out. Since retiring, she’s lent her gardening prowess and management experience to volunteer conservation-related organizations in Chatham including the Chatham Conservation Foundation, the Sylvan Gardens Conservation Area and others while continuing to develop the gardens at home.
A retired physician, one of Craig’s passions is bicycling. Together, he and Cathy have undertaken multiple bicycle adventures in the US and Europe – so the four of us had lots of stories to share! They told us about some river cruises they’ve done in Europe, including a combined river and cycling tour, and they are planning a cruise/train adventure to Alaska for the summer.
Our visit included a wonderful home-cooked meal. Craig is a master at the grill! Our swordfish steaks were grilled to perfection – juicy and not one second over or undercooked.
Cathy and Craig offered up a ‘Best of Chatham’ tour before we left. Of course, that started with coffee at their fave coffee shop called Three Fins Coffee Roasters (the fins on surfboards, not sharks!) where the cafe seating is at the bottom of a re-purposed swimming pool (I’m not making this up!). And it certainly was outstanding coffee. The tour also included the Chatham Fish Market with views out to Tern Island, North Beach Island and the shifting barrier sandbars, Monomoy Nature Preserve (the funnybone of Cape Cod) with still more incredible views (including a recent shipwreck), a short hike in Sylvan Gardens, and a walk through pretty downtown Chatham featuring shops, restaurants and Cathy’s new ‘office’ at the Conservation Foundation.
Thanks Cathy and Craig for the warm hospitality! We look forward to the next time we can connect…
For anyone interested, more Chatham pix…
