When we look back at our lives and remember all the different challenges we have faced, we can’t believe we are living in paradise with fantastic dream jobs and wonderful people surrounding us.
The warmer climate has always called to me, and my first trip to St. Petersburg as a teenager only confirmed that feeling. But it wasn’t until years later, when our youngest daughter went off to college, that my husband, George, and I decided it was time to make the move.
Leaving behind our family and friends was tough, but we were determined to make it work. During the first five years, George had to stay up in Massachusetts to finish his service in the military while I worked on building our lives in Sarasota.
Our move to Florida was complicated, but I always believed we could do it. George joined the Massachusetts National Guard in 1986 and took a three-year hiatus in 1998. On 9/11, George went to the recruiter’s office that day and reenlisted. When George’s unit was deployed three weeks after, it was hard for him to leave his family, but that is the sacrifice he was willing to make to serve his country.
It was stressful for all of us, including the kids. I had been a stay-at-home mom, but not having
George’s support took a toll on us. With a mortgage to pay and three children to provide for, I started my career in real estate.
When I see a need for something, I try to not only help myself solve the problem but also help others facing the same challenges. When it comes to the National Guard, you don’t live on a military base, which is great but also removes a sense of community amongst fellow military families. I stepped up and became the chairperson for the Family Readiness Group, which provided resources and support for military families who were living off base and struggling to cope with the changes and challenges that came with deployment.
It was a difficult time for us as a family, with George away for long periods of time and our kids navigating the teenage years. But we made it through, and I think it made us stronger as a family. When George retired from the military after 30 years of service, it was the perfect opportunity for him to join me in real estate.
We have always been people of service, wanting to help those in need and support people in our community. Real estate has been a great vehicle for that mission. People are often buying or selling because they are facing a big life change, such as growing their families, sending their kids off to college, relocating, or retiring – whatever it may be, we want to help people.
We moved from Massachusetts to Florida in 2014, and I still remember the excitement and nerves that came with that big decision. The lifestyle is completely different here, and we love this new chapter. We joined MVP Sports and Social, a local community, and we are involved in activities like disc golf, pickleball and cornhole throughout the week.
We have three kids and three grandkids; our oldest daughter and our grandkids are still in Massachusetts, but our other two children and our youngest grandson are right here in Florida! Our parents are a big part of our lives still. My parents live with us seven months out of the years and George’s dad lived out his last few months with us, while marking things off his bucket list. We did things like going on a cruise, take a day trip out on the pontoon and going to a Red Sox Spring Training game with him.
As a husband-and-wife team, we find great joy in working together to help our clients achieve their goals. We are both passionate about real estate and the satisfaction that comes with helping others fulfill their needs. Over the years, we’ve had the pleasure of helping countless people, and we take great pride in the friendships we’ve developed with each and every client.
We enjoy spending time getting to know our clients and their families. For us, it’s not about the sale; it’s about building long-lasting relationships. Whether we are out on a boat or having dinner, we learn about your wants and needs and determine exactly what we can do to help. From first-time home buyers, military, seasoned sellers, all the way to builders and investors, we’re here to serve!
Sincerely,
 Danielle Dustman, REALTOR® LIC #SL3311494 eXp Realty (941) 212-0042 danielle@dustmangroup.com |
|
