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Todd & Rebecca
Daughters - Cadence, Camron, Kennedy Dog - Jojo Favorite Tropical Vacation Destination - Puerto Rico
"We love Puerto Rico so much that we try to recreate it back home in Michigan." |
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When it comes to recreating the lifestyle of Puerto Rico back in their hometown of Grand Haven, the Neil family is living la vida tropical. Their home, located on the water's edge of the Grand River, includes a boat dock that is just a three-mile boat trip to the stunning beaches of Lake Michigan. Just a short walk around the side of their home lies a tropical oasis that could make anyone feel like they are happily lost somewhere in the Caribbean.
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One step into the main room of their home and it feels like stepping aboard a wooden ship complete with a natural rustic look, tropical vegetation, and an enormous saltwater aquarium as the centerpiece. This style of living is something naturally a part of their lifestyle that dates back to their first home together on the eastside of Michigan that had a tiki bar. It was there that Rebecca dreamed, although it never came true, of filing their entire basement in their 700 sq. ft. home with sand.
(Rebecca and Todd burst into heavy laughter at this point during our interview as if laughing at themselves for actually thinking of filling their basement with sand) |
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Dock Ornament
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After a family trip up to Newaygo, Michigan to purchase a double decker 1976 Sylvan pontoon boat, a four year in the making vision was finally underway. This was not just any boat. According to Rebecca, this type of boat, back in the 1970's, was a "hot" boat. The original plan was to restore the boat and make it a dock ornament that they could simply "chillax" on. One thing led to another, and the boat ended up being completely restored with a new operational motor so that it could be more than just a dock ornament. With the combination of bamboo, tiki decor, and a pontoon boat, they appropriately named their new mobile aquatic oasis, "Tiki-Toon"
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Sentimental Value
Their home back on the east side of Michigan had a swimming pool. Upon selling their home so that they could move to West Michigan, they told the new owners that they "get the pool, but not the slide. We are taking the slide" because someday this slide is gong to end up on a boat. Two hundred miles across Michigan and eventually five years later, that very slide became a sentimental addition to the Tiki-Toon. Everything was coming together just as they had envisioned |
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Keeping it Wheel
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Restoration had become a work-in-process. According to Rebecca, they totally "Hodge-podged-it." The first year consisted of adding random items like lawn chairs and whatever else they could throw on there. Eventually, they became more serious. They added a 150hp Mercury motor, power steering, and all of the bamboo/tiki decor. There was one item that they decided to not change and that was the original steering wheel or ship's wheel because it just felt appropriate.
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One of the Neil family's best Tiki-Toon memory was out on the water one day as they were cruising along and minding their own business. Out of nowhere, an "old" lady, who had to have been between 60 and 70 years old, began yelling at the top of her lungs. This had the Neil's thinking that something is wrong. It turns out she was repeatedly screaming, "It's my birthday! Can I go down your slide!?
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Two years later, the Neil's see the same lady out on the water again yelling at the top of her lungs. "Remember me? I went down your slide!" The old lady jumped off her boat and swam all of the way over to the Tiki-Toon so she could ride the slide while her family video recorded her.
Hearing people scream, "Can I go down your slide" and the hundreds of pictures that passer-byers take of the Tiki-Toon truly brings happiness to people when they see it. That is just the cherry on top for the Neil's. |
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Tooning Out the World
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Life for Todd, Rebecca, their three daughters, and their little four-legged family member, Jojo, has always been about Living Tropical Where They Live. Although vacationing down once or twice a year in Puerto Rico brings out their true topical spirit, they have created a home environment that allows them to tune out the crazy world and live the island life spirit year-round.
Aside of souvenirs that they bring home from their favorite tropical vacation place, they bring home the Puerto Rican island lifestyle of living life at a much slower pace and spending as much time on the water as possible. The Tiki-Toon is a huge part of that lifestyle as it has its own laidback slow mode personality. Paired with their beautiful tropical style home and outdoor living space, the Neil's have created their own state-of-mind living. The Neil family absolutely loves how their tropical lifestyle allows them to simply enjoy life the way that they are naturally wired to live. They live more relaxed and try not to plan life out too far ahead as to leave life open to the unexpected surprise moments that may come their way (i.e. old lady's birthday slide). They simply love who they are. |
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CAN'T CHANGE YOUR LATITUDE...CHANGE YOUR PARROTUDE
As much as the Neil's would love to spend more time in Puerto Rico, the three businesses that they own, their family and friends, and their deeply-rooted passion for life in West Michigan keeps them close to home throughout the year.
When they can't change their latitude, they change their parrotude. Todd & Rebecca make Living Tropical Where They Live a year-round experience regardless of the weather. On a cold and snowy day they simply "crank" up the heat inside of their tropical themed house, put on swim suits, make margaritas, play their favorite island music, and eat fresh fish from the local fish market. They are the epitome of the Unsalted Parrot Brand! |
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About Todd and Rebecca
Rebecca is the founder and owner of the Paradigm Wellness Group, LLC Todd owns Great Lakes Machine Solutions (field service machine repair) They also own Levels Cannabis in Grand Haven, MI |
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To the Neil family...
Thank you for sharing your amazing tropical home and lifestyle with us! The island lifestyle that you have recreated in your home and out on the water is truly an inspiration for other Unsalted Parrots to reach for. You are truly Living Tropical Where You Live! You can be sure that the next time I see you out on the water, I will be screaming, "CAN I GO DOWN YOUR SLIDE!" Stay Salted on the Inside! Dave Evanoski - Founder and Sole Proparrotor
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