The water and social activity at Bay Point Yacht Club brought Sandy and William “Griggs” Espy together in 2006. Now, almost 20 years later, they continue to find their joy and community out on the St. Andrews Bay, its neighboring waters and at activities in town.

“I’m a water girl,” said Sandy. Originally from Evansville, Indiana, she moved to Panama City Beach for a family connection and joined the yacht club in 2007 after being on a waiting list since 2003. Good things come to those who wait, because in addition to joining Griggs in everlasting love, she was elected this year as the first lady Commodore of the Bay Point Yacht Club since its inception in 1986.

“It’s a social club and I oversee the organization,” said Sandy. “We especially enjoy ‘raft-ups’ to watch the sunsets with other club members.”

She and Griggs courted for almost nine years and then April 25, 2015 they married in a ceremony overlooking the bay at their current home. Locals and Bay Point residents know the area as “Alligator Point.”

When Sandy first arrived in town, she owned and piloted her own boat. “I would go to Shell Island to stay on the water overnights." Griggs, originally from Dothan, Alabama, vacationed in Panama City Beach and was a guest at the yacht club. In fact, he had been visiting the grounds where the club now stands since he was a toddler with his parents. “My parents used to drive around on the dirt roads of what is now the Bay Point community,” he said. “This was my second home.” Their home once had a small family cottage on it, but now has been replaced with their Tuscan-styled villa which provides ample space for family and friends.

“Together we have seven children and eighteen grandchildren and great grandchildren,” said Sandy. “My oldest great granddaughter is 18 and Griggs’ youngest grandchild is five years old. I’m 77 and Griggs is 72.”

Before retirement, Sandy worked extensively in the corporate sector. At Honeywell International Inc., she traveled nationwide as a systems engineer. She worked on the first electronic medical billing system for Medicare. She ended her career at First Data Bank Inc. “I’m proud of helping software developers to get information coded on prescription containers that notify the user to protect them from drug interactions and overdoses.”

Griggs had his own financial firm before retirement, Espy Financial, in Dothan. “Now I spend my time in Dothan managing properties that have been in the family,” he said. About once a week he performs controlled burns, bush hogs around the lake, cuts grass, or socializes with hunter friends who lease access on his acreage. “That’s his chill spot,” said Sandy.

When Griggs was courting Sandy, he was piloting a single-engine Bellanco aircraft as a hobby and would take her out on flying dates. Flying is in the family. His father was a naval aviator in WWII and flew off of aircraft carriers. Now their flying is on commercial aircraft and the couple has been on vacation to every continent. Griggs was quick to pull out his cell-phone photos and show his collection of animal photography from safaris in Africa. “Our upstairs living room is decorated with art and memorabilia from those travels."

Closer to home the couple participates in The Krewe of Dominque Youx, where they can be seen in parades tossing beads from pirate-ship floats to the spectators. “It’s great entertainment for the kids,” said Sandy. The Krewe has dinner dances with the formality of a king, a queen, pirates and princesses.

Dining with friends continues throughout the week. “Griggs is very social. He loves going out with buddies and eats out about 80 percent of time,” said Sandy. The couple has the wine-locker membership at Captain Andersons and also frequents Deck Hand Social, Schooners, Hunts Oyster Bar & Seafood, J. Michaels; Dat Cajun Place, Christo’s Sports Bar & Grill, The Grand Marlin, among others.

Other activities in town include attending concerts by the Will Thompson Band and the Panama City Symphony. At the recent Bella Notte Gala symphony fundraiser, they were guests of a sponsoring table, which helped to fund music education for the community. On the wall of the Espy home is Sandy’s clarinet from high school and her grandfather’s violin.

Their appreciation for music extends out on their boat. “I like to listen to Frankie Valli and he likes more of a hard beat like Led Zeppelin,” said Sandy. They have evening date time on their Barletta 22-foot tritoon. “We cruise slowly around the waters to grasp the peacefulness. It’s very calming to the soul."