No matter how many individuals appear in the pages of each edition of Keys Weekly, there are always so many more of our community members who deserve to be recognized. In an effort to shine a spotlight on more of the incredible individuals who live and work in these islands, Keys Weekly is proud to present our Neighbor of the Week feature, dedicated to celebrating a community member with each issue.
Our neighbor of the week is Pete Baldwin who is a performing musician whose band goes by the name Naked Pete. He is also a chef, bringing tasty creations to the many who frequent the Islamorada Moose Lodge. Pete lives on his sailboat in Marathon.
PETE BALDWIN
Chef, Islamorada Moose Lodge
How long have you been in the Keys and what brought you here? I had a bucket list item to live on a sailboat in the tropics since I was in the Navy. I moved here from Breckenridge, Colorado the first time in 2018. I left in June of 2022 and then came back in September of 2024.
What do you do for fun in the Keys and why do you love living here? I love to play music because it feeds my soul. I also love to take my sailboat out, anchor it out off a key for the day and live like I’m on a deserted island. It’s so relaxing.
If you were an instrument, which instrument would you be and why? I would be a saxophone because it is the sexiest instrument there is.They can also be annoying, though, if not played properly. Luckily I have lots of experience.
If you could cook any meal, what would it be and how many people would you invite over? I would smoke as much BBQ as I could and invite my band and all our friends.
What was the most traumatic experience of your life? The day I broke my neck. I tripped while going down into my sailboat. To this day the surgeons cannot figure out how I survived.
What would we find in your fridge right now? Breakfast food and condiments.
If someone wrote a biography about you what would the title be and why? It would be called, “Is He Still Around?” I’ve cheated death so many times, no one expected me to live past 30.
If you were a character from ‘Star Wars’ which character would you be and why? In my youth I would have been Han Solo. He played by his own rules doing things his way. Now that I’m older, I identify more with Obi-Wan Kenobi, being alone in my own solitude.
What ancient place in the world would you like to visit? The islands of Hawaii. I would like to study the indigenous cultures of the Hawaiian islands. I find their culture and traditions fascinating.
What’s one thing people don’t know about you? I’m a great conversationalist.
Know someone who would be a good “Neighbor of the Week?” Email keysweeklyjen@gmail.com.
