I have always been a beach girl and dreamed of white sand beaches and clear blue water. I had pictures on my vision board, on my mouse pad, even on my credit card. So in 1995 when I started dating a guy who asked me if I wanted to go Cozumel on vacation I was very excited. He had already been diving in Cozumel for many years. We spent 16 days that first vacation and after we were married we visited twice a year. Every time felt like coming home and every time we left I was so sad.
Because my husband had been to Cozumel so many times he knew many people. His dive master was his friend and he usually picked us up from the airport, loaned us his car, we hung out at his house and went to dinner with him (good guy!). I was always so excited to him and when he was in California he would come visit us too.
Five years later after my divorce I really didn’t think I would be able to go back. I always dreamed about it but as a single mom with two children and full time job, I doubted it would be possible. I tried to keep in touch with our friend but it wasn’t as easy then.
Then in 2009 after I got my Master’s degree, my best friend and her husband invited to me to go to Cancun with them to stay in their time share as a graduation present (yes I have awesome friends!). I was so excited to go back! One of the days I pushed for a day trip to Cozumel, secretly wanting to see my friend. We went right to his house and felt like it had been yesterday since we’d seen each other. The next day he was going to Cancun and then off to California. We didn’t get to see each other in Cancun, but back in California we chatted on Facebook, talked on the phone and texted. At the end of his stay we spent 4 days together and I was in love!
He told me to come visit and I did. Four times that year, and a year later he asked me to move there. After getting both my children safely tucked away at college, I moved to my beautiful paradise with the love of my life.
My life in Cozumel has been an amazing journey, emotionally, spiritually, physically and mentally. I love living here. Of course I miss my family and friend’s back in California but thankfully I am able to see them often. I believe that this is what was meant to be and where my journey was supposed to take me. I feel very blessed and extremely grateful.
Catherine Smith now lives full time in Cozumel.
This story originally appeared in the weekly Cozumel 4 You NEWS – the island’s number one source of positive information about our island! Be sure and subscribe to the weekly NEWS to find out all the island events!…
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Una ex yanqui de Connecticut quien llama hogar a Cozumel desde hace más de 15 años. Laura escapó al Caribe hace años, desplazándose de una isla a otra dando clases de BUCEO. Se dedicó a perder el tiempo en Jamaica y finalmente se detuvo en Cozumel para pasar unas vacaciones de 2 semanas que aún no terminan. Convenciendo a sus padres que pagaran una elegante universidad privada, obtuvo su título en Periodismo y Laura crea semanalmente Cozumel 4You, medios sociales y artículos promocionales sobre la Isla y también es moderadora en el grupo Cozumel 4 You en Facebook que actualmente cuenta con 25,000 miembros. Fabián, s umuy tolerante marido, desde hace mucho tiempo se resignó a no tener vida privada, pues se ha visto implicado en los diversos proyectos y planes que urde Laura. Son orgullosos padres de diversos perros y gatos rescatados. Mientras contempla su paso a través de la vida en el Caribe mexicano,Laura continúa siendo la pesadilla en la existencia de su muy tradicional suegra mexicana.
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