AOUR STORY:
Dory & Jefe’s Cozumel Adventure
Hey there, fellow beach bum! 🌊🐚
Hi, I’m Dory, and yes, I’m a total thalassophile—which is just a fancy word for someone who’s absolutely in love with the ocean! With a name like mine, how could I not be?
Like Dory from Finding Nemo, I’m always drawn to the sea, easily distracted by anything shiny, and, oh yeah, I often forget where I left my sunscreen. Give me a glass of wine, a charcuterie board and a view of the ocean and I’m as content as a clam.
I’m also a passionate scuba diver who just loves meeting new friends and sharing wine and charcuterie! In my free time, you’ll find me by the ocean, searching for sea glass or just gazing at those crystal blue Cozumel waters from our vacation homes, dreaming of being a mermaid.
🧜♀️ And socks? Oh, no thanks! I’d rather be barefoot, feeling the sand between my toes. Flip-flops are as fancy as I get! I’m always dreaming of my next big adventure—life’s just one big ocean to explore!
~Dory 🐠💙
Finding Home Beneath the Waves:
Our Cozumel Journey
Like so many others, during the pandemic, Jefe and I found ourselves reevaluating what really mattered in life. It didn’t take long to realize that our hearts belonged by the sea. After all, I’m a thalassophile, through and through!
Our Story: Dory & Jefe’
As soulmates, Jefe and I have been married for 33 years and share a passion for scuba diving, travel, wine, tequila and connecting with others. Together, we're working toward our dream of living in Cozumel full time. Along the way, we’ve opened our two beautiful oceanfront homes as beach vacation rentals, welcoming others to experience the magic of the island.
Family is everything to us —
We have three incredible adult children, one son-in-law and three wonderful grandchildren who also share our love for Mexico. All of our children and son-in-law are scuba certified, and we know our grandchildren will be soon too!
We discovered our shared passion for scuba diving years ago and have spent much of our free time traveling around the Caribbean, exploring its stunning underwater world.
Now, we're excited to share the beauty of Cozumel and our love for the ocean with you as we continue building our dream life by the sea. 🌊
The Allure of Cozumel:
A Diver’s Paradise
While the warm turquoise waters promised amazing diving adventures, it was the exhilarating drift diving and diverse marine life mixed with the peaceful vibes that really made us fall in love with Cozumel scuba diving.
The vibrant reefs, teeming with diverse and colorful marine life like octopuses, turtles, and majestic eagle rays, never cease to amaze; every dive is an adventure where you might even spot a blue tang—just like me!
Our love for the island's breathtaking beauty and its wonderful people made the decision to choose it as our second home an easy one.
After a three-week trip back to Cozumel during the pandemic, we knew this was where we wanted our vacation home to be.
We dove headfirst into the decision and purchased what we proudly call “We’ve Gone Coastal Cozumel Villa,” nestled in the exclusive gated community of Costa del Sol, in the southern hotel zone. Inspired by the Kenny Chesney song, “Gone Coastal,” describing life after the kids have grown and flown the nest, the name captures everything about us—our love for the coast, the ocean, and the adventure that follows us wherever we go.
In 2023, after realizing that we ultimately wanted to make Cozumel our forever home, we took another leap and purchased our second location “We’ve Gone Coastal Cozumel Condo” which is located in the stunning El Cantil Condominium Resort in San Miguel de Cozumel.
This new spot has allowed us to offer our guests another option beyond the seclusion and tranquility of the villa as a completely different experience. The panoramic oceanfront condo views can’t be beat and easy access to everything Cozumel has to offer.
When we are in our other home inTexas, we dedicate much of our time to our volunteer roles in Rotary.
The Rotary motto 'Service Above Self' resonates with our passion for helping others create unforgettable vacation memories. Our ultimate goal, wherever we live, is to uplift our communities and lend a hand to those in need. We aim to provide a warm and welcoming environment in our vacation rentals, 'We've Gone Coastal Cozume
By sharing our piece of paradise, we strive to ensure that every guest experiences the joy of connection—whether it's bonding with family over beach walks, exploring the vibrant underwater world, or simply enjoying quality time together.
We believe that by fostering these meaningful moments, we not only enrich the lives of our guests but also embody the spirit of service and compassion that Rotary stands for. In this way, we create a legacy of love, connection, and cherished memories for all who visit.
Just keep swimming and never stop enjoying the magic all around!
As lovers of the No Shoes Nation philosophy, we also embrace the carefree spirit that comes with living by the ocean. Every time we return to our villa, it feels like coming home to the sea. Whether we’re diving the incredible reefs, volunteering in the Cozumel community, or simply soaking in the island’s peaceful beauty, Cozumel has given us everything we hoped for and more. It’s our paradise, where the ocean is always near, and the next adventure is just around the corner.
~Dory & Jefe’
“Our soulmate is the one who makes life come to life. ”
“People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that’s what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life.”
