News:

Dallas Woman Came to Cozumel for a Few Days, Then Made it Home

Saturday, February 28, 2009

By ALFREDO CORCHADO / The Dallas Morning News
acorchado@dallasnews.com

COZUMEL, Mexico – Sherri Davis left Dallas and escaped to the island of Cozumel, thinking she would spend a few days pondering her future after a divorce. That was 15 years ago.
Davis, who worked as a treasurer and controller in Dallas, now has a home and manages rental property and other businesses. She's become an environmentalist, fighting to protect Mexico's wildlife from developers.
In a new country, willing to adapt to the culture is key, she said.
"If you're not willing to change and adapt to the new environment, you won't be happy with your new life," she said. "The pace of life is slower, and things are not done the same way or as quickly as they are in the United States."
Davis is happy with her decision, but that doesn't mean there aren't frustrations, like finding a plumber or repairman, or dealing with the "little deceptions" people use "to keep the peace and avoid conflict."
Overall, Davis said her experiences have been positive.
"I think, if anything, living in Mexico has made me a better person," she said. "The quality of my life has improved. I'm more relaxed. I'm no longer driven by the idea that money or material things define you, but by the fact that it's the value of friendships, of spending quality time with people who matter in your life."