Southern Belle Magazine Digital #02 August 2013 | Page 4

Mermaid Magic & the Stuff of Dreams
Mermaid Cottages is a property management company on beautiful Tybee Island, Georgia. When I first had the idea to write an article about the beautiful vintage and historic cottages on Tybee, I thought the story lay in the charm and uniqueness of the cottages. Perhaps the quaint appeal of stepping back in time where the palette of serene beach colors and lively summer gardens weave a magical spell around those lucky enough to visit would be the focus of my pen. And while it is true that this Artist’s Colony is ripe with Southern appeal, it’s easy to understand the real story lies, not only in Mermaid Cottages, but in the owner of the management company, Diane Kaufman. Kaufman is originally from the Washington D.C. area. She had the opportunity to acquaint herself with Tybee Island and its inhabitants more than seven years ago when she was working with Marriott Hotels as an executive. She was rebuilding her life after having walked away from a marriage a few years earlier, leaving her with, in own words, “no material possessions. I walked away from everything, our beach house in SC, cars and property. I just wasn’t happy.” .Starting over in her mid-50s was not an easy thing. Typically at this age , most people are settling into their middle years and into an ordered way of life. Diane loved her job with Mariott Hotels and loved living on Tybee Island, so much so she started, as a hobby, helping friends rent their vacation property on the Island. But life, as is often the case, had other plans for her. Diane’s job of 26 years fell prey to corporate downsizing. The company offered her a job in Washington D.C., but by then it was too late. She had fallen in love with Tybee Island and the people who lived there. Diane found herself in the position of starting over, again. Fear, doubt and uncertainty of life are all scary things for most people. Diane took this in stride, knowing that she had the power to build the life she wanted. “You can create the life you want for yourself at any age and in any circumstance. People think it’s luck,” said Diane, “but it is hard work. You have to believe in yourself and what you are doing.” Diane’s hobby, in reality, turned out to be her calling, “I am living the life I have always dreamed about,” she added. And she wants to help other entrepreneurs to find the courage to follow their dreams One of the ways she does this is by hosting an artist’s retreat in January. This is becoming very popular with writers, visual artists, creative people in all genres. “The life you want is out there,” Diane said. “You just have to have the courage to reach for it.” There is a quote that says,” Sometimes things fall apart so other things can come together.” Diane’s experience teaches us that we all need to couple our belief in a greater plan with a lot of hard work and determination. Most of the time, the rewards surpass our wildest dreams.
Diane Kaufman

mermaidcottages.com