“I love the neighborhood,” Cathie Lowe raves of Tierra Verde. “Even though it is a large island, you feel connected, and we’ve made so many friends here.”

On Tierra Verde, connection doesn’t always start with names. Sometimes, it starts with a wagging tail.

“Sometimes you know people by their dog’s name, not necessarily the person’s name,” Cathie laughs. “Then you get to know the people.”

And if you spend even a little time on the island, chances are, you already know Jerry.

Around Tierra Verde, Jerry Lowe has earned a nickname: the mayor. It’s not official, of course. But it fits. Friendly, approachable, and always in the know, Jerry seems to have a connection with just about everyone. It’s part of what makes life here feel so welcoming and it’s part of what drew the couple in for good.

Their story together began more than two decades ago in Central Florida, in the Windermere area. Both had been through previous chapters in life when they met, started dating, and quickly realized they had found something special. Three years later, they were married.

Years after that, during COVID, Tierra Verde quietly began calling them home.

“We started coming here more and more,” Cathie recalls. “It turned into Friday and Saturday nights… then we started asking ourselves, ‘Do we really need to go home?’”

The answer became clear.

They found their home on the island in 2021. Cathie jokes, “It was the last best deal on Tierra Verde.” This year marks their fifth anniversary of island living, and it’s a chapter bursting with friendship, family, and a heartfelt sense of belonging.

Family is at the heart of everything for Cathie and Jerry. Jerry has two children, Ryan and Caroline, whom Cathie warmly calls her “bonus kids.” Ryan and his wife, Alex, are building their future together while raising two little ones, Poppy and Koa, currently living on Long Island as they work toward buying a home of their own. Caroline, a successful model, has made Manhattan her home base, splitting time between New York and Nashville with her boyfriend.

These days, Jerry is retired from owning a land brokerage real estate company, embracing his role as a full-time “dog dad” and proud house husband. A Marine with a steady, grounded presence, he keeps things functioning well at home, especially when it comes to their two beloved pups.

“This is the land of doodles,” Cathie jokes. “Golden doodles, Bernedoodles, Maltipoos. You name it, they’re here.”

The Lowes have two of their own. Khaleesi, a Maltipoo named after the iconic Game of Thrones character, is the reigning queen of the household, approaching her ninth birthday this May. For seven years, she was an only dog, and she still carries herself accordingly.

Then there’s Halle, their two-year-old Moyen poodle, full of energy and always ready to play, whether Khaleesi approves or not.

The dogs are walked twice daily, most often by Jerry, though Cathie enjoys joining when she can, especially as a welcome break from her busy role as a sales director for a wine import company, which requires frequent travel. 

“Wine is our livelihood,” smiles Cathie. “We like to pair wine with new recipes.”

Beyond work and daily routines, life on Tierra Verde is anything but quiet. The Lowes have immersed themselves in the community, building friendships through everything from dinner clubs and happy hours to kayaking and neighborhood meetups.

“There’s always something going on,” Cathie says. “We’ve made so many great friends here.”

Recently, Cathie joined the Tierra Verde Women’s Club. She embraces every opportunity to connect, even if her schedule doesn’t always allow her to attend every event. 

Still, it’s the simple, daily moments that seem to define life here best.

“People are just kind and giving here,” Cathie says. “It’s easy to do for others when you live in a place like this.”

When they’re not out with friends, Cathie and Jerry enjoy cooking together, trying new recipes, and traveling whenever they can. One destination holds a special place in their hearts: St. Thomas. That’s where they were married, on a sailboat at sunset, surrounded by water.

“We’re drawn to the water,” Cathie says. “So it just makes sense that we ended up here.”

And on Tierra Verde, surrounded by that same feeling of calm, connection, and community, Cathie and Jerry Lowe have found exactly what they were looking for. Not just a house, but home. They can’t imagine living anywhere else.