From Boulder to the Beach: How a Devastating Fire Led to a New Life in Remote Panama

When everything burned down, one woman found renewal in a surf town with no fire station — and discovered what really matters.

When Melanie Gordon lost everything in a 2021 house fire in Boulder, Colorado — including her beloved cat and home — she could never have predicted that the flames would ignite a completely new life. Instead of rebuilding in the U.S., she packed a backpack and headed out with no clear destination. That spontaneous decision led her to Santa Catalina, a r…