YVONNE MORRISON
Castaway Restaurant
No matter how many individuals appear in the pages of each edition of Keys Weekly, there are always so many more of our community members who deserve to be recognized. In an effort to shine a spotlight on more of the incredible individuals who live and work in these islands, Keys Weekly is proud to present our Neighbor of the Week feature, dedicated to celebrating a community member with each issue.
Our neighbor of the week is Yvonne Morrison, who brings a versatile, hands-on background in residential construction, remodeling, property maintenance, estimating and job-site supervision. More recently, she dove into the local restaurant industry, and currently works at Castaway Restaurant. Residing with her beloved pit bull, Luna, Yvonne fully embraces the resourceful, unconventional lifestyle of the Keys and remains deeply proud to call the region home.
How long have you been in the Keys and what brought you here? I got here in 2017, three months before Irma. I wanted to be a scuba instructor. I left and then came back a few times now.
What is your favorite thing about living in the Keys? I love that it never snows, the beautiful weather in the winter and the ocean. I love waking up to its beauty.
If there was one chore/regular task you could have taken away from you forever, what would it be? Dishes and laundry. Definitely laundry. Putting it away sucks. Oil changes too.
What was in the last Temu delivery that arrived at your door? A sports body cam and AI glasses. The body cam was a really cool find for 10 bucks.
What is your favorite Keys meal? I would say golden tile fish “Oscar style,” which is blackened with hollandaise sauce.
What is something totally ridiculous that a customer has asked you? Is that the Seven Mile Bridge? (referring to the bridge in the back of Castaway). Another one: Is that a walrus? (referring to the manatees in the water).
What is the most challenging project you’ve ever worked on? I would say my solar for my RV. Mounting four large panels was especially challenging. I wanted them to be able to move and tilt them and use them for shade. Definitely challenging with all the wiring.
If you’re having a rough day, what’s the best way to cheer you up? My dog, Luna. We go to the park or on a walk. She keeps me entertained.
What app on your phone do you rely on? Definitely ChatGPT. The whole time I thought it was a girl I was talking to, but when I turned on the speech feature it ended up being a man! I love him now!
What’s your favorite smell? What’s your most hated smell? Favorite: lavender. Hated: my dog’s farts!
If you were a salad, what type of dressing would you be and why? Hot bacon. Need I say more?
What’s a talent you don’t put on your résumé because it sounds fake? I’m a pretty excellent painter. I was actually featured on TV once!
Know someone who would be a good “Neighbor of the Week?” Email keysweeklyjen@gmail.com.
