CAMDEN — Kathie Pawlak only dated guys named Bob. At the age of 10, she had a dream that became more of a premonition. In the dream, she leaned down to pick up a coin off the sidewalk. The street sign said Pearl Street, and the name Bob came to her.

Flash forward 14 years to a dance in the North Shores of Boston. Pawlak and her friend, a bride-to-be, were out on the town celebrating the friend’s final fling before marriage, as well as Kathie’s newly pierced ears.

It was the last dance of the night, and Kathie had spent the evening convincing her dance partners she was visiting from Jamaica — a request by her friend, who, on the threshold of matrimony, didn’t want more guys entering her life.

Kathie didn’t dance every dance, but for some reason, she danced the last. The man’s name was Bob. And both of them just knew, right then and there.

“I used to go to these places to dance, and they were very insincere people, most of them,” she said. “He [Bob] stood out as being different because he was very sincere. And I knew right away. I didn’t know what I was getting, but I knew that was what I was looking for.”

Bob, who lived on Pearl Street at the time, simply felt a desire to get to know Kathie better.

Fifty-one and a half years later, the Pawlaks, their two daughters, sons in-laws, and four grandchildren stopped in Camden during their 50th wedding anniversary celebration. They stayed at the Riverhouse, which Kathie, who works in the travel industry, says is a testament to the Inn. Kathie never stays in the same place more than once, and this is a return visit.

One of the granddaughters made a sign announcing the grand occasion, which was then attached to the back of the Pawlak’s car.

“Every where we went with that sign, we were given the thumbs up,” Bob said. “Even on Mt Battie, thumbs up.”

At that initial dance, with dinner to follow, the two felt like they were worlds apart (especially since Bob thought Kathie lived in Jamaica). But after the truth was revealed, their worlds grew closer. Bob, who’s Polish and lived in South Boston, had been to Kathie’s Arlington, Mass., locale for real estate work and appraisals. For Kathie, who’s Italian, that premonition returned. Bob’s father was a coin dealer.

Kathie said: “We’re still fighting all these years. That’s why we’re here today, 50 years later. It takes you 50 years to realize what life is all about, and what marriage is all about. Some people get it the first year. It took us 50.

“As far as marriage is concerned, you have to stick with it. You have your up years, your down years. And you have to always remember back how you felt when you first met. Then, it holds you together, no matter what happens.

Bob said, “And you surround yourself with loyal friends.”

“And family is really important to us,” said Kathie. “You have to have that common denominator.”

The Pawlaks left Camden midday Friday to enjoy a further respite in Acadia National Park before heading back to Boston.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com.