Can we go home now? TRANSLATION – I need something familiar because I’m feeling insane.
Whether we move across town, across the country or across the globe, I think it’s common to want, at some point to click your ruby slippers and wish for “home”. It is definitely an adjustment to change home, job and language in the course of one week. We are definitely not in Kansas anymore. The truth is, Bacalar is our home and there’s no going back, nor do we want to. We just want the floor to quit shifting.
Lisa and I have both had boo-hooing meltdowns with unexplainable feelings which come out as, what the hell have we done? I don’t think I can do this, and I wanna go home! The good thing is that we don’t have them at the same time.
On Friday, our friends Karen and Skip came through Bacalar. They’d been in Austin and were on their way home to Tulum, two hours north of us. They have watched us go from cautious inquiry to “ta-da!” They have been where we are and offered sage advice, “get out some of your things that provide familiarity.”
There is so much about being here that is absolutely wonderful and we are very grateful. We have been provided transitional digs that are beautiful, comfortable, accommodating and free. I walk down twenty steps and glide my kayak into the most beautiful water on the planet, whenever the mood strikes me. I sit on the balcony early in the morning, drink Lisa-made coffee, watch beautiful noisy birds that I’ve yet to identify and observe the rising sun change the colors on the lake by the minute. The feelings of insanity will strike again no doubt. I ride the waves kicked up by a tropical shower as well as the swirl of emotions triggered by a life of the new and yet to become familiar.
This week it’s off to immigration. Yahoo! Do we apply as a married couple or individuals? Decisions, decisions. Stay tuned as the Tortas continue the adventure. As always, comments are appreciated.
DOS TORTAS
Our bedroom in Pehaltun, Bacalar, MX
Where to put stuff?
the adventures of dos tortas 
One of the hardest things for me is not knowing where anything is. The second hardest is not having our own place yet. This is all really good for me. I have a tendency to want everything in it’s place (where I know it is) and a sense of stability. Truth is that life is just an adventure and things hold us down. Well, not many things to hold me down now.
Sure there are times “I want to go home”. Truth is, my home is with Alex and that is here. What an amazing place to have both.
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Not sure if you got my last comment? We are friends with Skip and Karen in LAT. You are all so brave to sell it all and just move. I am accumulating all kinds of Canada things so I feel at home in our new house. Yes we will be going back and forth for 6 months.Hubby still has to work but can do it remotely via internet. We will still own land even if we sold our house here for our old age security and CPP. But hoping that we love it so much we will not want to leave. I cant imagine just doing it. Need a bit of transition but Skip and Karen just seem so happy and have built a wonderful home. But as they have said who knows when the next adventure will be.
It has been a big expense buying land and building. But my opinion is, cause I dont get stuck on stuff, we can sell it. Like our home in Canada. Its a lot of work, an acerage and I do all the yard/gardens. One day I wont want/be able to do it. Then sell it.
When you get in the panic stage just remember its an adventure and you can sell it. Move back or somewhere else.
Good luck and just remember you are where a lot of people wish they were.
April
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Thanks April for your comments. Selling our home in Texas is paying for our home in Mexico. There are many Canadians in your same shoes. Please come visit in Bacalar and we will surely meet you in Tulum.
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You both are doing so well at remembering what is important. More than a year ago when we made our move, we had to literally say out loud our gratitude list. It was, “I am grateful for a roof over my head, food to eat, health and safety, I may not have what I want (right now), but I have what I need.” What you want will come. I know you believe that.
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Thanks Karen & Skip, you have been a great support for us. I appreciate your affirmation. Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude.
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Hi Alex and Lisa! Wow sooo many changes at once…I can imagine the emotional stress. Each day will get easier and and being in your own place will help immensely. Some obvious things that y’all are doing that helped me move to a new city away from family are…
Driving around and learning the community; I was stressed not knowing my way around watching for the business and for the drivers. It was a confidence booster to know the layout and location of the businesses and a little safer.
Finding some places to spend my time helping others, focusing on others helps and reinforces that gratitude.
Reading the local newspaper, it was quite entertaining and helped me learn about the community.
Journaling all the amazing discoveries I was making in my new life.
I also picked up a shell from every walk on the beach…starting a new collection for our new home.
Thank goodness for cell phones and the Internet! Keeping in touch with what’s going on with family and close friends and sharing your new life with them helps too! I kept voice mails from my sons and listened to them when I missed them!
Y’all are living your dream and a year from now, you’ll be looking back and laughing about these growing pains. Thanks for sharing your adventure, I’ve enjoyed being a part of it through your blog.
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Thanks for the suggestions. Yesterday I made a friend, a local woman who was sunning on a dock nearby. We struck up a conversation and she asked me to teach her to swim. When she said, next Sat, I’ll meet you here @11. I thought, wow, she’s serious! I’m looking forward to it.
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such a treat to have met you today, welcome to paradise. we all have gone or are going through growing pains and we all help each other. enjoy sista and look forward to our next meeting. hugs kim
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Good to meet you too Kim. It’s a small world. We are heading back to Chetu tomorrow to immigration. Wish us luck.
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I really enjoy your postings on the blog, Alex. The ups and downs of building a new life in a new community, all within a new country, is a dream we share! You and Lisa are living the dream that Patrick and I are just formulating. You have no idea how inspiring it is to follow the two of you through this life change, and I admire how brave you both are. You are south of the border trail blazers for those of us who are to follow. It’s because of Bacalar that you and I have formed our growing friendship and I suspect it will also be where we ultimately meet. As I have told you already since your arrival in Bacalar, you have renewed an ever growing curiosity in Patrick and I to know more about your beautiful lake region. We want to come for a visit and do some serious exploring. Tell Steven to beware, he’s not done with us yet! LOL
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Terry, We are having fun, learning stuff and making lots of mistakes. It’s a blast! Being out on the lake every day is a dream come true. We welcome all Tortas! come be adventurous with us.
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Haha, I remember this feeling so well and still get it from time to time. After moving to Geneva both my partner and I had regular rants about just wanting a little piece of England again. It’s surprising how quickly you get used to things though, even not being able to understand anybody becomes the norm after a while. Every time I go back to visit family and friends in England it is such a novelty to be able to eavesdrop easily on other people’s conversations!
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