After the bulb went off over my head about two years ago and I began researching places to retire, I wasn’t 100% sold on México. Lisa and I had made travel an important part of our life. Every trip, Thailand, Turkey, Belize, even the lesbian capital of the world, Provincetown, MA evoked the question, “could we live here?” I guess it was clear that Texas wasn’t our final destination.
Saying adiós to family before leaving Austin.
During the research period, a movie came out, with Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, and Dev Patel called, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (for the elderly and beautiful). It isn’t often that a movie has almost all it’s main characters in their sixties and seventies. It also made me laugh out loud.
A group of aging Brits moves to India to seek an affordable retirement. They discover, that the hotel they are moving into has been photo shopped on the internet by its young and optimistic owner, played by Dev Patel (Slum Dog Millionaire). His enthusiasm for the future invokes trust (also the fact that they all bought one-way tickets); drama and mayhem ensues.
The south end of Laguna Bacalar.
Besides the joy I experienced watching these characters make choices that transform their lives, there are wonderful inspirational dichos, sayings, that are really the take-away message.
The measure of success is how we cope with disappointment. Disappointment is all about living in the past and wishing things had been different. It took me a long time to figure out that it’s a distraction which keeps me from learning and making different choices now.
There’s always a storm somewhere.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing. I have learned along the way the pitfalls of choosing a life based on safety. It is costly and tastes like cardboard. I love to read inspirational stories of people who step out and grow wings.
Harvesting from our property
All we know about the future is that it will be different. But perhaps what we fear is that it will be the same. So we must celebrate the changes. I can never be reminded too often to celebrate the change in this aging body. I am more relaxed and peaceful and that’s big for me. I still exercise but it’s by choice and because it makes me healthier and happier.
Lisa, her mom and me visiting the pyramids of Palenque.
I am a big believer in filling my life with inspiration. At the same time, I strive to find inspiration in all things. If you haven’t seen The Amazing Marigold Hotel, add it to your list of things that inspire, no matter how old you are.
And my favorite quote…Everything will be all right in the end and if it’s not, then trust me, it’s not yet the end.
the adventures of dos tortas 
Nice post, Alex and yes, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a great movie, we loved it. Keep up the good work, always look forward to your blog updates.
Cheers!
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Thanks. Bruce. I just re-watched it recently. Love that movie. They’re releasing a sequel in 2015.
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Loved that movie. Thanks for such an inspiring post!
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Thanks for visiting Rosemary. How did you find us? Hope you’ll become a subscriber. It’s never dull around Bacalar.
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Yet again, a wonderful post..! and for some reason, this one especially inspired me. Thank you for reminding me that there is STILL a lot of life to be lived and that adventure and travel are, clearly, what call to me. You both are such great examples of taking off and following your dreams/vision. I LOVED The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – one of the best movies ever – and I had started to forget that much of life awaits…get caught up often in little details that really aren’t important but seem so…at the time…and letting the demands of the present fuzz my vision of the spaciousness of life (and all that the movie invites us to remember). Thank you so much for this post and for sharing your life’s journey…blessings, L
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Every day is a chance to start again. Keep moving toward your dream. I had to have a timeline and measurables.
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Great blog post! I love your introspection and honest commentary that bares your journey to me. I feel a bit like a voyeur! Downloading the movie to view tonight!
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Hi Jan, you’re certainly welcome to come along for the ride. Thanks for your comment. Hope you’ll be a regular.
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I sure love both of you
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You are a great support Darlin.
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That is my absolute favorite saying too! It’s kinda comforting, actually. Just chill, it WILL be OK in the end.
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Hi Nancy, what adventure do you gave planned. Greetings to your crew. Hey to Bonita.
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very nice Post! Marigold is one of our favorite Movies. Thanks for the Inspiration. Joel and Marilyn in Albuquerque
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There’s a sequel coming out in 2015. I wonder what adventure we’ll all be on by then!
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