Why Mexico?

1 Jan

There have been a series of questions that people have asked when we tell them that we are moving to Mexico. I will attempt to address them each in their own blog. The first is Why Mexico? I studied and lived in Central Mexico during my junior year in college at The Universidad de Las Americas in Cholula, Puebla 1973-74.

I was in school for nine months, six of which were studying intensive Spanish, four hours a day/four days a week. The school was on a trimester program, so three-day weekends allowed me to travel. I visited Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, Monterrey, Tampico, Vera Cruz, Oaxaca, Puebla, the Yucatan and Tehuantepec. I fell in love with churches, pyramids, small pueblos, big cities, museos, Mexican artistas, dancing, history, the people and speaking Spanish. At 21 I was designing the house I wanted to build in Mexico. Who knew it would take me forty years to realize my dream.

After my studies in Mexico, I moved to Austin, TX at the suggestion of a teacher who knew how much I loved my time in Mexico. I wanted to continue to speak Spanish and live as part of a Mexican/American community. I never could have imagined the life I’d get to live in Austin. I’ve loved the community and being part of the experience of living here. It’s time for a change. The city has grown and I am ready for a smaller home-base that will allow us to travel and live simply. I feel as if I am going home. I am forever grateful to Lisa who is excited to share this sueño conmigo.

Making tamales for my birthday with my Mexican family. Feb. 1974

Making tamales for my birthday with my Mexican family  February 1974

View from the Pyramid of the Moon, Teotihuacan, outside of Mexico City. Sept.1973

View from the Pyramid of the Moon, Teotihuacan, outside of Mexico City September 1973

During a festival in Cholula, Puebla.

During a festival in Cholula, Puebla.

Timeline

28 Dec

On Wednesday, Lisa and I had a road trip and took our calendar to discuss and document the departure timeline for our move to Bacalar, Mexico. There are so many details involved in selling dos houses, purchasing a trailer and possibly a camper shell, packing, purging (garage sales & trips to Goodwill), arranging Mexican residency (renew Lisa’s passport, visit the Mexican consulate) and not to mention throwing a big fiesta to say adios to our friends and neighbors. As a state employee and project manager, I am accustomed to using timelines, benchmarks and deadlines. It helps keep me sane, reduces stress and keeps us on target. For the past six months, we’ve been looking at everything in terms of “goes to Mexico” “doesn’t go to Mexico”. We’ve already had two garage sales. I always thought I was a minimalist. Hah! We have so much crap.

Alex:

  • research selling our house ourselves;
  • clean out the office/art room to prepare for painting;
  • shop Craigslist for a camper shell;
  • start planning the party (Feb. 23); and
  • talk to my son about his timeline for moving out.

Lisa:

  • paint office;
  • visit the Mexican consulate;
  • renew passport; and
  • make the first payment on the property in Bacalar.

We will revisit the timeline on January 19th. Dos Tortas are having a blast. We are doing our exercise workout and counting in Spanish! Mexico here we come.

Dock at Casita Carolina guest house.

Dock at Casita Carolina guest house.

Feliz Navidad

25 Dec

We had a wonderful day with family. The intention was to stay present, not reminisce about the past or grieve/anticipate the future. I think we did pretty well. Having the blog will hopefully keep us from telling the same stories and showing the pictures over and over. We are Bacalocas.

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Firsts and Lasts

24 Dec

We had Lisa’s first birthday celebration in Mexico while on our recent trip to Bacalar. As we prepare for this huge transition, there are constant “firsts” and “lasts”. This will be our last Christmas in our beloved home in Austin. While this sounds rather morbid, it really isn’t. It’s a way to acknowledge the sad feelings and yet count down to our much anticipated departure. Our new friends presented Lisa with a flan cake alight with candles. It was a sweet gesture and also helped celebrate the day we signed the contract to buy their property.

Our new friends Scott & Peggy.

Our new friends Scott & Peggy.

Lighting the birthday flan.

Lighting the birthday flan.

Flan birthday cake.

Sealing the deal Bacalar style.

Getting Started

22 Dec

I’ve been talking about launching a blog to share the process of our latest adventure…moving to Lake Bacalar, Mexico. We have just returned from our first visit, and after months of planning and dreaming, we have a contract on a half acre of lakefront property in paradise. Lisa is planning the purchase of her boat and I have a new kayak in my sights. I will tell the story on a future post of how this all came about. For now, the blog is launched as is our adventure.

Stay tuned….

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