"So, Steve. Is everything in Mexico as perfect as you thought it would be? Are you ready to admit it is time for you to come home?"
The dreaded telephone calls have started already.
I left Salem two months ago, and some of my friends now expect me to tell them they were right and I was wrong.
OK. I admit I fed that attitude a bit with a few of my posts that made me sound as if I were in way over my head.
But the quick answer is: I never thought Mexico would be perfect. That is why I retired here -- knowing a lot of its blemishes.
And, NO, I am not returning to Oregon.
Rather than have this little dialog turn into a talk radio glandfest, let's take a little more analytical approach on what I have learned during the past two months. It certainly is not the final exam -- not even the mid-term. Let's just call it a pre-test.
Last August, I wrote a series of posts grading my July scouting trip to Melaque. Several months earlier, I had developed 13 criteria to pick a retirement spot -- or, at least, the spot where I would start my retirement.
I summarized them in not quite the end of all things. They were:
The dreaded telephone calls have started already.
I left Salem two months ago, and some of my friends now expect me to tell them they were right and I was wrong.
OK. I admit I fed that attitude a bit with a few of my posts that made me sound as if I were in way over my head.
But the quick answer is: I never thought Mexico would be perfect. That is why I retired here -- knowing a lot of its blemishes.
And, NO, I am not returning to Oregon.
Rather than have this little dialog turn into a talk radio glandfest, let's take a little more analytical approach on what I have learned during the past two months. It certainly is not the final exam -- not even the mid-term. Let's just call it a pre-test.
Last August, I wrote a series of posts grading my July scouting trip to Melaque. Several months earlier, I had developed 13 criteria to pick a retirement spot -- or, at least, the spot where I would start my retirement.
I summarized them in not quite the end of all things. They were:
- university nearby
- archaeological sites within driving distance
- central location for other archaeological sites
- warm, sunny days; cool nights
- new acquaintances -- some with a love of food
- the challenge of a new language
- time to read; time to learn; time to rest
- daily learning to survive
- facing mountains of difficulties -- and being repeatedly crushed
- long walks with Professor Jiggs before breakfast and after sunset
- living outside of a car
- offering help to others
- graciously accepting help from others
I would like to spend the remainder of this week looking at those criteria. It may give me a better idea why I am doing what I am doing.
And I know that each of you will have some pithy comments to add.
Time to slice open this "same life," and see how it is doing in this "new location."
And I know that each of you will have some pithy comments to add.
Time to slice open this "same life," and see how it is doing in this "new location."
