There is something elemental about living by the sea.
By that, I do not mean the obvious elements of fire, earth, air, and water. Though, they are also good candidates for another post.
Before I decided to retire in Mexico, I thought I wanted to live on the Oregon coast. When the weather is clear there, no place on earth can be more stunning or beautiful.
The sounds of the surf. Rocks against water. Greens against blues. Wind against land.
Nothing ever seems to stay the same. And it doesn't.
Because, along the Oregon coast, decay can occur right before your eyes.
Salt eats metal. Water eats stone. Tourists eat lunch.
I am not now in Oregon, but the corrosive nature of the shore is the same -- perhaps worse with the increased tropical temperature and humidity.
I pulled out my metal shoe horn on Sunday. In six weeks it has gone from shiny silver to dried-blood red.
I have been rather smug about temperature and humidity questions. Even though I am without air conditioning, I point out that the house is filled with fans.
By that, I do not mean the obvious elements of fire, earth, air, and water. Though, they are also good candidates for another post.
Before I decided to retire in Mexico, I thought I wanted to live on the Oregon coast. When the weather is clear there, no place on earth can be more stunning or beautiful.
The sounds of the surf. Rocks against water. Greens against blues. Wind against land.
Nothing ever seems to stay the same. And it doesn't.
Because, along the Oregon coast, decay can occur right before your eyes.
Salt eats metal. Water eats stone. Tourists eat lunch.
I am not now in Oregon, but the corrosive nature of the shore is the same -- perhaps worse with the increased tropical temperature and humidity.
I pulled out my metal shoe horn on Sunday. In six weeks it has gone from shiny silver to dried-blood red.
I have been rather smug about temperature and humidity questions. Even though I am without air conditioning, I point out that the house is filled with fans.
Melaque is blessed with breezes off of the sea during most of the daylight hours. It is difficult to believe that the temperature hovers around 90 while sitting in the breeze and shade of the patio.
When the sun sets, so does the breeze. That happened on Monday night. It felt as if the temperature rose by 10 degrees in an hour.
On came the fans. And Jiggs and I settled down to an electronically-controlled environment -- just right for sleeping.
And then came our elemental lesson. The power failed. No fans. No breeze. No relief.
Jiggs looked at me with recrimination in his eyes. And I could do nothing -- but wait. Another failed father moment.
Minutes later, power returned. I was smug. Jiggs was happy.
The power failed again. This time it did not return as quickly.
The lesson? If you choose to live in an environment that is unfriendly, be prepared to meet it at its worst.
And Monday night was not its worst. For the next three months, the temperature and humidity should continue to increase.
When the power goes out on one of those nights, Jiggs and I will be wondering just how beautiful one of those Oregon days may be.
When the sun sets, so does the breeze. That happened on Monday night. It felt as if the temperature rose by 10 degrees in an hour.
On came the fans. And Jiggs and I settled down to an electronically-controlled environment -- just right for sleeping.
And then came our elemental lesson. The power failed. No fans. No breeze. No relief.
Jiggs looked at me with recrimination in his eyes. And I could do nothing -- but wait. Another failed father moment.
Minutes later, power returned. I was smug. Jiggs was happy.
The power failed again. This time it did not return as quickly.
The lesson? If you choose to live in an environment that is unfriendly, be prepared to meet it at its worst.
And Monday night was not its worst. For the next three months, the temperature and humidity should continue to increase.
When the power goes out on one of those nights, Jiggs and I will be wondering just how beautiful one of those Oregon days may be.
