The Princess Bride speaks truth.
Well, it usually has an appropriate quotation for almost any occasion -- without all the Platonic analysis. And one line will suffice for today's scripture.
I am retired. I have written that sentence numerous times during the life of this blog.
I suspect, if Inigo Montoya stopped by the blog today, he would say: "I don't think that word means what you think it means."*
And he would probably be correct.
Since Saturday, when I promised a big announcement this week, several of you have left comments. They fall into two general categories: 1) Mexico has beat me to a pulp, and I am a quitter; and 2) I have a special personal relationship to announce.
The first is a failed syllogism because it is based on a false premise. The second is an interesting idea -- and not to be lightly dismissed -- but not today.
So, here it is.
I retired last March. My employer recently decided to fill the position. And that is where I come in.
The obvious guess is I am abandoning Mexico permanently to return to my old position. That would be wrong.
What I am doing is returning to Oregon to assist in training my successor. That should take about six months starting on 1 May. And it will give me three more months to tour some potential future home sites in Mexico.
The job will also allow me to do some repairs on the house that I did not accomplish last year before I moved to Mexico. When the repairs are done, I can put the house on the market.
The temporary stay will also resolve a logistical problem for me. My house sitter will soon be heading south to Los Angeles to pursue his entertainment career. I can avoid the empty house syndrome with my return.
My bottom line is: the Mexican adventure is not over. When I finish the training, I will return to Mexico. It is just the same life in a new location. (See, Felipe. There was a reason for keeping the title.)
As for pursuing a new personal relationship -- let's just leave that as an open agenda item.
* -- Actually, my favorite quotation from The Princess Bride is: "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." But there are so few occasions these days where I can use it.
24 comments:
Not bad, Steve, I got your return to Oregon down, and also your return to the "company". Sorry about the "gal pal" not working, but then maybe you can work on that part upon your return to "home". Remember, you are limited to just over 1,000 hours so ease in slowly, take your successor on the path to "stardom" and tell everyone when they can plan your next going away party for High Street!
There is nothing wrong with a loop back to the US...life's pathways are not always point to point...there are often loops and whorls that make it interesting. KK
Why does it feel like I was right - hmmmm.
" Mexico has beat me to a pulp, and I am a quitter;..."
Your words not any of ours that I recall - but surely you must have felt we were picking on you - not me.
Good luck with whatever you do hombre.
Summer in Oregon, that doesn't sound horrible. Enjoy your remaining time in Mexico.
Buena Suerte
Francisco
sometimes a detour can be more scenic. Look what happened with Paul on the road to Damascus.
Best wishes in your move back to Oregon. Hope you will keep blogging from wherever you are.
Good luck Steve. Be well and happy in your endeavors.
Steve,
I am not retired and so do not have first hand knowledge of what it really means. However my observation has been that one of the joys of being retired is the freedom to occasionally change direction, take time to explore new opportunities, or to just sit back and see what happens next. The argument can be made that even those of us who are still working can do that but not so easily.
You will be in Oregon during the best months of the year. Mexico will still be there when you are ready to return.
Okay, let's see if I got this right:
1. Mexico has beaten you to a pulp.
2. Therefore, you are returning to Mexico after six months of work.
This is an enthymemic argument, crying out for more transparent premisses.
Am I to supply them?
1. Mexico has beaten you to a pulp.
2. Being beaten to a pulp has given you great pain and suffering.
3. You enjoy great pain and suffering of just the sort that Mexico provides.
Therefore, you will return to Mexico for more pain and suffering of the kind you enjoy.
Have you spoken to a counselor about this. There is a name for this condition in the DSM-N (whatever number is now has).
And what is all this mysterious talk about a new relationship? I hope to heaven you are not contemplating leasing another BMW for six months while you work at the law office. Apart from the expense of it, remember what the squirrels did to your ignition wires.
I don't think your ignition wires have been quite right since.
A. N. Moose
Returning to the U.S.A. to take care of unfinished business and to generated capital for home repairs seems wise to me.
Returning to Mexico during the winter months is also a good idea.
Enjoy your remaining time in Mexico.
Saludos,
Francisco
Good Lord, what a dramatic announcement! I'm so glad you prepped us all for it so carefully.
I guess we'll have to prepare for more Oregon and less Mexico for a while.
But I think the more dramatic part of the announcement is that you're selling the place in Oregon, finally. That would seem to indicate that the engagement with Mexico is over, and soon comes the wedding. Where do you plan to spend the honeymoon? And when will you and the bride speak the same language?
Congratulations, and I think you need to tease Felipe just a smidgen over this.
Saludos,
Kim G
Boston, MA
Where we are nervously standing on the edge of the diving board, eying Mexico below, but still not able to jump.
Excellent! A nice balance is achieved. This will keep you in new computers.
I love that movie! That one and Don Juan de Marco. Sigh....My daughter named her dog Inigo Montoya because of Princess Bride and my son used to have a tee shirt that proclaimed that he was Inigo Montoya.
I still vote for running away and joining the circus.
I find that going back to someplace after I quit and never intended to return feels off somehow, but you are returning in a temporary position with a slightly different role.
Regards,
Theresa
They were picking on you - waiting until Steve hit the wall (the point where you say "I am going back") and then saying "See, he doesn't have what we have to stay here. We can brave anything."
To me your decision fits with your whole approach here and I do hope you come to San Miguel as I have the perfect Gang for you.
Good decision, Steve. You'll be in Oregon for our best weather and back to Mexico just in time for it's great winter/spring weather. I envy your freedom! Alee'
Steve sounds like a win-win to me. Maybe I'll be able to sit in on a dinner soiree here in the green state, in the future. Its easier on my schedule than a trip south of the border.
I love that movie, too! I think so many people expressed it better than I can. You are not the same after this Mexican experience, and I see no reason why a sojourn in Oregon is not in order. Sounds like a good plan, amigo!
Good, now that we will both be Salem residents at the same time I can invite you over and show you the remodeling projects I'm working on.....and the number of people with appropriate political sensibilities has doubled. Let's do lunch.
If I may....many people do just that, it's called "Snowbirding". As it is, you are retired and free to do as you please. Now doesn't that have a nice ring to it?
Just a reader...
Where did who go?
Sorry I have not responded to the comments, but I have been busy enjoying my life here in Melaque. But thanks for the comments. The six-month hiatus ion Oregon (especially during the summer and fall)will let me resolve some of the problems I could not take care of before I left -- the house being the chief one. As it turned out, I was able to live there on my two trips north last year. But it is time to pull the plug on it.
The blog will continue. I doubt I could stop now if I wanted to -- and I don't.
Back to work?
"Inconceivable!"
They better be rewarding you richly!
Maybe we can get together, at least once, during the 6 months you are in The Great State of Oregon?
Let me know if you would like help with the house, that's what I do.
Cory -- Nice use of working another theme joke in. I am looking forward to the short visit.
That movie is chalk full of good quotes a couple of my favorites:
"It just so happens that your friend here is only MOSTLY dead. There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive..."
"No more rhyming now, I mean it...
Anybody want a peanut?"
I look forward to your visit this Spring.
-Cory
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