don quixote meets the tax man

As much as I enjoy travel, coming home is my favorite leg of any journey.

After three weeks of celebrating omnisolemnis (happy omnisolemnis to all) with my family, settling some family matters, and appeasing the ever-watchful eye of the Nevada government, I woke up this morning in the house with no name in Barra de Navidad.

Full disclosure requires me to tell you I have done that on Sunday and Monday, as well. I arrived at Manzanillo airport on Saturday afternoon, but, I am, only now, getting around to paying attention to my writerly duties.

Dora always has some special treat awaiting me when I return home. On Saturday, it was a vase of flowers from my patio landscaping. They helped cheer my re-entry into Mexico's orbit.

With the start of a new year, residents of Mexico gird their loins and undertake the tasks of paying their dues for being part of a civilized society. I, of course, am talking about taxes and fees whose payment is an attribute that makes one a genuine part of a community.

For me, that includes paying my property taxes, car registration fees, postal box rental, and the fee for my combined water, sewer, and garbage. Even though the fee for my bank trust is not due until October, I have started paying it at the first of the year to simplify my trips. While I am traveling around the county, it makes sense to pay everything at one time.

I had laid out my files for each payment before I headed north to Oregon and Nevada in December. Because the water, sewer, and garbage fee is paid at the city office in Barra de Navidad, I decided to walk there.

Half-way there, a thought struck me. On Sunday, Jalisco state hit the red button (a phrase that causes trepidation in the hearts of Hollywood political thriller fans). But it was not that button.

Virus cases in Jalisco have been driven so high that the government imposed another of its series of soft lockdowns. Bars closed; restaurants open. Beach open for banker's hours. People over 60 invited to stay home. That sort of thing.

But one closure appeared to be absolute. Government offices that provide services to the public are closed until the end of January.

Once I realized I would probably face a locked door when I arrived in Barra's business center, I turned around to watch three movies at the house.

As soon as I finish my chat with you this morning, I am going to sally forth like a knight-errant to right all wrongs. Well, I am going to at least right the wrong of turning a debt into an asset -- if I can but find someone at each office to accept my proferred obeisance. If no one is there, I will just have to wait.

Some of the fees I must pay offer a discount if paid by the end of the month. I assume the discount will not be extended simply because the offices are closed. But I do not know that.

If the discount disappears, it is not a huge loss. The fees that are subject to a discount will cost me around $7,000 (Mx). That is only about $356 (US). Losing the discount is not going to mean shuttering the house with no name.

So, I will don my golden helmet of Mambrino, mount my sturdy steed Escape, skip all the parts about Dulcinea, and be on my way to see whether I can slake the thirst of the tax man for the pesos that are the blood of our civilization.

I will then take a well-deserved nap.

It is good to be back.


Note -- It is not the best performance of the piece, but having mentioned Don Quixote, here is Peter O'Toole in the role he was born to play.