MeXscape

I rolled into Mazatlan last May thinking about spending a few days before heading further south into Nayarit; my initially perceived, first real stop on the west coast of Mexico. Then after 3000 brutal miles, Mazatlan loomed before me like a palm studded sanctuary and besides; my 18 year old son had acquired the haunted look of a caged animal, time to take a break. At that point in my life, the last place I wanted to be was within the teeming mass of humanity that comprises metropolitan Mazatlan, so we kept our distance. We found a very pleasing little RV park on the beach in Cerritos, parked our travel trailer, rolled out the awning, broke out the lawn chairs and cold beer and declared ourselves camped. I didn’t realize at the time that just how long I would be camping. Never a long term planner, my conceptual strategy for retirement in Mexico had not progressed past the RV phase; would I ever want a house?

Day 5 on the road. We're hot. We're tired. We're out of ice. We decide to stop at a Pemex to use the facilities and add some ice to the cooler. The facilities are no problem. They are easily accessible from outside, stocked with soap and toilet paper, and clean. Small favors.

Chuck and I actually had nowhere to be today. No getting up early to get dressed and drive across the county to be at either of our parents' houses for Christmas breakfast. I love our families. I love Christmas with our families. But sometimes all the schedules and obligations and rushing around feel a lot more like work than a holiday. So we lazed our way through the morning. I did a little work. I made a late brunch. Then we decided a nap would be divine. Out of habit, I stopped to check my email before crawling into bed.

When My 18 year old son and I arrived in Mazatlan it was the height of the dry season, however the only thing dry was the jungle, we were both drenched, natures sauna cleaning your pores. The heat and humidly this time of year required any and all outdoor activities to be conducted only in areas where you were wafted by the constant ocean breezes or actually submersed in the water itself. We spent our time between the water, beach front cantinas and air conditioned comfort, it was in the beach front cantinas we replenished the liquids that continuously flowed from every inch of our skin.

After completing my most recent foray into the English-speaking world, I discovered that I have had a complete shift in my personal reality. Six months in Mazatlan is the longest period of time I have immersed myself within this open and friendly culture.