Welcome 2022

I cannot express how happy I am that we are in a New Year. Not sure why it matters, after all, it is just a construct people created to mark the passage of time. In some ways, every day is New Year’s Day. Oooh, I like that idea!

That said, however, and in keeping with modern human tradition, cleaning out the old year and welcoming the new is exactly what I needed. Since the pandemic started, I’ve been struggling with getting my “life” back. I’ve been gradually adding activities into my days and feel like I’m heading in the right direction.

We expect our new house to be completed mid-March, so one more move (that will make seven in four years!) and I’ll be able to relax a bit about things. It has been an expensive transition from Querétaro to Merida as we had expected to already be in a home of our own much earlier in the year. Another year of rent was not in the budget, nor was the loss of several expenses rugs and furniture that were ruined in storage. Alas, it IS what it IS! Or should I say soon-to-be WAS. I’m really looking forward to not have a mortgage or rent payment and capitalizing on the benefits of living in much-cheaper Mexico. Of course, here you often come up against the wrong assumption that being American (or Canadian) means you have lots of money. Lord do I wish that were true!

Of the things I’m looking forward to in 2022:

1. Getting into a regular exercise schedule. I’ve enlisted my nephew, Joey, to be my accountability partner. We are going to text each other when we go to the gym… I’m also back to taking some group tennis lessons, which I will continue to do in the new year with the hope that I’ll make some new tennis friends and actually PLAY!
2. Stabilizing my income and setting savings goals. 2021 was a train wreck when it comes to my income. Too many class cancelations and reschedules. I’ve instituted a new policy to charge 1/2 of the class fee if students don’t give me at least a day’s notice that they won’t be attending. So far it seems to have gotten some attention. I already have students advising me of their work-travel dates later in the month so they can save (and I can plan)! I’m currently “full” in terms of classes. If everyone shows, I’ll be well able to meet this goal.
3. As a side benefit, my plan is to be and remain debt free and living entirely on our Mexico income. Shouldn’t be hard once we stop paying rent! We will also have solar panels on the house, which will minimize our utility bills. No lawn means no gardener (yeah!), leaving only pool maintenance to be paid regularly. And I’m soooo getting a Roomba!
4. Having a permanent address so we can finally get all of our Mexican documents in order — drivers license, banks, and immigration.

Even Lyn has made some resolutions for the year. For those of you who know him, you know that is very unusual. He’s not a planner, but I think even he needs a boost out of the pandemic malaise we’ve been in.

Living in Merida

As expected, moving to Merida meant more visitors. Already for 2022 we have two on the schedule — in January, my friend Kim who is moving here, and, in February my friend Carmen from Boise who is living right now in Guanajuato and coming to Merida for a wedding. Several others have said they would come once we are in our new home.

One question visitors typically ask me is, when is the best time to visit? Well, now that we’ve been here about a year, I would say that October and November are perfect. The weather is cooler, the kids are back in school, and there are lots of things to see and do because of Day of the Dead and the Christmas holiday celebrations. It is very colorful! We still haven’t done much touring around, but I’m hoping that will change once people come to visit us. While people here think it is “cold,” truth is it is still toasty and perfect for beach going or cenote swimming!

I’m also truly hoping I can get back to states to visit for a bit. It’s been two years of not seeing my tribe and I miss them.

My US Tribe