It's good to have friends

My friends are my estate - Emily Dickenson

And with friends our wealth of possible escapes expands! We recently were invited to spend a bit of time with friends, at their friends place in Puerto Vallarta (or PVR for short).

We've been to PVR many times, in fact it was on (and still is actually) our top 3 list for retirement locations. We haven't been back to PVR in nearly 6 years, so this was a most eagerly accepted offer. Not to mention the opportunity to spend time with friends that we only see sometimes once a year, because unfortunately they are still tied to, gasp, employment.... in the USofA.

Our friends other friends condo in PVR is just South of town at Upper Conchas Chinas. Very high end, and very high. The development is built on the hill face overlooking the bay.

It was tough -

here's our morning on the balcony with coffee view!

We really had a great time - thanks to a little help from our friends.

We ate out, we ate in, we shopped, we sat on the beach, we played in the water, we played cards, we kept tabs on Lance, we took in some personal care activities, we went on a boat tour, we toured the Botanic Gardens, and we enjoyed beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

I get by with a little help from my friends - John Lennon

Tropical Fruit - Guaya Fruit

Guayas are a relative to the lychee and are also sometimes called Guaya Cubano,and/or Spanish Lime.

The Guaya fruit ripen during the summer and are found locally in small markets. Branches or bags of guayas are also sold by street vendors although rarely do you find guayas in the supermarkets.

The fruits are lime green and about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter containing a single large cream colored roundish seed, which is sometimes roasted like a chestnut. The seed is surrounded by a yellowish/apricot translucent sweet juicy pulp. Juice from the pulp is also used for flavoring drinks.



To eat the guayas you tear the tough skin with a tooth or fingernail; the fleshy seed pops right out and into your mouth where you suck off the thin layer off pulp that surrounds it. The taste, to me, is sweet and fresh. The only drawback is that the juice will permanently stain clothing.

For more info on the growth and cultivation of guayas, or Melicoccus Bijugatus visit this site.

Willson Update

You remember meeting Willson

Willson has been drying out. It's been a rough journey but he's coming along.
He has found a place of solace and tranquility in the garden.



He looks good out there, almost happy!

My name is Debi, I live in The Yucatan

don Felipe, of The Zapata Tales recently posted about being an immigrant here in Mexico, rather than an expatriate. I started working on a comment to his post and when it got quite lengthy decided it would make for better discussion as a separate post here.

In his post he states, "An expatriate is someone who is voluntarily absent from his home country. Well, that applies, and yours truly has considered himself an expat since moving south.

But an immigrant is someone who moves to another country in order to settle there. Sounds like an expat is keeping his options open. And an immigrant has made up his mind."

He also states "It seems that almost all Americans who have moved to Mexico think of themselves, as we did, as expats. You never hear the word immigrant."
I think part of this is the very negative connotation associated with the word 'immigrant' by those of us from the good ole USofA. Regardless that for the vast majority of us, we are from immigrant stock.

I've never really considered which label best fits for me. I just know that when I was contemplating, and eventually did, move to Mexico it was for nothing other than a desire for a more peaceful, tranquil, less expensive, less controlled by others, less scary, lifestyle.
I also wanted to be close, well closer than Colorado to salt water, and I wanted to not have to be afraid, or to have to pinch every penny, or possibly have to go without basic medical care if needed.

We've liquidated the assets in the USofA, with the exception of what monies we have in financial institutions there. We came down with a meager amount of what we once called possessions, 2 cats, and a car.

The car is still carrying Colorado plates, and probably will continue to do so till it goes to car heaven. The car is actually eligible to be nationalized this year, but we are told it could cost 1600USD to do so; Which makes no sense to do on a car whose current value is about 3500USD. Nationalizing the car would allow us to put Yucatan plates on, and require the maintenance of Mexican car insurance and property tax. HMMMMM, right now we can run on our expired Colorado tags till - well forever, and we pay no property tax.

I do plan to get a Mexican driver license, but am in no hurry since my Colorado license is still valid.

Is the thought of becoming a Mexican Citizen scary? No, but I'm not sure what the benefit is to either me or to Mexico. Many of our family and friends thought that because we were moving here to Mexico we had to give up our US citizenship. We didn't, even if we were to become Mexican citizens we would still maintain our US citizenship.

Am I an immigrant, an expatriate, a gringa, estadounidense, tourist, resident immigrant, ...
I don't know -

My name is Debi, I live in The Yucatan.

Am I adjusted - Yeah, I guess so, at least I'm working on it! I speak enough spanish to handle a great many situations, and am learning more with each endeavor. I exchange greetings with my neighbors and know better than to pass through the gate or door without an invitation. I know to walk on the shady side of the street, and under an umbrella. I think in terms of pesos and not how many dollars is that. I have adapted to local stuff and don't long for too many of the old things; well except steel cut oats, and I'd love to find some miso, ok maybe I do miss a few things. I buy from the local mercados and tiendas, yes, including meat products.
I think of this as home. Does that make me adjusted?