Christmas Letter 2010

Merry
Christmas
*
Happy
2011

For the past few weeks, I have been pondering whether or not to write my annual Christmas letter. After all, with the ongoing blog I write on occasion, with Facebook, and all the other ways we stay connected socially, we all pretty much know what we are all doing all the time anyway. But abandoning the Christmas letter seemed a bit Scrooge-like, so here we go, 2010 style, online, on the blog (if I had mailed it from Puerto Vallarta, you might have gotten it in time for Christmas, 2011).

If there was an event or series of events that characterized 2010 for us, it would have to be travel, and then some travel, and after that travel. The biggest trip of the year began in mid June and ended in mid July. After driving back to Palm Springs from Puerto Vallarta in the old 2002 GMC Envoy (a real workhorse, especially in Mexico), we headed for LA and the flight to London.

That marked the beginning of two back to back cruises aboard the Holland American Eurodam. For nearly three weeks, we sailed through Scandinavia, the Baltics, and onto Russia. The scenery through the fjords was spectacular (at one point I jokingly said it made Yosemite look like a dump), the culture enchanting, and the history, particularly in St. Petersburg, Russia very revealing. But Europe was just the beginning of our summer journeys.

After returning to California, we spent a little time in the desert, but then headed out on a long car trip. The first stop was visiting our moms in Nevada City and Auburn, then onto Clear Lake with my mom for a week. I did a camping trip in the Sierra with my old buds from News10 ... great fun. Next, Kurt & I headed north for a few days in Portland, then onto Vancouver, BC where we stayed in the center of the city, on Granville Island, on a houseboat. Though very expensive (like European type prices), we thought Vancouver was the best international city we had visited in some time (including all the places we had just seen on the cruise). We’re going back next summer, this time for two weeks.

After Vancouver, we hopped two ferries to tiny, quiet Gabriola Island and a house right on the water. Next, it was onto to New York for a week, then New England, and eventually back to Palm Springs. At the end of October, we packed up the car with all the things we can’t buy here in Mexico (everything from Kalamata olives to a pineapple corer), and did the three day drive back home … stopping in Tucson, Navajoa, and Mazatlan … before getting to Puerto Vallarta.

While travel pretty much dominated our live, the dominant question that we receive is “Do you really feel safe living in Mexico?” Without hesitation, yes! After hearing all the media reports about how taking a trip to and through Mexico was a gamble with your life, we were wondering what had changed since last spring and what we were getting into making the 1200 mile trek. We knew about the drug violence, but had not encountered any of it, even in the remotest sense, in PV. Last spring, when we took a road trip through Guadalajara, Zacatecas, Chihuahua, then into Tucson, we did see an increase in military roadblocks, but it was no bother for us. In fact, the biggest problem we had then was crossing into the U.S. at Douglas, AZ where a nasty U.S. immigration officer spent 30 minutes searching the car, luggage (leaving clothes scattered about), under the car, brought in dogs, etc. The only thing missing was a cavity search! When he found nothing, he pretty much threw our passports back at us at said “Move on.”

Anyway, the trip back here in October was without incident. While there are serious problems in some border towns, we did not see any sign of it in Nogales, or anywhere along the way. There were more Federales than ever, and we got stopped at one of their roadblocks. But they are always friendly to us (hint to the U.S. immigration jerk at Douglas … take some lessons from your Mexican counterparts). While the highways and toll roads are as good as they are in California, the biggest problem we had was with the smaller roads. Major storms during the summer did heavy damage to the main highway north of PV. Several bridges were washed out and the road is gone in some places, replaced by a narrow ribbon of dirt. But it is all part of the Mexican experience.

Speaking of which, we continue to enjoy living here more and more all the time. Kurt has become very involved with the Puerto Vallarta Tennis Club and plays several times a week. My physical exercise is limited to the gym 4-5 times a week, swimming, and long walks through town and along the beach. My mental exercise comes from the Spanish classes I am taking at the University of Guadalajara campus here in PV. In addition to Spanish classes, the University offers English classes. Since our class breaks are at the same time, the Mexicans learning English and gringos learning Spanish meet in the school courtyard. I have developed some good friendships with the Mexican students, and we often meet in the evening for a few cervezas and to practice our respective languages. You couldn’t call me fluent in Spanish, but I know enough now to get us through almost any situation we encounter. I’m also becoming very involved with a charity group called Becas Vallarta, which provides scholarships to outstanding students in PV who come from very poor backgrounds. Without the financial help, many would not even be able to be in junior high school or high school. They are great kids and truly appreciative.

After nearly three years in Mexico, we have gotten into a real relaxed groove. The stress and expectations and frustrations that we brought with us here when we first retired have been largely replaced with the casual attitude exhibited by the Mexicans. They are genuinely wonderful and gracious people. We accept that things don’t always get done when you expect them to get done (especially compared to U.S. time frames), but you don’t fret over it. Manana is soon enough. When our Internet went out right after we came back in October, Telmex told us it would be three days before they could fix it (actually it was five days). Their suggestion in the meantime: “Ask a neighbor if you can use theirs until we can fix yours.” You quickly learn you can’t let it bother you like it would in the U.S. because here by demanding, threatening, or yelling at someone to get the job done sooner does no good whatsoever. You just accept it. The results are positive. Lower stress (along with better eating and more exercise) has naturally reduced my cholesterol levels to the point that no longer do I need Lipitor, which was first prescribed to me about seven years ago in the U.S.

This Christmas we are returning to California for a short trip to visit our families. Kurt’s mom is doing great, playing golf regularly and will come to visit us in February. My mom had back surgery in October to relieve severe pain, and it appears to have been successful. She hopes to visit in April.

As 2010 draws to a close, we feel very fortunate for health, happiness, friends, and family. We truly hope that 2011 brings good fortunes to you and your loved ones as well.