Recently we’ve been feeling in a bit of a funk. With a long and busy high season behind us life had slowed down at work but we were finding ourselves spending every weekend with errands, doctor’s appointments, and the like and began to fully realize how errant we were in not planning a fall vacation. With Costa Rica still two months away…an eternity when in a funk, and fall weather turning to winter my mood was grim.
The crisp morning air caused me to snuggle deeper into my sleeping bag and Ryder and Jim continued to snooze in peace. The heat from our bodies formed thick condensation in contrast to the cool and it was tempting to ignore my body’s nudge to make a break for the portapot located a short distance away.
We recently headed to Puerto Vallarta for a variety of reasons, but food, food, and more food certainly became the theme of the vacation.
As regular visitors to this scenic city by the sea, we had many old favorites to return to but also discovered new haunts that were all spectacular. Truly, in 10 days we didn’t eat badly a single meal. A normal trip south finds me cooking the occasional breakfast or dinner but not this time; burned out from an extremely busy summer I declared my time as head chef in the family on hiatus. I advised Jim we were simply going to be “forced” to eat out every meal. He announced himself up for the task.
As we drove home from the airport, I marveled anew at the vast difference between the look and feel of Mexico as compared to our home in Oregon. Gone was the dramatic and contrasting colors and back were the endless neighborhoods wrapped in tones of beige, white, and grey.
Returning to Puerto Vallarta was a given. Although it’s been nearly four years since we last graced her beaches, PVR has always felt like a second home and it took mere minutes upon landing to release a deep sigh of contentment. We were home.
Many stories and photos are to come shortly but first off a short post highlighting the extraordinary color that breathes life into every moment of this remarkable country.
The lessons of living each day to the fullest never seem more important than now when I suddenly realize months have gone by since I’ve paid any attention to this blog. Life races by at warp speed and if we don’t pay attention entire months and years can fly by and suddenly we’ve had another trip around the sun.
It is nearly impossible to believe it’s been thirteen months since we said goodbye to Aspen and welcomed into our home this big, anxiety ridden sweet boy. The general rule of adoption suggests there is power in the number 3.
Lesson 1: Believe us, it sometimes takes longer.
I sat cross-legged, focusing on my breathing. Breath in. Breath out. My online yoga coach gently guided the practice and then said “search for your serenity”. My mind immediately jumped to one year ago, a time when the entire world was spiraling as a global pandemic began killing hundreds of thousands. As incongruous as it seems, my memories of April 2020 are some of the most peaceful and serene of any in the last few years. The exact image that brought me peace; remembering the pure contentment on Aspen’s face as we watched the sunset over the bay.
Let’s face it. 2020 has been HARD. So very hard. It’s no secret to anyone and we have also not been totally spared experiencing a couple of months of unemployment, myself being very sick for several weeks, and worst of all the loss of Aspen.
“Lean into curiosity” ~ Pena Choldren
In spite of it all, we consider ourselves beyond blessed in a year that has adversely affected so many people around the world.
The rain increased as I stumbled along the path, tripping over tree roots. Confused, I realized I’d made a wrong turn somewhere along the way and turned to correct the path when I saw a group of men approaching in the ever-darkening Guatemalan evening. I continued forward while trying to project confidence with Aspen glued to my side. I uttered a greeting as we passed the group and received long stares in response before their gaze turned to the large black dog at my side. I hurried her along the path and arrived safely at the villa shortly after, my nerves totally shot. The saying goes “Who saved Who?” in the world of dog adoptions but in that instance, I was absolutely certain it was she who saved me.
The light rising over the bay bathed us in light, but it was the waves that had woken me. Not crashing onto the beach but like a whisper. Similar to belly breathing in Yoga with a long deep inhale culminating in a soft exhale. Thus began another day in paradise. This is life on the Baja.
Our itchy feet are soon to be rewarded as our compass once again heads southward. The last seven months is the longest we’ve stayed in any one spot for the last four years and we are feeling it! Luckily, having negotiated a 59-day leave of absence each winter allows us to stay in touch with the wanderlust that is core to our true selves.
