So, has anything interesting happened since I left? In my efforts to disconnect and find some peace, I had been staying away from social media and news sites. But since Reagan texted me on Wednesday, I’ve been doom-scrolling on Twitter and I hate myself for it. I won’t go into all of the emotions I’ve had over the last 48 hours. But when I woke up Thursday morning, I was greeted with an ocean so still, calm, and peaceful, I spent most of the day outside, trying to breathe it all in, willing it to consume my soul. It is becoming easier to step away from my phone.

I can’t believe I’ve been here a whole week already! I’ve had a couple of hiccups, but I love it out here. I can barely pull my eyes away from the ocean. Some mornings it’s just me with my coffee and the pelicans diving for their breakfasts. Other mornings, the locals are scavenging for conch and other shellfish. Every evening, I comb “my” little stretch of beach in search of sea glass, and I never walk away empty-handed.

I’ve only ventured out 3 times, so I haven’t experienced much of the local culture. On Saturday, I walked 1.5 miles to Cafe France, a lovely breakfast place Tim and I discovered during our reconnaissance mission last July. The same waitress greeted me; on the 3 visits I’ve made, I’ve never seen this young lady without a beaming smile. The huevos motuleños are fabulous. It took a real effort to stop myself from cleaning the plate, since I knew I had a 1.5 mile trek back to the house after breakfast. I have looked up a recipe or two for this dish, and I plan to attempt one of them this weekend. On Sunday, I walked another 1.5 miles to Costa Azul, also a restaurant Tim and I enjoyed last summer. Their camarones al coco (coconut shrimp) was just as delicious as it was in my memory. Also on Sunday, I took my first solo shuttle ride into Progresso for groceries (easy-peasy). At Bodega, I managed to fill a grocery cart, and I worried a little about how I was going to lug all of it home on a shuttle, as catching one back to Chelem from this location proved rather difficult for Tim and I last time. Fortunately, a line of taxis sat outside the exit, and I was escorted over to one right away. It cost a good bit more than the shuttle (though the US equivalent was only $4), but the hassle it saved me was well worth the extra money. My cab driver spoke a little English, which saved me from butchering the directions in Spanish. 

My one big hiccup was a 24-hour power outage. For several hours, I had one working outlet, thanks to a neighbor that allowed me to hook 4 connected extension cords to his house, so the food in my fridge didn’t spoil and I could keep my cellphone charged. As I am in a tiny rural Mexican town, the power company lacks the efficiency of NES, so it took a full day for them to get to me. I was fortunate to have mild temperatures, so I was able to maintain a good cross-breeze indoors with the windows open. Otherwise, I have had good WiFi. I’ve even been able to do a couple virtual workouts with my B.Fab crew! The house is secure. In fact, I set the alarm off when I opened the sliding glass door one morning before deactivating the system. Coffee was a formality that morning, as I was quite awake without the caffeine.

I struggled with whether or not to share my Mexico stories or pictures of the ocean while the majority of you are in coats and scarves. For most of my life, there were people who made me feel guilty for any good fortune I happened to inherit. This in turn made me apologize more than necessary, keep things to myself to prevent any jealousy, and feel terrible for flaunting. But my 40s have taught me that it is high time I stop worrying how I’m perceived. There are many people in my life who want to share in my joy, and it is for you I write this and post my pictures. Thank you, and I’ll check in with you next week!