Tomorrow is our one month anniversary living here in Mazatlan. We really do love it here, and discover wonderful people and places every day.
We continue to become more and more comfortable in our home – a desk for the office is wonderful – no more plastic table and things scattered on the surface. We have drawers! Today we bought two inexpensive chaise lounges for our upstairs terrace since now that the evenings are cool we thought it would be wonderful to stretch out there and watch the stars.
Our house back in Washington finally closed, and we were happy that we were able to do all the paperwork without either one of us flying home. The closing documents were emailed to us; we printed them out and then went to the US Embassy for notarizing. Then to DHL and the rest is history. They emailed us the final documents this morning….and I made a few calls on the Vonage phone to turn off the power and other closing items. We are so totally HERE it seemed strange to think we still had a house THERE.
We bought a number of pieces of furniture from a Mexican couple who were selling almost everything to move to a condo in town. All of the pieces are pretty old and kind of funky but we are really happy with them. Two rockers, a settee, an Eastlake table with a stone top, a hall tree/seat, and the office desk and chair. She told me how she rocked her babies in one chair, and that they come with all the love of her family. We had heard about them from ex-pat neighbors of ours, and told others of their furniture and know they made at least one other sale. But it was fun to get to know them, and have a little practice with all those social graces here that take a little bit of time to learn. Kissing beside the cheek, how to say no to coffee without insult – that kind of thing.
We are really loving living in the city. We take the dogs for a long walk in the morning – and some mornings this includes some splashing in the ocean. On the way back we sometimes stop at the bakery for a pan dulce for breakfast. We have our espresso – and have found great coffee here in town – and read the Noroeste with our dictionary close by. We do our chores in the morning and then explore the city in the afternoon and evening. We can walk anywhere. Excellent food. The ocean. Drinks. Tienda. Laundry. It is great.
The house is wonderful. We hear the sounds of the city around us – whistles, honks, laughing children (two schools on our street), the workers doing a remodel next door, etc. But they are happy sounds, and we enjoy all of it. I even hear a rooster once in a while.
I know it is our honeymoon here, but it is wonderful to live in a place you love like crazy and that you know you can live with. We are happy!
Jonna
October 18, 2007What a wonderful post. So… how do you say no to coffee without insult? I never know if I am insulting someone when I decline food or coffee.
I loved the office cabinet in the previous post, it’s beautiful.
May the honeymoon continue, it sounds lovely.
Brenda
October 19, 2007I hope it is a very long honeymoon. Ours still continues after being here now for 2 yrs.. Enjoy.
Anonymous
October 19, 2007tell us about how things are coming language-wise?? did you negotiate the furniture sale in english or spanish? are you finding you need more or less spanish than you expected?
christine
October 19, 2007Your time so far sounds just magical. Your description of the sounds of the city gave me goosebumps as it reminds me of when I was living in Aguascalientes. I now live in a wonderful area of Vancouver with amazing neighbours, but nothing compares to those sounds in Mexico. Thanks for bringing those memories up for me as I sit here at work on a Friday afternoon
Anonymous
October 19, 2007“We are so totally HERE it seemed strange to think we still had a house THERE.”
and yet you wrote:
“…and we were happy that we were able to do all the paperwork without either one of us flying home.”
I suspect in the not too distance future when you leave Mexico you will be leaving home – not flying to it.
Saludos,
Juan Calypso
Tom
October 20, 2007I am so enjoying your blog. Your experiences are my research on moving there.
Congrats on the house closing, that was the last cord to cut.
Billie
October 20, 2007Now you starting to live on the land so to speak. May your honeymoon continue long (and I’m sure it will.)
Gardener in Chacala
October 21, 2007Hi, I live south of you, in Chacala. I have been following you journey, and am so happy for you.
Life is so amazing, and every new day offers so much see and learn.
I can’t remember what I read about your plans for medical care. I hope you have a found a compatible doctor you can rely on if you very need one. A doctor who is connected to a hospital you are comfortable with and fits your budget.
That’s sounds sort of ominous, but it just takes a second to slip and fall or whatever.
I have a feeling you have already addressed this issue, so if am being redundant, sorry
Best wishes for a great adventure. Andee
Ann
October 23, 2007How DO you say no to coffee? I am still learning the social graces and know that I’m woefully graceless most of the time. Fortunately Mexicans are infinitely kind and tolerant.
I love reading about your settling in, and all the adjustments and cutting the cord… It’s also fun to read comments and other blogs and realize how many of us are doing the exact same thing.