I had an email a week or so ago from Caren Cross. She said she was enjoying our blog and thought we might be interested in her documentary about living in San Miguel. I clicked on the link and then purchased the DVD.

What a treat it is! Paul and I could really identify with the sentiments most ex-pats expressed, and were swept up in the amazing atmosphere of Mexico she portrayed. The film is called Lost and Found in Mexico.

As we were watching, I realized that I should buy the DVD for my sisters, as it can explain our attraction to Mexico better than I probably could, even if I could have their undivided attention for 53 whole minutes. (I don’t say that to be mean, it’s just the truth.) For some reason I really want them (and some others) to understand that our decision to move isn’t just because we want change, or to live better on the income we’ll have than we could up here….that the slowness, and the sociability, and the chance to really connect with ourselves and each other is more possible there.

Caren says she doesn’t feel a part of US society any more, but she also doesn’t feel like she is a member of the Mexican society….and that this kind of anonymity is part of how she rediscovered herself. This makes sense to me.

The film made me happy about our decision to move to Mexico. San Miguel isn’t the only place in Mexico that this film could be about…I have felt the same atmosphere and sense of solid, slow, comfortable and happy lives in many places throughout Mexico, and look forward to life in Mazatlan with even more excitement and expectation than I already had been feeling!

There were a couple of scenes we could really identify with….selling their household goods, a dumpster full of junk…and what we can hardly wait for….the day the car is loaded and we head out for good! Thanks, Caren.