Mexico Lindo

I wanted to do a post of Things I love or miss about Mexico, but it's just too hard. Most times I feel in my heart that I was born in the wrong country; I was meant to be a Mexican. Mexico is like coming home.

Mr. Big Ed and I talk about retiring to Mexico. I look online at Mexican real estate all the time. So many of my treasured possessions are Mexican. I don't think I can count all the things about Mexico that I love.

And if you ever want to get me all riled up just start trash-talking Mexico. Everyone has one of those stores of their sister's friend's cousin who went to Mexico for Spring Break and got harassed by either the cops or the locals. Then everyone who hears it assumes all Mexicans are corrupt thieving bastards. I am here to tell you that is not the case. Of course there are some corrupt thieving bastards! But you certainly don't have to travel more than 5 miles from your own home to find some home-grown CTB's. Some people just set themselves up as targets by their own naivete or by disregarding common practice of travel. My sister told me about a trip she took with a huge group of parents and gymnastics competing teenagers to Europe and some of the silly rich Texas moms didn't understand about traveling without wearing their 5+ carat diamond rings, earrings, gold jewelry, designer purses and the like. It's kinda like people who don't realize to visit St. Peter's Cathedral or any mosque or temple anywhere in the world you can't just show up in a tank top and shorts. It is just not respectful. So, back to Mexico, if you go to Cancun for Spring Break and act a fool and drink like a fish you might expect someone will try to take advantage of you. If you go to a different country and have an open mind and pay attention to how things are done there and don't go out of your way to call undue attention to yourself, you probably won't have those kinds of problems and you might even learn something while having a good time.

Mexican people are some of the nicest in the world. Mexican culture is family oriented and full of celebrations. What is better than Mexican food? Nothing, that's what. Mexico gave the world corn, squash, avocados, peppers of all kinds, tequila, chocolate, vanilla, tomatoes, tortillas, Cantinflas, El Chavo and Luis Miguel. Not to mention Raquel Welch, Anthony Quin, Ricardo Montalban, Fernando Lamas, Vicki Carr, Rita Hayworth, mariachi music, Days of the Dead celebrations, the best silver jewelry, Talavera pottery (I know it came from the Spaniards who got it from the Moors, but Mexico has put their own stamp on it), and you see how this list can get out of hand?

Some people have a picture in their minds of Mexican life that is not very positive and full of bad stereo-types. My picture is of a family that comes together each day around 2:30 when the kids get picked up from school and has the big family meal of the day and then a siesta till about 4:30 when the dad goes back to work till around 7 p.m. I love this. The whole family together in the middle of the day before everyone is tired and worn out from the stresses of work and all that. One of my favorite times in Mexico is the Sunday brunches at the Camino Real hotel in Guadalajara that go on and on till about 5 or 6 in the afternoon! There was so much wonderful food, freshly squeezed orange juice, fresh yogurt with fruit and granola, Mexican hot chocolate (the best in the world), and clowns and games for all the kids. This is a great way to spend a Sunday.

The discussion of retiring to Mexico is never about "if" it's more about "where". Mexico is huge and the geography is diverse enough to have something for everyone. It's just too hard to pick one locale! Someday we want to be in Guadalajara, a gorgeous big city with lots to offer, other times it is in Oaxaca a much smaller town with completely different feel to it. Sometimes it is in the Yucata'n by the ocean, and other times it is in the mountains like in Zacatecas. Who knows? We will keep researching and narrowing down the possibilities. One thing is for sure, retirement in Mexico is sure to be relaxing and going at the right pace!